Independent shopping: Way

Opening just a year and a half ago at the top of Gloucester Road, Way fits right into the Gloucester Road legacy, with the outside walls swathed in graffiti from well-known Bristol graffiti artist SPZero76.       
Inside, is a cool collection of urban street wear, funky skater, inner-city hippy, and festival pieces like printed leggings and tees. Without a doubt, Way is the place to come if you are looking for something a bit different. Owner Dagmara seems to have perfected an eye for stand-out, yet wearable pieces.

Way stocks designers you won’t find anywhere else in Bristol, like Mr GuGu, as well as independent Bristol labels like Not Too Shabby and their own Way brand. 

What’s your background? How did you get into fashion?    

When I was a student I started a bit of modeling where I got more into fashion. I was dealing with some smaller brands, and I realized I wanted a shop which stocked some smaller brands, independents, and just not like high street chains.

Way has got a very distinct look. What kind of stuff do you stock?

Our best seller is Mr Gugu, which is the digital printed pictures on materials. They are actually a Polish brand and when I was at one of the trade shows looking for brands I approached them.  And I think also because I’m Polish and they’re Polish they were like, “Oh yeah, let’s do this”. Usually they cooperate with much bigger shops, so I was really glad that they got on board. 

Who is your average customer in here?

I’d say students, aged between 16 -25. The style is mostly street wear, urban, funky, for festivals if you want to stand out a little bit. But not everything in here is really in-your-face, we also have some more plain t-shirts, for guys as well. We try to have a bit of variety here, so if someone for example chooses the printed leggings, they’re not going to want to have a printed t-shirt to go with it.

Can you tell us a bit about the artwork on the walls?     

The whole idea of the shop was to have a very rough, kind of industrial feel. That’s why we have scaffolding instead of normal rails and things like that. And then through a mutual friend I met the tattoo artist and grafitti artist, Stutti Stutti, who did the art on the walls for me. And outside is also a quite well-known grafitti artist in Bristol called SPZero76.            

You’re situated on the longest stretch of Independents in the UK. Why should shoppers spend locally and come to independent shops instead of big chain stores?

For uniqueness and something different. I think people are getting tired of the big chains and the high street thing, because you just walk around and you’re wearing the same thing as everyone else. And also just to support new talent, I think it’s important.  

What do you love most about Gloucester Road? 

Every day is different. Different people. I wouldn’t want to be in the city centre, it would be nice but the city centre doesn’t have the same vibe as Gloucester Road. Way is supposed to be here.    

Any exciting plans for the future of Way?

I actually have plans to start my own printed t-shirt range. Because I’m looking at brands and nobody is doing what I have in mind, so I think why not do it myself? So I’m going to probably cooperate with one of the guys who did the graffiti and do a few funky prints. And then just try to expand and get an online store soon.      

www.facebook.com/Waybristol
67a Gloucester Road, BS7 8AD
Opening hours: Tue – Sat: 11:00 – 18:00