My London: Emily Crutcher of the V&A

We talked to Emily Crutcher about her role on the commercial team at the V&A Museum, her dream exhibition and why Papa John’s will always be her favourite restaurant in London.

You work at the V&A. Can you tell us a little bit about the institution and what you do there?

I work on the commercial side of the museum. All our profits are returned to the museum, helping to maintain its collection of art and design, funding exhibitions, research, conservation and collection for the future. We achieve this in a number of ways or routes to market such as publishing, retail, licensing and digital.

The V&A Shop is the most unique place in London to buy exclusive one-off gifts - it's a dangerously inspiring place! I help promote the V&A as a brand. Our buyers mine the V&A's collection for inspiration and product develop a significant amount of our ranges; we also work with interesting designers, makers and brands to produce our ranges. I try to make all our customers as excited and engaged with these collaborations as possible, posting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, writing blog posts, helping to gain press mentions/features and creating competitions etc. For example we have recently teamed up with Net-A-Porter for The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014 exhibition to produce an Italian Fashion Jewellery Collection.

What do you think makes the V&A so internationally renowned?

I think the museum is unique in managing to strike a hard to find balance between particular/peculiar Britishness, with hints of wit and the exotic and bang on-trend blockbuster fashion exhibitions. The V&A is a treasure trove showcasing excellence in design - it was a refuge as a student in London.

Do you have a favourite room or gallery in the museum?

The Cast Courts. They’re so awesome in the literal sense!

You had the David Bowie show last year, which was huge. If you could choose anybody as the focus of a future exhibition, who would it be?

A show on The Rolling Stones; all their costumes and merch and then maybe they could come and give a live performance at the Private View, that would be cooool… but then I always wanted to see Alexander McQueen at the MET so I’m really excited that it’s now coming to the V&A in 2015. A more attainable dream come true!

How long have you lived in London and what part of the city do you call home?

Five years and Islington is home, I feel very settled living there with three great friends… lots of my happiest memories were made around the area.

What is your favourite London neighbourhood?

Islington. You’ve got it all. Eating/drinking on Upper Street, easy access to East London and then cosy pubs, the canal and Hampstead nearby for open space at the weekend.

Where is the best place in London to get a cocktail and why?

69 Colebrook Row. Tucked away on a teeny corner that you could easily miss but open the doors and fall into a time warp. It’s small and intimate with smooth waiters dressed in white tuxedos.

What is your favourite pub and why?

The Charles Lamb. It’s four doors away and does the best Scotch Eggs.

What is your favourite restaurant and why?

Papa Johns. Really great vibes at the weekends... Haha. I met my boyfriend outside so it will always be the best meal I’ve had in London.

Where’s the best place for dancing in London?

Our house.

Where do you shop and what are your favourite stores?

The V&A Shop of course! It’s especially amazing for jewellery, no one will know where it’s from but everyone will comment on it. Then stalls on Camden passage for browsing at the weekend.

Aside from the V&A, what is your favourite museum or gallery?

Cloth Workers Centre at Blythe House. There’s a huge archive to dig into and enjoy textiles and fashion first hand.

What is your favourite London landmark?

The Shard. I won’t get over it.

What is the best thing about London?

The choice of events. Food festivals, music, museum late nights… things always seem to be turning up in unexpected locations. It’s hard to be bored with so many random happenings offering up fun.

What is the worst thing about London?

Oxford Street.

Tell us one London gem that everyone should know about…

The London Fields, Broadway Market, Columbia road triangle at the weekend.