Fashion designer and entrepreneur opens new venture in Hull's Fruit Market

A local designer is bringing his flair for fashion to Hull’s Fruit Market with the launch of his first business.

Fashion and footwear designer Shaun Barker-Newton will open the doors to lifestyle store, 19point4 in Humber Street this weekend.

The store will offer menswear, womenswear, homewares, and an exclusive custom-made collection of clothing and home accessories designed and created by Shaun.

He said: “I can’t wait to open 19point4. The Fruit Market is an amazing place, with a really great buzz about it.

“19point4 is all about injecting a bit of humour into our fashion and homeware lines and keeping things fresh with regularly-changing products.

“I’ve been very careful to find brands which are exclusive to this region - I want our clothing lines to be different to anywhere else in Hull.

“I’ll also be designing and making a range of limited edition fashion pieces and creating bespoke home accessories instore, so 19point4 will be very different and complement the other stores in Humber Street.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the other businesses in the area to make the Fruit Market even more of a great place to hang out, shop and socialise.”

Shaun studied fashion and design in Leeds before relocating to Hull to design clothing and shoes for Cottingham-based fashion boutique, Bourne.

Shaun began exploring business opportunities by selling his own designs on online platform, Etsy. When his role with Bourne was made redundant, it was an opportunity to freelance with his own venture.

Clothing brands stocked by 19point4 will include Manchester-based womenswear brand Glamorous and independent menswear brand Bellfield.

Homeware products will include cushions, candles and decorative accessories by brands such as Sass and Belle and Chickidee, as well as a small range of textile art and costume jewellery created by Shaun.

The new 727 sq ft fashion and lifestyle store will have an industrial style with white walls, bare concrete floors, copper accents and hanging foliage.

19point4 is the latest independent venture to join the supposedly evolving community in the Fruit Market as the area undergoes redevelopment.

The rejuvenation of the area is being driven forward by Wykeland Beal, the regeneration company formed by commercial developer Wykeland Group and housebuilder Beal Homes, as part of the Fruit Market LLP joint venture with Hull City Council.

Tom Watson, development surveyor for Wykeland, speaking on behalf of Wykeland Beal, concluded: “We’re delighted Shaun has chosen the Fruit Market as the place to open his new business and we wish him every success.

“19point4 very much fits the bill for the area as a quirky, creative offering and adds another interesting element to the growing list of independent retailers in and around Humber Street.”