The legendary Soho fabric store used in the movies where Kate Winslet and Jude Law and the owner has rubbed shoulders with some ...

It's quite likely that this Soho shop has been part of your life without you even knowing it. If you've ever watched blockbusters like Star Wars or binge-worthy TV series like Bridgerton then you have seen costumes made from fabric from Soho's MacCulloch & Wallis fabric shop and haberdashery.

The Poland Street shop, run by Victoria Connely for the past 32 years, has been in business since 1902 with an illustrious reputation among filmmakers and theatre directors alike. "All of them come in here at some point," Victoria said when talking about which films or TV shows her fabrics had starred in.

She added: "In the theatre, they all have accounts with us and have done forever, we've been in business for over 100 years - The Opera House, The Royal Ballet, all of the theatres."

READ MORE: West End Les Mis show evacuated after Just Stop Oil protesters storm stage

This image released by Lucasfilm shows a scene from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," (Image: Lucas Film)

The shop has thoroughly cemented itself in showbiz and done so in style, quite literally. In a few Star Wars films Victoria said the black fabric beneath the iconic white stormtrooper armour came from her shop.

She spoke about the sale: "We like to give our fabrics names because it's fun - people come in and ask for something that you've made up the name for. But unfortunately, it's always the silly names you make up that become popular and you just feel a bit stupid.

"It's called Lizardprene," Victoria said with a smirk, "It's like neoprene but it was embossed with a lizard texture. They didn't buy it for the lizard texture, they bought it because it was stretchy and black. Lizardprene... it's embarrassing to say it."

Another amusing name which saw a lot of use was Superpantz (yes, with the z) which is a very stretchy Spanx-like fabric.

MacCulloch and Wallis fabric heavily featured in the costumes of smash hit Netflix series Bridgerton, Victoria said. This was partly due to the fact a lot of it was filmed during Covid, said Victoria, so production companies had to shop locally for their fabrics.

The second series of Bridgerton is being filmed at the old naval college in Greenwich. (Image: Tim Merry)

Each production has a code name during the fabric buying process to keep the film tightly under wraps and the purchasing is done by freelancers, Vistoria said. The code name for Star Wars was Space Bear when they came to MacCulloch and Wallis, she said.

Celebrity sewers

Though it's not just the production companies of showbiz that stop by at the shop when in town for fabric and haberdashery - the actors come into the shop themselves. Victoria mentioned that many top A-listers had visited over the years.

She said John Malkovich has been in buying buttons, Kate Winslet was buying wares for a corset-making course, Jude Law has visited as well as Helena Bonham Carter. Antonio Banderas has also visited the shop while doing a short tailoring course at Central St Martins making cloaks.

Colourful Wool, trim and fabric line the shelves at MacCulloch and Wallis (Image: Jake Holden)

About 20 years ago Joanna Lumley came into the shop when it was still in Mayfair and was looking for silk for a wedding veil. Boy George also visited as well as John Inman.

Victoria spoke about how she dealt with the celebrities that came in. She said dryly: "We do that English thing of pretending we don't know who they are, obviously. That's the right thing to do."

But it's not just actors but top fashionistas too - the queen's dressmaker even came to the shop to buy fabric, Victoria said. The West End is England's top centre for fashion and the shop gets a lot of business from fashion houses in the area too, along with students on a day out from Central St Martins and the London College of Fashion.

John Malkovich bought buttons at the shop relatively recently said Victoria (Image: Jake Holden)

Changes in London's fabric trade

Soho, particularly Berwick Street which runs parallel to Poland Street, used to be the centre for London fabric shops but these days more and more are moving out. Before Covid there used to be six fabric shops on Berwick Street, Victoria said, now there are just two as the other four have moved to premises outside the West End.

While this does help reduce competition for business in the area, it also has the downside that it will become less of a focus for fabric trade. It is incredibly expensive to run the shop in Soho with huge business rates and rent but Victoria sees the business keeping up what it has been doing in central London for the last 121 years.

(Image: Jake Holden)

The shop also runs an online delivery store to serve customers away from the capital which she said was extremely useful during Covid. While the internet has been a useful tool Victoria said it has also been much easier for people to find out where she gets her fabric from and also has changed the way the shop operates in some ways but has not actually diminished workload.

