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A Guide to Harlem With needle+thræd’s Celia Roach

By Nia Porter
Photography by Shanita Sims

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If you haven't ventured past 110th street and into the heart of Harlem, you're missing out on a neighborhood rich with cultural and sartorial history — one that Celia Roach, fashion editor and founder of the lifestyle brand needle+thræd, has explored in depth for nearly ten years. A native of the nearby Bronx borough, Roach has a strong appreciation for the old Harlem, when families dressed up for church on Sunday mornings and literary and artistic greats roamed the streets.

Roach founded needle+thræd back in 2009 to make an impact in her community and empower the women who both wear and make her designs. And since then, Harlem has become a place of inspiration for Roach, who designs her beaded chokers and home goods right here in New York.

She works side-by-side with a female cooperative in Kenya who not only hand-bead each choker and pillow, but also give their input on the historical Masai aesthetic seen throughout Roach's recent collections. By getting to know each of these women individually, she has successfully bridged the gap between our world and theirs while also creating a common thread between style and substance.

We tagged along with her to see some of her favorite spots, like a beautiful Jamaican restaurant and a natural beauty boutique catered to the African-American women who live nearby.

Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market: 52 W. 116th St.

"Before having the opportunity to travel to Africa, I came here to buy fabrics for throw pillows, get inspiration, and leave with arms stacked with bangles. Be ready to negotiate as these vendors love to do, here and in the motherland."

Vivrant Beauty: 220 St. Nicholas Ave.

"I love that Vivrant Beauty caters to the beauty needs of the community. They have a lot of products for natural and curly hair and a lot of natural skin products, makeup, and pigments that compliment a variety of skin tones. It's in a beautiful space that feels almost spa-like when you first walk in."

Serengeti Teas & Spices: 2292 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

"This is a spot I go to with my husband on Sundays right before we go to see a matinee movie. They have amazing African teas — from Chais to herbals — and they're just really bringing the art of tea making and tea drinking back into a more dominant space. It's very relaxing, which means I can do my work there, and the snacks are delicious. I love the croissants and the sticky buns, and my favorite tea is their rose chai. Everything about the experience is sensory overload. You go in there, you smell it, you taste it. The way they present the teas is just beautiful."

FlameKeepers Hat Club: 273 W. 121st St.

"I love hats. When I'm not wearing my hair out and huge, I love a good hat to just top off a look. Flamekeepers has a lot of men's styles that work well for women. There are some very classic dandy styles, but also just casual straw hats for summer. They really tap into the art of millinery, which I feel is a dying craft. But in Harlem, when both men and women get dressed up for church, the hat is an essential piece of the wardrobe. So, they are just really reviving that."

Lulu's Taqueria: 553 Manhattan Ave.

"After Serengeti my husband and I go see a matinee at the Magic Johnson theater and have lunch at Lulu's Taqueria right across the street. My favorites are the lobster tacos with a side of plantains. I can eat tacos everyday of the week with a sangria or margarita. It's chill and moderately priced. Some days they'll have a live musician there and the doors open with a breeze. It's perfect."

The Edge Restaurant: 101 Edgecombe Ave.

"It's a really great spot. It's owned by two young sisters who have a Jamaican and British background. I like anything that's in the neighborhood, and my husband likes ackee and saltfish, so I'm like, 'Okay great, I don't need to cook.'"

Columbia U Consignment: 52 Tiemann Pl.

"I stumbled upon this place as a vendor on Hamilton Terrace when they had an outdoor market, and I bought this vintage Gucci wallet from them for $20. But I had never actually visited the actual store until today. Now that I'm here, I realize that it's filled with a lot of gems. The owner's name is Pamela and is a nurse by night and a consignment dealer by day. She's got a really great eye, and the pieces are super unique."

Lead Image: Celia Roach wears Rhoi blouse, I Waited For You pants, and needle+thræd choker, $175 (alongside a needle+thræd pillow). She wears robe and dress by Rhoi and a skirt by NOT, throughout. Shop her current collection of chokers and beaded pillows, here.