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2020 resident project highlights

It’s been a disrupted and disruptive year for the creative industries. We wanted to showcase innovative resident projects that showcase resilience through creativity during the pandemic.

LULA LAORA

Fashion brand LULA LAORA produces handmade pieces in the studio. For LULA LAORA there is no distinction between gender, race or season.⁠

This year they showcased their A/W 2020 collection at London Fashion Week. Their showpieces are mainly made for performers and artists from the music industry. Ready-to-wear clothing is created from the essence of these one-off pieces.⁠

Ambar

Ambar

Netil House

London-based Ambar, recently launched a limited-edition collaboration with design duo Craig & Karl.

Comprised of a throw and scarf, this collection was designed at Netil House and manufactured exclusively in the UK.⁠ Defined by bold colours and graphic patterns, and knitted into 100% Woolmark-certified merino wool, the pieces are guaranteed to bring warmth and colour to those chilly days ahead.⁠

Natália Nicolau, Founder of Ambar said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to be able to use my textiles as a platform for Craig & Karl’s joyful work, which is an aesthetic that is so different from our signature Ambar look. From selecting the yarn colours to sampling, it’s been great to see these super fun products come to life and we are so pleased with the result. We couldn’t⁠ have picked a better team to collaborate with.”⁠

Studio Thomas

**Studio Thomas

Hackney Downs Studios**

Studio Thomas is a London based design and branding studio. Brand expression and visual communication for brave organisations, ambitious startups and inspired individuals.

This year they worked with Elsewhere Coffee Roasters - a new coffee roaster that doesn’t get bogged down in elaborate tasting notes and acidities. But a brand identity that sits closer to the consumer, and focuses on the effects of coffee and the places it can take you.

Thomas Austin, Founder: "It's no doubt been a tough year with lots of obvious challenges, cancelled or postponed projects, delivering everything (meetings, workshops, presentations) online, and a lack of face to face collaboration.

That said we're really proud of the work we've created this year and the relationships we've forged with new clients. As often happens in recessions, crisis or tough times - The need and desire for creative work has really boomed out the back of it, and things are on the up for 2021."

Wolf & Badger

As a creative & production agency, Wolf & Badger Studios has continued to build its reputation for helping designers create value through brand communications.

Timothy Turner-Sutton**,** Head of Studios: "Through the difficult times, 2020 saw us continue to provide brand strategy, end-to-end production, photography and film services to independent and big brands in new and interesting ways. Wolf & Badger Studios pivoted to help their community of creatives as they began restarting their operations.

Innovating remote and 'socially distant' means of client relations and content creation, the studios provided free video consultations, live online studio shoot feeds and special discounted ‘support rates’ in the hopes to help their existing and new clients get back up and running as effectively and efficiently as possible."

Casablanca

**Casablanca

Netil House**

Casablanca’s aesthetic is a fusion between lux and leisurewear, a perfect equilibrium of comfort and elegance. Casablanca re-interprets timeless environments of a luxurious heritage hotel suite or a crisp glass of champagne at a private country club terrace sunset. By adding a vivacity of colour keeps the brand youthful and easily inserted into a plethora of daily living.

Speaking to HYPEBEAST about the launch, Casablanca creative director Charaf Tajer explained the new capsule’s stripped-back aesthetic. As a designer, you explore various styles and colours. I think you need different shoes for different moods and moments. I let my creative vision and instincts of what I feel will look the best lead me, and try not to question it too much! I think it’s very cool to have classic colours in a collaboration so they don’t only become a “moment” they are shoes that have a timeless feel.”

Swan Films

SWAN Films

Hackney Downs Studios

BAFTA-winning production company founded and run by Neil Crombie and Joe Evans, specialising in documentaries and quality factual programmes.

Joe Evans: "In March, when it became evident that the programmes we were hoping to make would be impossible, we had to find a pivot.⁠

With the artist Grayson Perry (with whom we’ve worked for nearly a decade) we conceived the idea of Grayson’s Art Club for Channel 4. Filmed during the first lockdown, under very strict Covid protocols, it became a break-out hit, spawned an exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery, and now we’re working on a second series.⁠

During the first lockdown we also made a BBC arts series, Museums in Quarantine, and a film – This House is Full of Music - with the incredible Kanneh-Mason family of classical musicians.⁠

It’s undoubtedly been a tough year, but, creatively, one of the most rewarding we’ve ever had.”⁠

45 North

45 North

Hackney Downs Studios

45 North champions, develops and produces work by female-identifying and non-binary artists. Led by artists from a variety of performing and producing backgrounds.

"Written on the Waves is a celebration of storytelling, which shares stories to spark listeners’ imaginative worlds, and enable us to connect with each other while we are apart.

In March 2020 many creative possibilities ceased, unceremoniously and indefinitely. After a period of recalibration, we pivoted to create an audio world of storytelling: Written on the Waves.

Season 1 is a co-production between 45North and Ellie Keel Productions which includes partnerships with Atticist, HOTTER Project, and The North Wall."

Miss Crofton

Miss Crofton

Hackney Downs Studio

Miss Crofton started out to offer underwear that is both girly and sophisticated, using quality, sustainable materials and attention to detail. Low waste is extremely important to us, so our studio at Hackney Downs Studios sources end of roll material from diverse local sellers. When coronavirus hit, the nature of our small-scale production bode well, as we have learnt to adapt and minimise waste materials and production time.

Georgia Campbell, Founder: "Initially I started sending products to photographers and artists or just people I admire to create some exciting and fresh content to reflect our collection. With social distancing in place it made it difficult to organise shoots, so we looked into ways of organising campaigns virtually. Lots of people reached out and offered help which really gave a sense of togetherness, including one of my favourite collaborators Stacey Kassandra, mother and photographer based in London. This inspired me to organise a series of virtual shoots with different people in various parts of the world, I loved the idea of people being shot in their homes around all their belongings. There was something so raw and personal about it.

We shot our latest collection virtually by the very talented Arvida Bystrom , she captured Coumba in London and Steffie in LA via video call! I loved how different the settings were for each, apparently they had so much fun making them - I want to organise all shoots like this. Their combined talents captured our products perfectly and ensured that we could continue promoting our way."

MOX London

MOX London are the capybara of creative agencies - they bring together the most talented people from all around the world to tap into a higher level of creativity.

Matt Bolton, Co-Founder: "We launched our new Sports Direct Christmas advert which was our first tv advert and a complete new step for Sports Direct... From pitch to TV in a matter of weeks. We celebrated the everyday legends in a whirlwind of sports, for Sports Direct. From fishing to Jordan Henderson, to a horse with tinsel - of course."

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