First Atelier100 space officially opens at Livat Hammersmith London
Backed by Swedish retail giants Ingka Group and H&M, the first Atelier100 space has opened its doors to showcase London-based designers and creatives.
The store is located at Livat Hammersmith.
It is pitched as a new sustainable and hyper-local approach to retail.
Atelier100 has been designed not only as a space in which to sell products but also to host workshops, talks and events. .
The project launched with an open call for creatives, makers and manufacturers living within 100km of central London to share their innovative product ideas.
Marcus Engman, Chief Creative Officer at Ingka Group, the largest Ikea franchisee, says: “It is a proud moment to see the first Atelier100 open its doors.”
“Every part of the space has a story, from the locally sourced products on the shelves to the recycled material used to make the space itself. It will be ever evolving and I am excited to see how the creatives on the programme make Atelier100 their own come autumn.”
Camilla Henriksson, Global Brand Manager at H&M, comments: “I am thrilled to be here and to meet in person the creatives that we will be working closely with in the coming months.”
“This is just the beginning of the journey for Atelier100, we look forward to seeing the impact this pilot has on the London design community.”
The first 20 local creatives have now been chosen and are in the process of bringing their products to life through the Atelier100 funding and mentorship programme.
The aim is for the space to begin selling these products from October. In the meantime, the store will showcase a range of products designed and manufactured by London-based creatives.
Ella Rush and Kiah Bibby, students from London, are on the Atelier100 programme. They have created handmade jewellery pieces using thermochromic materials under their brand Gum LdN.
“When we saw the open call to apply for Atelier100 we knew we couldn’t miss the opportunity,” they say.
“We are already so proud of what we’ve done with Gum, but through Atelier100 we will get mentorship, funding and the chance to collaborate with other creatives on similar journeys to bring our business to the next level. That’s what excites us the most.”
