Style Crush Alert: Bip Ling

If you've picked up a fashion magazine in the past year, chances are you will have seen snaps of Bip Ling. She DJ's, blogs, models, sells art, and generally exudes star quality... and how could she not when that's her actual name!  Bip's style is cutesy kitsch-come-rockstar and we are crushing on her style big time.
Bip's blog shows off her style in 'Bathroom looks of the day', and Religion has featured twice this week...

Bank Holiday Monday Madness...

So after all that chocolate and gorging on food, I'm pretty sure you'll all need a drink. Plus Bank Holidays are made to be spent down the pub drinking one too many beers.

The White Horse Pub in Parson's Green has gone one better and has a Beer Festival! Open from 9.30am in the morning (that's right, beer for breakfast, or hair of the dog depending on how you spent your Sunday!) Plus it's free entry so good for your wallet...until the drinking commences!

You'll find over 50 brews from large and small family, regional and microbrewers alike will feature in the White Horse’s festival line-up – with such names as Redemption, Darkstar, Summer Wine, Otley, Hammerpot, Downton and Magic Rock all being represented, brews from some of which for the first time ever at the White Horse.

Weather permitting the ever-popular BBQ will be fired up. Check out their website to see the venue.

Contact info@whitehorsesw6.com for more information and to book a place.
 
Have fun, and behave!

A Chocolate Adventure...

If you're not already sick of chocolate from stuffing your faces with your weight in Easter Eggs, why not discover some of the history behind chocolate and head to Kew Gardens to go on a Maya Adventure and find out about chocolate and its 3000 year old history...

Embark on an exciting Maya chocolate adventure this Easter. Magic, fun, yummy chocolate and 3000 years of history are waiting for you. Explore the interactive trail around the Gardens, then make something special to take home in chocolate making and craft workshops.

Collect crayon rubbings of all the Mayan symbols on the adventure trail to unlock the password. Along the way you will hear the story of ingredients the Maya used for a spicy chocolate drink.

On your journey explore the world famous Palm House, offer an origami flower to the sacred jaguar god in the Waterlily Pond, add your wish to the cacao wishing tree and make a mask, headdress or worry doll to take home. Get your face painted with an Easter design or a symbol you’ve discovered on your adventure.

Get a taste of Maya culture in chocolate making workshops, where you can try the drink the Maya invented and make your very own chocolate.

Entry costs £13.90 for Adults, £11.90 for Concessions, and all children under 17 go free!

So if you're about in West London, head to Richmond and spend the day at the beatiful Kew Gardens... which is where some of our designers took inspiration for our last collection!

HAPPY EASTER!

Good Friday Fun!

The sun is shining, you've had a 4 day week and now you have a spare day. What are you going to do? Well if you are around the Shoreditch area, and have a spare few hours after popping into our Shoreditch store, why not go on the Shoreditch Street Art Trail for something a little bit more sophisticated than searching for Easter Eggs (save that for East Sunday!)

You can start anytime between 12-8, a team costs £16 but you can have teams of any amount of people so if you can round up 3 of your friends and it will cost the same as a Magners! Starting at 11 Hoxton Square, it's a 3 hour trail so perfect to fill the time between your pub lunch and your evening drink.

Here is a bit more about the Art Trail...

We’ve all seen it: weird, wacky, political, cute, funny and sometimes just plain rude. That’s street art. But you may be surprised by how much you’ve missed. We’ll help you find it with the HiddenCity Shoreditch Street Art trail. Take to the streets with your friends and see urban art in a different way: a trail of clues by text message.

HiddenCity is a mobile game that transforms a city into an experience. Sign up online, bring your mobile phone and a map and get ready to discover your city. Each clue takes you to a hidden location where you are challenged to search your surroundings to find the answer. Your goal is to complete all the clues and reach the final hidden cafe, pub or bar.

Ideal for groups of two to four people, HiddenCity is a social way to discover - or re-discover - your city. You can also play the game as a competitive event by entering multiple teams, contending against each other to be the fastest to complete a trail. After the event, you’ll be able to log on to the HiddenCity website to compare your scores.

