Student living in East London is messy but fun. The walls were bare, but we built it piece by piece. IKEA lasts a term at best, so we begged, borrowed and carried. I spotted a funky armchair on Brick Lane. Nothing matched the walls, but that’s why it worked. Retro armchairs have weight, and it fits our lifestyle. I’ve hosted ten people on one sagging retro sofa, and the sofa was another character in the story. Retro furniture feels natural here, and designers take inspiration from it.

One afternoon I stumbled into Smithers, and the sofas looked like they belonged in films. we were broke students, but it’s survived three house parties and a flood. Ask around and you’ll hear it. it’s where life happens. Vintage pieces survive it. Catalogue gloss falls apart fast, but vintage carries weight. every creak is another laugh. After exams and chaos, contemporary leather armchair the dodgy landlord fades away, but the armchair stays in your mind.

Next time you walk past a market, space-saving seating options leave the glossy showrooms behind. Grab a retro sofa, and let it shout Shoreditch every time you sit.