Jirkeeyga collection

With the continuing rise of fast fashion and the devastating consequences it is having on our environment, sustainable fashion is strengthening its offensive. Organisations like Swap Nation are being erected with the aim of making ‘sustainable fashion affordable for women in the UK’. Clothes are being repurposed and vintage being back in vogue is further […]

Upcycle, recycle, full circle

For some years, scaffolding boards and other ‘waste’ materials from the Olympic Park were used for mezzanine-building, warehouse modifications and much more in Hackney Wick. Almost a decade ago, Tom Fletcher created his Rejuce factory in a Fish Island warehouse, collecting discarded fruit from a wholesale market. Another warehouse-dweller I knew fantasised about closed-circuit hydroponic […]

Meet DollyOlli

How did you meet each other? Marie: We met at a non-reality party, far, far away on the planet fantasy. Money doesn’t matter there, its full of eccentrics, there are no grey square rectangular buildings, they’re all round and colourful. Everything is illogical. How long have you been here? M: The Olympics finished and we […]

Wellbeing in the Wick

Kevin Hempsted is a born and bred Eastender, and runs White Post Lane therapy and counselling centre A Balanced Life. He talks about how the pandemic has impacted health, and why the local community is so essential to all our wellbeing. We’re still processing the trauma of the past year… Lockdown has taken away part of community we all need – that contact with […]

Your Big Break in the Time of COVID

We’re living through the economic shock of our lifetimes, but East London is a good place to be if you’re in need of inspirational training opportunities and financial support

Stitching Together

Camaraderie is one thing the coronavirus pandemic has strengthened instead of debilitated. Camaraderie not amongst friends and family alone, but also amongst complete strangers. Strangers and solidarity are often not words that complement each other, but the current worldwide crisis challenging all, in some way, shape or form, has made these two synonymous. Lockdown resulted […]

The Wicked One: Laura May Lewis

How did you come to Hackney Wick & Fish Island (HWFI)?In 2006 – it was the building that captivated me – the light and the space. I wasn’t aware of all the artist studios tucked away and how many creative people lived here. That was a very nice surprise. What aspects of HWFI do you […]

Beyond the Box

In this year of massive coronavirus upheaval, many voices – from the Prime Minister to homelessness charities – have been calling for how we must now ‘build back better’. It looks like social and environmental projects that were previously considered radical may finally be given a go. Meanwhile here in Hackney Wick, a group of […]

limited edition 750 copies

the wick book

A 160-page hardback celebration of resilience, featuring hundreds of photos, stories and memories: 15 years of culture, community and change