From Banksy to Invader, Sweet Toof to Stik, the Shoreditch Street Art Trail is the ideal hunt for anyone who wants to see what street art is all about. You’ll encounter pieces in all shapes and sizes and we’ll tell you the artists behind the work. Not only will it make you think twice, you’ll also be left wondering how on earth it got there!

We’ve rated the difficulty of this trail as ‘easy-medium’.

You can play on any day of the week, starting any time between midday and 8pm. It takes about three hours to complete and includes breaks at two of our favourite bars.



So stop wasting your day, and get out into the sunshine and go on an Easter (art) hunt! Click here to get started!

HAPPY EASTER!

Religion Press Recap - March 2012

From tropical shirts, to round sunnies, to a pooch in a collar: here's a recap of press coverage we've had over the past month...

Espadrilles out for the sunshine...

That's right, it's happened... Religion now sell shoes! Available in 2 styles in a plethora of colourways- including our signature Union Jack print, there is a pair to match every outfit!

At just £40, these canvas slip-on shoes are perfect for the incresingly warm weather. Available in all our London stores in sizes 7-12.

Around the World in Religion: South Africa

Religion may have been created in East London but over the years it’s grown into an international brand. We’ve got stores in England, Indonesia, Australia, America and more. That’s right, we get around! So we're giving you a taste of each of our stores, starting with Johannesburg, South Africa.

Hi Thembi! What’s your job title and how long have you been at Religion?

I’m the store manager here at Religion. I have been here for just 2 months and 12 days. Beforehand I was travelling, and I spent 3 months in Wellington, New Zealand.

Describe your store? What’s the area like?

The store is situated at 44 Stanley Ave in Milpark, Johannesburg. The area is a student area as there is a university nearby. However when you walk into 44 Stanley its like stepping into a whole different world that's buzzing with fashionistas, local celebrities and the media. It has an upmarket, chilled vibe to it. After working here for a month I realised that this is the perfect location for the store, even better than being in a huge shopping mall. I love the store, the front of the store is glass so there’s always a view of the store from the outside. The shelves are lined with white light LEDs so even when the store is closed, people still have a full view of the items in the store. The graphics in the store are amazing. Love it...

What do you and the rest of the Religion team like best about the brand?

Of course we love the clothes, but also the feel of the store. It creates a comfortable working environment and we all look forward to coming to work every day.

Describe the style of your customers?

All of our customers have a different style. No one that comes into Religion has the same style as the next person that walks in, there's a different element to each of them. There's an item for every style out there in the store.

What are your bestsellers?

At the moment we have two popular items in store. The American flag print jeans and the American flag print cardigan. People are crazy about these two items!

Religion in an East London brand – what do you think makes it so popular in South Africa and internationally?

Well it’s a very different look and these days people pride themselves in being different. They want to have a unique style that very few people have and that's why I think it’s so popular. If I want something that I know I won’t see on everyone then Religion’s for me.

Describe your style…

I'd describe my style as rocker chic. Taking the grungy style and adding a feminine twist to it.

What is your favourite piece for this season and how are you wearing it?

My favourite piece for this season would have to be my Religion black drop crotch sweat pants. I wear them with a pair of air max sneakers, a simple wife beater and a hoodie on chilly days.

What’s on your playlist?

At the moment I’m listening to: Little Dragon, Florence And The Machine, Amy Winehouse, The Internet and Corinne Bailey Rae.

What’s the best night out in Johannesburg?

The best night out in Johannesburg would start off with dinner at Moyo at Zoo Lake, followed by drinks at MiBar in Rosebank and then some dancing at club Hush in Rosebank. Not forgetting looking fresh in Religion clothing. Night made...

Where’s your favourite spot in South Africa?

My favourite spot in SA would be The Sands in Sandton. Perfect chilled environment on the pool deck, enjoying the best sushi and cocktails while watching the sun set on a Sunday. Not forgetting the pool in the shape of an absolute vodka bottle...

A girl after our own heart. If you’re in Johannesburg or planning a trip, you can find the store at 44 Stanley Ave, Milpark, Johannesburg, 2001, or take a look at the website here.