Finding a studio with Arbeit
Designer and Arbeit tenant Jinny Ngui, has written a blog post about making the move from working at home to working in a studio.
After several years of decorating tableware on the dining room table and using up every nook and cranny at home to store whiteware and packaging, I felt like I had hit a point where I needed to have a dedicated workspace if I wanted my business to grow. After a few months of research and searching I was about to give up and stumbled upon Arbeit Studios and they had availability at their site just down the road in Hackney Wick.
Arbeit signage outside White Post Lane site.
I tried not to get my hopes up as I had had disappointment applying for other studios. My first question was can I bring my dog and after a very promising viewing, a few days later I had put down a deposit on my very own studio.
Having a studio really changed the way I worked. I no longer had to waste time packing away all my decorating to clear the dining table or spend time searching my cupboards for stuff I had squirrelled away and no more packing orders surrounded by laundry!
My desk at White Post Lane.
Preparing to decorate.
Packing orders.
Being self-employed can be lonely at times and one of the best things about having a studio is meeting other designers and creatives. At White Post Lane my neighbours were Interior Fox, Mammoth Retouch and Monti by Monti.
Olivia starting her internship with Interior Fox.
Studio dogs.
When I found out I was expecting my second baby, I wanted to share my studio to help me while I was on maternity leave. It was around this time Arbeit had taken on another site around the corner, Trowbridge Gardens. Arbeit specialises in providing affordable creative work spaces for artists, designers and small businesses and creating an environment for innovative collaboration and community involvement.
Trowbridge Gardens is a seven year project in collaboration with Hackney Council to deliver affordable workspace for existing small, independent and artistic firms in Hackney Wick while redevelopment takes place on other sites in the area, enabling them to stay locally. The Trowbridge Centre used to be a social service site, and it has now been transformed into a creative work place, offering a range of artists studios and offices, a café, fitness club, gardens maintained by Hackney Herbal, and a gallery all within one space in Hackney Wick.
Garden entrance to Thingy Cafe from Chapman Road.
I loved my time at my studio in White Post Lane. However I wanted to share a space and the studio I had was unfortunately a bit small to share as my stock takes up so much room. I also wanted to be part of a community again, I really missed my London Local Team days. I was very fortunate to see Trowbridge Gardens just as Arbeit had started to convert the space. It was also lucky that a friend, who I had met through doing local markets, had expressed an interest in sharing a studio space. We managed to move into the new studio a few weeks before my due date.
It wasn’t long after I had sorted out all my studio stuff that my daughter arrived (early like her big sister!) Hackney Wick is only a half hour walk from home, so I was able to pop by the cafe and say hi at the studio, with kids and dog in tow. I also had 10 KIT days as part of my maternity leave, to do a bit of work and arrange stock. My return to work was waylaid by the COVID-19 pandemic, but I managed to squeeze in work at home between entertaining 2 little ones and their naps!
After the first lockdown in England ended, I was able to go to the studio once or twice a week. I am so thankful to have a dedicated workspace. After the restrictions we have all faced, being able to go to Trowbridge Gardens to work undistracted has been so important to my business and my wellbeing. The team at Arbeit have been incredibly supportive during this uncertain time. Most impressive has been how the onsite cafe, Thingy, has managed to be agile and keep their business serving the local community throughout the pandemic.
Here are a handful of the businesses that have studios at Trowbridge Gardens:
Breast Dressed
Breast Dressed is a new brand of sustainable maternity and breastfeeding wear hand-made ethically in the U.K, launched during lockdown 1.0 in June 2020. We have a collection of styles that work hard for the modern mum, because isn't mumming hard enough?! Our designs are created to be worn throughout all stages of mum-hood, they will support your growing bump, allow easy feeding access should you need it and make you feel beautiful, stylish and cool as a mum long after pregnancy. Our styles are sustainable and versatile alternatives to fast fashion throw aways.
Website - www.breastdressed.co.uk
Instagram - @breast.dressed
Hackney Herbal
Hackney Herbal is a social enterprise that started back in 2015. We promote wellbeing through herbs by running hands-on creative and educational projects, workshops and events. We work in partnership with local mental health charities to deliver free community courses to connect people with nature and the healing benefits of herbs. We also sell a range of organically sourced herbal teas. All our profits are reinvested into free community activities where local people can come together, learn and be inspired. At Trowbridge Gardens we are developing the garden into a space where plants, people and wildlife can thrive.
Website - www.hackneyherbal.com
Instagram - @hackneyherbal
Horse Of A Different Colour
Horse Of A Different Colour is a small independent clothing label founded in 2018 by Sasha Starlight on 3 founding principles: Cut, Colour and Print. Sasha trained in traditional tailoring, pattern cutting and couture and started the label to bring the best elements of these disciplines - quality, sustainability and the beauty of a hand crafted piece - to a wider audience in a unique and fresh way. It’s really important that the designs are comfortable, practical and versatile as well as being loads of fun to wear - these are clothes you can ride a bike, climb a tree and then go for cocktails in! Most of HOADC pieces are flexibly sized, either with a dramatic oversized silhouette or with clever detailing allowing the piece to be shaped to the body of the wearer. All items are handmade in very limited quantities, no items are pre-made, to reduce wasted fabrics and resources.
Website - www.horseofadifferentcolour.com
Instagram - @horse.of.a.different.colour
Soothe Me
Soothe-me is an award winning sustainable skincare company and a resource for wellbeing – a place to discover and learn about skin wellness and ‘green’ skincare. Founder Suzie believes that by learning how natural skincare benefits the skin, the body and the planet, we can help to create conscious skincare ambassadors, who make more educated ‘clean & green’ beauty choices and who encourage others to do the same. Suzie can create a bespoke range of products unique to your skin after a Skin Wellbeing coaching session, which includes a virtual session on how to use and apply the products when you receive them. And you will also learn facial massage and facial reflexology points.
Website - www.soothe-me.com
Instagram - @soothemeskincare
Strong + Bendy
Strong + Bendy is an outdoor exercise garden and airy indoor studio for group fitness and personal training. We welcome all fitness levels for fun workouts, led by friendly, expert trainers in a beautiful unique environment. Battle ropes, kettle bell cardio, HIIT pilates, yoga, TRX suspension training and more. Re-opening as soon as covid restrictions permit.
Website - www.strongandbendy.co.uk
Instagram - @strong_bendy
Therapy on Tour
Therapy on Tour offers psychotherapy, counselling and coaching services online, and in-person at Trowbridge Gardens in Hackney Wick. Therapist, Tiff, has a background as a touring member of crew on music productions and events, and has been a proud member of the Hackney community for a decade. Her clients come from all walks of life, some touring industry specific, but also many from the local community. She offers a confidential, non-judgemental space to explore the client’s world, within the therapeutic relationship. Her approach is integrative, and she works relationally with client concerns in a warm, empathic manner.
Website - www.therapyontour.com
Instagram - @therapyontour
I hope you’ve enjoyed the mini tour around Trowbridge Gardens.
Jinny
Website - www.jinnyngui-design.com
Instagram - @jinnynguidesign