Last weekend saw the opening of Pascal & Co. a pretty little vintage boutique with an artistic twist at 20 Albert Place on Leith Walk.

The sun was shining, a duo of melodic guitarists (I am Pluto and Sylvain Ayite) entertained the growing throng outside the shopfront while they nibbled on the most exquisite cakes and pastries courtesy of neighbour Maria’s Kakes and sipped fizz and wine. A real illustration of community spirit and support after a period that has had such a negative impact on the retail sector.

Asta Petkunaite wearing one of her own Pascal & Co Makes designs

Pascal & Co. was founded by Edinburgh based artist Asta Petkunaite, who was born in Lithuania to a Siberian mother, and moved to England at the age of 14. Not knowing the language, painting became her main expression, which developed into an intense relationship that survives to this day.

Arriving in Scotland in 2002 as a self-taught artist, Asta initially trained and worked as a writer. Alongside journalistic endeavours, she had group and solo exhibitions across Edinburgh and Scotland for the best part of a decade with her watercolour depictions of the psyche of her subjects, painting the narrative of their life stories. The wind also blew her into a colourful array of jobs in Edinburgh and London. Publishing houses, magazines, floristry & design, retail, styling, window dressing and visual merchandising.

Asta’s artwork for an I Am Pluto record sleeve

To support her art and writing, Asta worked for friends in some of Edinburgh's best vintage shops. That's when the passion for vintage and love for all things old became solidified. Her knowledge and collection grew and the journey and quest to find unique and beautiful vintage pieces expanded too.

European travels soon became sourcing trips and the flea markets were born. Starting out at OOTB Drill Hall in Leith with other traders and the warm reception from the locals and validation from avid vintage hunters and antique dealers became so encouraging that Asta quit her fine art reproduction studio job to dedicate all of her time and effort to local venues, vintage fairs and pop ups as Pascal & Co.

Asta used lockdown months to hone in on her re-purposing and restoration skills. Re-claiming, re-using, fixing up, darning, stitching, knitting, embroidering, up-cycling and lending old items new leases of life when the supplies were scarce became a lifeline.

So much so that an old forgotten stash of late grandmother’s old Irish linen tea towels became the inception of a new re-imagined clothing line, a bespoke and made to measure offshoot called Pascal & Co. ‘MAKES’. This concept was inspired by not letting anything go to waste and re-purposing quality materials to celebrate their longevity and beautiful patterns. Designed and drawn by Asta they were brought to life by a local seamstress, a beautiful working collaboration which has been growing from strength to strength ever since.

In August 2020, Asta's Pascal & Co established itself as a semi-permanent resident pop up space within Leith's vintage shop Vintiques at 20 Albert Place and within a year an opportunity of dreams came up as the owners offered up their premises. Best part of two months were spent on refurbishment and restoration and Pascal & Co. now has its own place to call a home.

Pascal & Co. intends to be much more than a vintage shop, but a space with an artistic twist and a creative one by night which welcomes all. It seeks to invite local artists, musicians, writers, creatives and makers to share their skills and talent with the community. It aspires to be a place which can embrace, share and utilise all aspects of creativity and help nurture our planet and well-being with a waste not, want not ethos. With Asta at the helm, we see it becoming just that.

Pascal & Co.

20 Albert Place

Leith Walk

EH7 5EN

Vintage Boutique Launches in Leith