Poplar's East end to benefit from 3.9 million pounds Fashion Hub

The mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced plans for 24 business and community groups to benefit for a new 20 million pound London Regeneration Fund, which include the development of a fashion hub in the East End.

A half-acre site in Poplar, East London, which currently houses 81 lock-up garages is set to be home for the new 3.9 million pound fashion hub. The Poplar Housing and Regeneration Community Association (HARCA) has awarded 1.8 million pounds, which has been matched by 1.8 million pounds from the London Regeneration Fund for the development of the hub, which will include studios, a garment manufacturing unit, co-working business spaces, technology incubator spaces for designers and a public cafe.

“The Fashioning Poplar project will create a unique end-to-end opportunity for the fashion sector, combining design, enterprise, tech, making and manufacturing and selling,” said Steve Stride, CEO, Poplar HARCA. “It will be embedded in the community providing jobs, training and workspace locally, ensuring talent is created and nurtured in this hugely exciting part of East London”.

The initiative, which is in partnership with the London College of Fashion and University of the Arts London and the Poplar HARCA, aims to help provide the necessary skills and training opportunities to those in the local community. The project is set to create 40 new full time positions, with work on the site beginning within the next few weeks for completion in autumn, 2017.

“High streets and town centres the length and breadth of London are a hive of economic activity fuelled by creative minds,” said mayor Johnson in a statement. “It’s important that we make sure they continue to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving city and the talented people who are key to its future success. It’s fantastic to see so many applicants to this fund, offering innovative ways to nurture and support the dynamism and creativity that will power our economy in the years ahead.”