Because the products she sells are and have a reputation for being high-end global economic troubles do not really affect the shop so much. She said: "It's quite an interesting thing actually, the minute things get difficult like the credit crunch, Covid, the cost of living crisis, people seem to spend more on this sort of thing."

The future for MacCulloch and Wallis looks pretty steady to Victoria who wants to stay her course with more than a century of success billowing behind her and pushing the shop forward by its fine fabric sails.

Local Legends - Victoria Connely

MyLondon spoke to Victoria Connely as part of our Local Legends project, where our reporters are speaking to local heroes, legends and characters from every part of the city.

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Labour wins South London council by-election after previous councillor died of cancer

Labour have won a South London council by-election which was called after the previous councillor died. The party’s candidate for Vauxhall, Tom Swaine-Jameson, finished in first place with 595 votes (42 per cent).

The by-election, which took place on Thursday (October 5), was called after former Vauxhall Labour councillor Liam Jarnecki died of cancer in August. The Liberal Democrat candidate Fareed Alderechi finished second with 395 votes (28 per cent) and the Green Party’s candidate Jacqueline Rose Bond finished in third with 256 votes (18 per cent).

READ MORE: Fed up South London mum says leaking flat has been so bad the ceiling rains and light switches 'cry'

Swaine-Jameson, who is a university lecturer and trustee of a local arts equalities charity, joins two other Labour councillors, Isla Wrathmell and Martin Bailey, in representing the area. The local Labour Party promised to help residents with housing repairs, antisocial behaviour and overcrowded accommodation in a leaflet distributed during the campaign.

Conservative candidate Lee Rotherham, a Brexit-supporting historian, finished in fourth place with 160 votes (11 per cent). Just over a fifth (22.5 per cent) of Vauxhall residents cast their vote in the by-election. Labour-run Lambeth Council is made up of 63 councillors. Of those elected, 58 are from Labour, three are Liberal Democrats and two are from the Green Party.

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Murder victim, 42, pictured for first time after being stabbed in chest as teenager arrested

A 42-year-oild man stabbed to death in South London has been pictured by police. Luke Blackmore, 42, from Morden after being knifed in the chest shortly after 9pm on Monday (October 2).

Police and paramedics rushed to Typhoon Way, Wallington where he died despite their best efforts. His family are being supported by specialist officers.

A 17-year-old man was arrested yesterday morning on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. This followed the arrest of a 44-year-old woman on suspicion of making threats to kill. She has now been released from police custody on bail.

READ MORE: Man, 42, stabbed to death in Sutton named locally for first time

A crime scene was initially in place between Mollison Drive and Meteor Way, as a forensic tent was set up in the aftermath.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Nolan, from the Met’s Specialist Crime leads the investigation and said: “Our thoughts are with Luke’s family and friends as they continue to struggle with the loss. Yesterday’s arrest marks a significant development in our investigation but we still need the help of the local community and wider public.

“I would appeal to anyone who has information but has yet to get in contact with police to do so immediately. I would also reiterate my request for those in the area to check doorbell footage or any other cameras and see if you have captured something which may be of interest.”

Anyone with information, video or images that could help police should call 101 or post @MetCC via X reference CAD 7417/02Oct. To remain 100% anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Huge Bulldog men's skincare sale as £40 bundle with moisturiser, bamboo razor and face scrub is £10 cheaper

Bulldog are having a huge sale on all of their men's skincare products - including face washes and razors - but their bundle is the best value of the lot. Bulldog are one of the most popular men's skincare companies thanks to their no-nonsense packaging and affordable products.

However, a huge sale on Amazon means none of their products are above £5, from their Energising Face Scrub to their Shower Gel. By far their biggest deal is the skincare bundle, which if bought individually would cost you £49.49 (with the sale discounts).

