Its hard to write about London, and girls, and empowerment without wanting to break out the Union Jack teatowel dress, but its not the 90s, and I'm definitely not Ginger Spice, so last night I exorcised a few teenage demons by popping by the launch party for Girlcore's new book and exhibition at the Orange Dot Gallery.

For the uninitiated, Girlcore is the kind of project that I wish had been around when I was 16, kicking about with my hair twisted into a poor imitations of Bjorks' and consoling my best friends over the break-up of Take That. Its an online and real-life community of like-minded girls who provide a showcase for other like-minded girls working in the creative industry, in the kind of supportive, mutually inclusive environment that makes me want to put on a Patti Smith record. The online portfolio of works from photographers and illustrators is an inspiring collection; it's genuinely a club you might want to belong to. And nobody is screaming BLOODY FEMINISTS at them....And it doesn't scare off the boys either. I know, because I saw some last night. 

The girls behind the Girlcore concept started out as friends still high on festival vibes who wanted to recreate their summer of love in the form of a London club night. Using their network of DJ and promoter friends they started to build this mini-empire, which was all about pushing forward their equally as talented female mates. From there grew the website, and the online portfolio, and now this book and exhibition which kind of solidifies the Girlcore identity. The influences  and role models are varied, old and new; they're Peaches and they're Virginia Woolf and everyone in-between whose ever inspired anyone to do something creative. 

Girlcore Magazine runs at the Orange Dot Gallery in London until February 27th