Poplar Works: Five years of impact, inclusion and innovation
Poplar Works is a space for fashion in east London. A home for anyone working in fashion: designers, makers, and manufacturers, whether experienced owners or startups. Its breadth makes us a unique space in London. We have a range of studios across two sites, an extensive enterprise and community programme and are home to London College of Fashion, UAL’s award-winning Making for Change programme.
Since opening our doors in 2020 we’ve been blown away by the impact our members have created. Businesses, residents, partner organisations and friends all contribute to its growth. As Poplar Works turns 5, we wanted to celebrate the impact it has made and to reflect on what we’ve learned along the way.
We’re seeing its impact in changing the local regeneration landscape, enabling more equitable and inclusive access to the fashion industry, innovating in sustainable practices and connecting the local community with wider creative opportunities.
Poplar Works is a partnership between Poplar HARCA, London College of Fashion, UAL and The Trampery. We’ve been working together since 2015 to realise Poplar Works and each organisation brings something special to the project. We are part of the Fashion District and have been supported by the Mayor of London and many other organisations.
- 114 businesses supported
- 75% of current businesses led by women
- 40% of current businesses based in Tower Hamlets
- 1,301 participants in creative programmes
- 259 workshops delivered
- 81 qualifications in Fashion & Textile Production gained by 51 people
- 17 Making for Change graduates supported into employment
- Over 3,000 square metres of new workspace inspired
Changing the landscape
Transforming redundant garages into a small business workspace is what set Poplar Works apart. It has been changing the local regeneration landscape ever since. Over 3,000 square metres of workspace will come forward in the Teviot and Aberfeldy masterplans which will regenerate this part of east London, inspired by Poplar Works’ design and sustainable construction. Poplar Works based businesses and partners have animated the urban landscape, creating artworks with the community and bringing colour to the area.
Read StoriesEquitable and inclusive
At its heart, Poplar Works aims to connect local people with the opportunities a flourishing east London fashion industry creates. It builds on east London’s long history of fashion production, drawing on the contributions of the east end’s diverse communities and strengthening this for the present and future. Whether that’s businesses moving into their first studio, founders incubated through LCF’s Graduate Futures programme or The Trampery’s extensive enterprise support schemes, or community members gaining qualifications and employment through the Making for Change programme, Poplar Works is playing its part in realising the benefits of the industry with the community in east London.
Read StoriesInnovation and sustainability
From its outset, Poplar Works has had a focus on sustainability. It’s in the building’s fabric, working with what was there and using sustainable building materials. It’s in our waste approach which includes specialised textile reuse and recycling. It’s core to many of the businesses that call Poplar Works home, whether that’s use of deadstock fabrics to reduce fashion’s impact on landfill, innovating with new materials and processes such as pollution- filtering clothes and digital cutting, or disrupting the retail landscape.
Read StoriesCommunity engaged
Poplar Works was built on the premise that it would be in the community as much as in its physical home. Partners have worked with over 1,300 community members across over 250 workshops, forming new partnerships along the way. Much has focused on increasing diversity in fashion: Cuts and Roots worked with young men to explore male identity, image and belonging through making; for World Book Day parents engaged in costume making, addressing the fast fashion approach this has taken in recent years. Most workshops run in community settings, taking fashion out of the building, reaching new audiences and opening up opportunities.
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