Instead, it would cost you a clean £40. Included in the bundle are:

• Bulldog Skincare Original Face Wash for Men 150ml, £3.25
• Bulldog Skincare for Men Original Face Scrub, 125 ml, £3.47
• Bulldog Original Moisturiser, 100ml, £4.18
• Original Shave Gel 175ml, £3.75
• Original Bamboo Razor + Extra blade, £15.99
• Original Bamboo Blades (4 Pack), £6.00
• Bamboo Razor Stand, £8
• Bulldog Washbag, £4.85 (when other products subtracted)

READ MORE: Amazon's 'best selling' eye cream that's £13 and good for 'puffy eyes' as shoppers 'keep getting compliments'

Highlights of the bundle include the washbag, which can hold the products, especially if you're going abroad (though only for check-in luggage, as it's not see-through). There's also the bamboo razor with accompanying stand.

Bamboo razors are good for minimising environmental impact: both the bamboo and the un-chromed metal are easily recyclable and bio-degradable. There are only 10 ratings on the bundle so far but has garnered a 4.7 stars.

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Bulldog products are also available to buy from Boots, Look Fantastic and Superdrug. Meanwhile, Look Fantastic have a L'Oreal Paris four piece washbag set on sale for £19.99.

Worth £24, it includes their Hydra Energetic Shower Gel, Hydra Energetic Wake-Up Effect Face Wash, Hydra Energetic Anti-Fatigue Daily Moisturiser and a Hydra Energetic Recharging Tissue Mask. It has a five star rating from four reviews.

You can get Bulldog's skincare bundle on Amazon for £40. See all the deals here.

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First photos from Sutton as man stabbed to death in street as fire breaks out on same road

The first photos from the scene where a man has died after being stabbed to death in South show the ongoing investigation.

The man, in his 40s, was found by police with multiple stab wounds on Typhoon Way in Sutton at around 9pm yesterday evening (Monday, October 2)

Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the man died at the scene.

A fire also broke out on Typhoon Way shortly before this incident, where garden furniture and a first floor window were destroyed.

Now, photos from Typhoon Way show police officers and forensics examining the scene, first overnight, between around 11pm and 4am, and then this morning at around 10am. A cordon remains in place, and a white and yellow forensic tent was erected outside one of the houses on Typhoon Way.

For more information about this incident, follow our live coverage here.

Do you have any information or photos? Email alya.zayed@Reachplc.com.

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South London bridge over Thames reopens after 10-week closure but scaffolding won't be going anywhere just yet

A bridge over the River Thames in South West London has reopened to vehicles after shutting for 10 weeks while major repairs were carried out. Wandsworth Bridge, which is 83 years old, reopened in both directions on Sunday night (October 1).

The bridge, which connects Wandsworth and Fulham, closed on July 24 after checks revealed some of its weight-bearing parts needed to be replaced. Wandsworth Council carried out the repairs to prevent longer-term closures of the bridge and other future restrictions.

The scheme involved lifting the bridge in stages so crucial bearings in its sub-structure could be replaced. These allow the bridge to expand and contract during hot and icy spells of weather. Without this ability, the council said, the bridge would sustain damage and become unsafe for traffic.

READ MORE: London neighbourhood with ‘wasted’ riverfront after waterworks 'falls into grim state'

Wandsworth Bridge has reopened to vehicles (Image: ChrisSteer/Getty Images)

The works also included waterproofing the bridge deck to prevent internal corrosion and resurfacing the carriageway. Pedestrians were still able to cross the bridge during the works, while cyclists had to dismount and wheel their bikes across.

The council said it plans to introduce a new segregated northbound cycle lane on the bridge to offer greater protection to cyclists as they cross the river, which would be a separate project.

Labour councillor Jenny Yates, cabinet member for transport, said: "This was a complex and challenging set of repairs which were vitally important if the bridge was to remain in safe working condition. I’m absolutely delighted that we have got the job done on time and on budget. We understand the closure to traffic has caused disruption and we’d like to apologise for the inconvenience it’s caused but these repairs were absolutely essential and I’m really pleased we have completed the task when we said we would. I’d also like to pay tribute to the hardworking team of council engineers and contractors who have all done an excellent job in seeing this scheme through to a successful conclusion."

The council said much of the scaffolding and other equipment needed for the repairs will remain in place for some time as it will take a while to dismantle.

