Having a chat with... Ed and Jess from Get Up Yesterday

Who better to tell you why they love the local area than locals who established their business there?

We caught up with Ed and Jess from Get Up Yesterday, who founded their sustainable vintage clothing shop Getup Yesterday in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Like many, they found their usual working worlds had been turned upside down. They hoped their fledgling fashion business would help them get by, but they didn’t know how quickly it would turn into full time jobs.

Now, based at Hackney Bridge in East Wick + Sweetwater, Getup Yesterday is flourishing. We sat down with them to find out more about the inspiration behind the business, and what drew them to be based in Hackney Wick.

Can you tell us more about how Getup Yesterday started?

We live locally in Leytonstone in East London but spend lots of our time here in Hackney Wick with our little dog Buffy.

During the first lockdown in 2020, we found ourselves either furloughed or unemployed, so we knew we had to try something different on the side to help. We were passionate about vintage clothing, so we looked around Hackney Bridge and loved the idea of a local community hub and space.

We saw an opportunity and we decided to take a chance on ourselves, opening our first ever shop. We were surprised at how fast the business started to grow and quickly realised we would need to dedicate more of our time to it!

What can people expect at Getup Yesterday?

We sell vintage clothes mostly from the 80s, 90s and early 00s and we try to promote a more sustainable and affordable way of living. We want to encourage people to do their part even if it’s just changing one outfit, as it all helps towards a better future.

How are you getting on at East Wick + Sweetwater?

We live local to the area and enjoy going on long walks, so we saw construction starting in the early days and watched the new buildings develop. There is an amazing community feel to the area and lots of things always happening. It has a great vibe and we feel at home here.

Have you got any local tips or recommendations?

We would definitely recommend the Bar and Kitchens at Hackney Bridge; it is a great little venue and hang out spot with lots of food options to cater to everyone’s needs. We also enjoy venturing into Hackney Wick after work to visit some of the amazing bars. One of our favourites is Howling Hops who have amazing craft beers and Colombian inspired food by Maize Blaze. And check out Four Quarters, a cool little bar with loads of old school arcade games and Cake Cult, where you can get the best vegan cakes going.

Keep up to date with them on their instagram or head over to their website to bag yourself some very cool vintage pieces.