In this movie we filmed for the Stepney Green Design Collection, Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs introduces East London creatives Nicolas Roope, Lee Broom, Nina Tolstrup and Phil Cuttance, who explain why east London has become such a hub for designers and the creative industries.
Shoreditch-based designer Lee Broom, who contributed one of his Decantlerlights to the collection (above), describes how east London has a unique “mix of history and street culture that gives British design its eclecticism”.
Nina Tolstrup of Studiomama explains that her local area is a great resource for her as a designer because “there are always materials to be found”. She has contributed one of her Re-imagined chairs (above), which is made from salvaged materials found near her studio in Bethnal Green.
Nicolas Roope, creative director of East London design brand Hulger that contributed a chandelier made out of Plumen lightbulbs to the collection (above), believes that the creative community itself is what draws people to the area. "It tends to bring with it great places to eat, drink coffee and beer," he explains.
Phil Cuttance, a Stepney Green resident, describes the area as "a place that has always been in flux" and believes that the area's recent gentrification is just another chapter in its rich history. He has made a one-off version of his Faceture Vase for the collection, which has a poem about Stepney Green cast in to its base (above).
Stepney Green Design Collection
The Stepney Green Design Collection consists of 10 products selected by Marcus Fairs of Dezeen from creatives who live near to VIVO, a new housing development in the east London district. The project also includes objects chosen by east London bloggers Pete Stean of Londoneer and Kate Antoniou of Run Riot.
We will be publishing a movie about each piece in the collection in the next few weeks on Dezeen. You can watch them all so far here.
The collection is on show at the Genesis Cinema, 93-95 Mile End Road, Whitechapel, London E1 4UJ, from 10am to 10pm every day until January. After this, the objects will be given to VIVO residents.
The music featured in the movies is by American designer and musician Glen Lib. You can listen to the full track on Dezeen Music Project.