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North London dad 'risks injury' getting quadriplegic son out of bath due to 'lack of communication from council'

The dad of a severely disabled teenager alleges that he’s having to endanger his health and that of his quadriplegic son after eight years of alleged council inaction. Brian Leveson, 55, claims the family has been waiting an agonising eight years for Haringey Council to install a hoist in the bathroom for their son Zack, 18, who has cerebral palsy.

Zack's baths are especially important due to his double incontinence, but the lack of a hoist means 55-year-old Brian has to physically manhandle his son out of the bath on his own, which he describes as ‘physically and emotionally exhausting’.

The absence of the bathroom hoist has meant Brian has to lift a 67kg ‘wriggling and unpredictable' Zack. He said: “If I’m not very careful, I will hurt my back. It’s a challenge we shouldn’t be having to face.”

READ MORE: 'Rock star' 6ft 3 London actor took his last breath four days after being told he had bowel cancer

Zack is now 18, and has been waiting almost half his lifetime for a hoist to be installed into his family bathroom (Image: Brian Leveson)

But it's not just physically dangerous for Brian, as if he ‘makes a misstep then Zack could fall back in the bath’. To make matters worse, if Brian is fatigued or when the lift has broken, Zack has to get dressed on the landing outside the bathroom.

He says there’s a hoist in Zack’s bedroom, and in the living room. There's also a lift.

Brian - who works as a training manager and is also Zack's primary care-giver : “When we moved in the place was assessed and those [the hoists and lift] were the recommendations. The lift was installed, and then everything else should have been installed and it wasn’t.”

Brian would also like to wash Zack more than once a day due to his double incontinence, but due to how physically demanding it is, this isn't possible. He also clarified that Zack is perfectly clean, but washing more than once a day would be ideal.

He continued: “It takes a lot of energy to be constantly chasing up the local authority. This is upsetting as a parent because it takes limited time away from what we want to do, which is care for our son.

“There was an agreement to fit the hoists and it [Haringey Council] should be carrying out the work as required. It was made nearly 10 years ago, considering Zack’s 18, that’s half a lifetime.” The Council responded to this by saying that the family asked for adaptations to the bathroom to be put on hold during discussions with the housing association.

Brian would like to wash Zack twice a day due to his double incontinence (Image: Brian Leveson)

Brian also claimed that in April this year, Haringey sent an occupational therapist to his home to fully assess it once again and establish what was required. He says this was followed by another meeting with the occupational therapist and the Housing Association where it was agreed who would pay for what.

However the dad was left fuming after he chased Haringey Council for an update in August, and was allegedly told they needed to send an occupational therapist round yet again to see what was required. Haringey Council has said it was an unfortunate necessity that another occupational therapist be appointed.

Brian claims he was told it was best he and the council ‘try to formulate a plan to progress your bathroom adaptations’ after the original occupational therapist left.

He said this is ‘unsurprisingly typical’ of the council and that ‘this story of a lack of communication is not a new one’. “There’s radio silence from the council until we chase them up and ask ‘what’s happening’,” he alleged.

Brian also said that netting-like material is needed on the side of Zack’s bed to stop him falling out in the night. But a few months ago this became damaged, and the family had to fork out £300 to replace it - and claims he has not been told when they will be reimbursed.

All Brian wants is for Haringey Council to honour the commitments they've made (Image: Brian Leveson)

Cllr Lucia Das Neves, Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing, said: “We have been working hard with the family for several years to arrange and co-ordinate adaptations including installing a through floor lift in 2019 and ceiling track hoists in both the bedroom and lounge in 2022.

“In March 2022, the family explicitly asked that adaptations to the bathroom be put on hold during discussions with the housing association and confirmed this position in February 2023.

“Once given permission to proceed, an occupational therapist (OT) worked with the family to assess what was required in the bathroom and a way forward was agreed in May 2023. Unfortunately, it was necessary to allocate a different OT and there was a delay of a few weeks whilst this happened.

“Despite our best efforts it was difficult to agree a meeting with the family to formulate a schedule of works, which was essential because the equipment requested was not commercially available.

“We acknowledge there was a misunderstanding about who was leading on installing the adaptations, but this did not delay the work being agreed. We apologise for the length of time it has taken to provide new cot covers and we will reimburse the family in full.

“We have been in contact with the family, who have now agreed to meet officers. We are keen to work together to get the issues resolved.”

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