Fashion Street
	The history of fashion and clothing in this area can be traced way back to the 16th century and street names associated with the industry are also not a new concept. For example you won't find Petticoat Lane in a London A-Z but there used to be a huge market centred around what is now Middlesex Street. Back in 1603 there was a Petticoat Lane shown on maps, so-called because of all the clothing stalls along it. The prudish Victorians are charged with the changing of the name because of the reference to woman's undergarments!
Petticoat Lane market is believed to have been established by Huguenot lacemakers and expanded by Jews escaping from Poland and Germany who found they were able to scrape a living from trading in market stalls along the Lane. The expertise of the immigrant communities in the leather and clothing trades remain today - there are still highly productive factories in the vicinity. The tradition of a clothing industry was continued throughout the 20th century with the influx of Bengali and Bangladesh immigrants. Highly skilled in textile manufacture these people have brought a new identity to the area through the adaptation of these buildings into new clothing outlets and stores.
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