Taylor’s Buttons & Belts Is Saved!
Portrait of Maureen Rose by Sarah Ainslie
Thanks in no small part to the generosity of you – the readers of Spitalfields Life – Taylors Buttons & Belts is saved. On Friday, I published my post about the crowdfund to raise £17,000 and by Saturday afternoon the total was achieved with 697 contributors.
Maureen Rose has been making buttons at her hundred year old shop in Cleveland St Fitzrovia for over fifty years and this outcome reflects the love and esteem that people have for Maureen and her wonderful emporium of buttons.
£17,000 is the rent arrears Maureen owes her landlord for the Covid lockdowns and unless she could pay this by November 14th, they were refusing to renew her lease. Thankfully this problem is now solved and the beloved institution may continue.
This has been a magnificent example of team work. Maureen’s friend Antonia Brecht contacted me last week about the crowdfund which had been running for two weeks and stood at around £400. Once I ran my story on Friday it took off, thanks particularly to the community of dressmakers, designers and costumers who all rallied round to support Maureen. Good job everybody!
Photographs copyright © Sarah Ainslie
Visit Taylor’s Buttons & Belts, 22 Cleveland St, Fitzrovia, W1T 4JB
Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11am- 3:30pm
You make like to read my original story
Brilliant result!
I am beautifully pleased that Maureen got her well deserved recognition and help .
Made me weep with happiness. These small shops of treasures must remain as long as they are able. To lose them diminishes us all. I knew once the friends of quality and handmade would rally round, that the shop would be saved. Thank you ‘Gentle Author’ for your part in this triumph. Good luck and good health to Maureen and her helpers.
What a wonderful heartwarming story. Bravo!
. . . And you have also raised awareness to many that this specialist shop exists. Hopefully Maureens trade will benefit too. I hope so.
Long live these tiny craft emporiums
Thank you Gentle Author
I am very happy for Maureen that her business can continue. And I am sure that this will bring her even more customers!
Love & Peace
ACHIM
Great news!!
Great news.
Super! Buttons & Belts lives to see another day thanks to Gentle Author’s readers, well done – I must visit & make a purchase to celebrate..
Now THAT’S what I call team work. Excellent news. Just what we all need.
So happy that everyone has come together to make this happen, this is community. And a wonderful place to find the treasures that Maureen has collected over so many years.
What a wonderful start to the week!
Such good news.
I’m so pleased !
These shops are vital in a world of chain stores…..
and everyone loves a button/buttons.
Team work! Thank you, Maureen, Antonia and GA for letting us all help. You’ve given us a good feeling. Long may you prosper.
Wonderful news!
And well done all!
As chilly winter approaches, Maureen has been enveloped by the warmth of many who appreciate what she provides. Her post-Covid journey continues!
Well done GA readers, and congrats to Maureen . That’s the meaning of “community”.
What brilliant news! I was happy to contribute but doubted that enough could be raised in time so well done GA for spreading the news and getting such a good response!
Long live the independent specialist shops and suppliers.
The best news. Power to the people!
I am so happy my donation helped toward this worthwhile cause. My donation was in memory of my sister Audrey Kneller who passed away in Bournemouth on September 18, 2025 and whose story was also published by the Gentle Author.
That is well-needed good news! And a positive comment on the power of community. Well done, everyone.
What a marvellous outcome and great generosity from the people who donated to the fund. Shops like these and their owners are a very rare thing these days.
This is marvellous news, these little niche shops need to be highly valued. I love collecting buttons, they are like treasure to me, little jewels I keep in jars.
Wow, thank the lord! Great result!
Whew! Great little store, used to go there all the time with my little boy!