Trade may have finally closed its doors, but the clubbing institution can still be enjoyed at the Islington Museum, where a carefully curated exhibition celebrates one of the pioneers of club culture. Janne Öijer checked it out.
The ‘original all night bender’…in a museum? Didn’t see that one coming, but it actually makes perfect sense. Beautifully curated by Anne Marie Garbutt, they have managed to capture this ground-breaking club, from the very first flyer in 1990 to its closing in 2008. No mean feat considering a big chunk of it happened before the onslaught of mobile phones and social media, and very rarely anywhere close to sobriety.
The clubbing landscape has changed on so many levels since 1990 it is easy to forget how revolutionary it was when Laurence Malice created this haven of community and hedonism. Clause 28 was enacted a couple of years before they opened, the few gay bars that were around were of the blacked-out window variety, and if you fancied any after-hour activity you had to risk your safety in some of the darker corners of London.
The club grew and branched out, releasing music and travelled the world, but still stayed true to its musical roots and no VIP policy. Malice upped the production values with each party, and the gorgeous artwork by TradeMark, most of it on display at the Exhibition, became a huge part of the clubs identity.
Whether you’re a Trade Bunny and want to relive (or retrieve) some glorious memories, or just want a snapshot of an Islington gay club institution, it is well worth a visit.
• Trade – often copied, never equalled – Celebrating 25 years of after-hours clubbing in Islington
• Runs to Saturday 16 January 2016 at Islington Museum, 245 St John St, London EC1V 4NB
• Admission: Free. Opening times: Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri & Sat 10am-5pm
