As the new year begins, it's hard to ignore the tangible buzz that always spreads among London's leading creatives at this time of year. A new start is on the mind, and with that comes a renewed focus on growth. 

We spoke with five trailblazing individuals from across our studio communities, each of whom shared how their unique spaces have redefined their craft and fuelled their ambitions for 2025. From fostering new connections to refining their practices, these stories reveal the profound impact of investing in the right environment.

Waking Dreams | Netil

Trailblazing yoga studio Waking Dreams is one of Hackney’s most highly-regarded movement hubs, having fostered a wide community within East London from their beautiful light-filled space. Founder Nat discussed how their studio in Netil has empowered their practice and community.

"Waking Dreams began as a vision to create a welcoming space for movement, mindfulness, and connection. Today, it’s a thriving movement hub, known for workshops spanning topics as diverse as ‘Move to Soothe’—an ADHD support workshop—to more spiritually leaning classes, as well as welcoming practitioners from across the globe," Nat explained.

Their dedicated studio space has provided both the headroom and physical environment to nurture growth and innovation. “The dream has always been to empower people through movement and connection, and Netil has been an incredible foundation for making that possible. After traveling so much, arriving at the office feels like coming home — it’s a space that’s given me not just physical room, but also headspace to focus and grow our business,” she added. “As a team, we love using the space for meetings, although admittedly some of our most productive work comes from the rooftop sauna—it inspires creativity and collaboration in ways that truly make a difference. The office space at Netil House has been instrumental in our growth, giving us both the headspace and physical room to expand our offerings and build a stronger community.”

“In 2025, we’re focused on taking Waking Dreams to new audiences — growing our workshops, embarking on some really exciting partnerships, and you’ll see us in a few more places around East London and beyond. Expect to hear more on these plans in January as we plan to hit the ground of 2025, running. There is another clue for you!"

Lo Digital | Netil

At the helm of Lo Digital, founder Chikay Lo has taken true advantage of being in a shared studio space, some of her recent work having been impacted by Netil's dynamic community.

"I absolutely love our Netil Corner community. It feels almost like family! Whether it’s poking my head into neighbouring studios, others doing the same, or enjoying cakes baked by Jodi (our studio neighbour) in the kitchen—there’s always such a lovely vibe in the office that I’m grateful for," she said.

She reflected on the studio’s role in scaling her business: "What started out as a consultancy model, working by myself, developed into a boutique agency model, working with all-female-founded brands, with a new hire starting in April as well as a contractor to support on growing client work in Q4 this year. We are speaking to some really exciting new brands at the moment and hope that 2025 will be a huge growth year!"

"We’ve even worked across an amazing collaboration with a space local to the office—organising a partnership between our client Joonbyrd x Hermosa at Studio Anatomy across the road from Netil, which started through an introduction from another resident."

Hito Estudio | Netil

Melding art and Latin American culinary culture, Hito Estudio, founded by Laura Hoyos, has become a creative sanctuary within Netil. Laura described how their Netil studio has transformed her process and amplified her vision.

"Hito Estudio started in 2019 in Colombia, with the idea of bringing people together around good food and art—to collaborate with different artists, chefs, and creatives in general. Then, I moved to Paris, where I continued to work on this project and meet inspiring people," Laura shared.

“My studio has become almost a kind of special creative sanctuary to create, think, and bring my ideas to life. It’s a space where I gather people around food and welcome them into Hito’s universe. Having a place that supports and enhances the development of my practice means I am enjoying it more than ever,” she said.

After a year in London, Hito Estudio has evolved into a design studio crafting conviviality—designing objects, hosting events, and continuing to collaborate with aligned creatives. “Deciding to dedicate a physical space to Hito allows me to showcase the collectible pieces, keep doing the events, and keep working! Also, Latin American food, rituals, and crafts are key to my creative process.”

Otto Framing | Cornerstone Studios

With a focus on contemporary craftsmanship, Otto Framing, founded by Alex, is setting a new standard in innovative frame design. Their light-filled Georgian studio at Cornerstone Studios has become an integral part of their creative and commercial growth.

“Otto Framing was founded as a creative framing studio, specialising in contemporary and innovative frame design, with the intention to work sustainably with our choices of materials and processes,” Alex explained.

The studio has also facilitated exciting collaborations: "Cornerstone Studios has been fundamental to the way Otto Framing has developed as a business and a brand. It’s been a beautiful space to work and invite clients into. We've had the opportunity to work with many other residents here, including Art Untamed, Iota Edit, and Charlotte Mei, for commercial framing projects."

“We’re excited to continue growing and working with our community, and we’re always exploring new joinery and profiles—some of which we hope to share very soon.”

Blue Nude | Hackney Downs Studios

Kat, founder of Blue Nude, is an emerging designer championing Made in London fashion and environmentally conscious design. She shared how her Hackney Downs studio has elevated her practice and inspired her work.

"Each season, we collaborate with a different visual artist to explore a natural area of the world," Kat said. “The concept began from a desire to create colourful, art-forward, and environmentally sensitive clothing at an accessible price point.”

“Having a studio opened up my practice to be even more collaborative as it became easy, fun, and stress-free to undertake creative projects in a dedicated, larger space. I love the light I get in my studio! It makes analysing colour swatches, doing photoshoots, and creating art a joy,” she shared.

Looking to the future, Kat spoke of her upcoming show in collaboration with the British Fashion Council. “We are excited to be partnering with Hackney Downs Studios on our next edition of Art Party in the Gallery space for London Fashion Week in February 2025.”