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Poplar Housing and Regeneration Community Association (HARCA) in Tower Hamlets has received almost £1.8m to create a new fashion focused destination in the area, a project which has been labelled Fashioning Poplar. 

The association in partnership with the University of the Arts London, London College of Fashion will convert 81 unused garages and surrounding land into a 2,000sqm fashion destination, which will feature an events and market space.

Fashioning Poplar will also include a garment manufacturing unit, incubation space for 70 fashion design and tech SMEs, and both commercial workspace and makery workspace.

Steve Stride, chief executive at Poplar HARCA, said: "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. 

"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." 

A £400,000 grant has also been awarded to Bow Packing Works in Tower Hamlets. The building, to be refurbished by Mainyard Studios, will house an events space, bar and restaurant, co-working space, artist studios and workshops.

A total of 24 London-based businesses and community groups will benefit from the LRF, which aims to address the shortage of affordable creative workspaces in the capital.

The Mayor of London and Chair of the LEP, Boris Johnson, said: "High streets and town centres the length and breadth of London are a hive of economic activity fuelled by creative minds.

"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."

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