May 04, 2023

Caramel Rock's fashion pop-up in Spark Lab, Ilford

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Studio Egret West has been supporting the fashion education charity Caramel Rock. We have advised them on ways they can improve its current premises in London Docklands, Newham, as well as their recent temporary pop-up in Spark Lab, Ilford.

Caramel Rock offers skill training and work experience for young people. Their current premises are in East London’s Royal Docks, Newham, where we have helped them to improve wayfinding, branding and working environment.

Their recent pop-up in Ilford took place in the ex-Dorothy Perkins shop on the high street, which was transformed by Jan Kattein Architects in collaboration with Redbridge Council to create a temporary space for creative industry use. Within this space we worked with the Caramel Rock team to install a linear Catwalk along the centre, helping them to plan for 10 emerging designers to showcase their work alongside workshops and study spaces. We worked through options for a café and reworked the shop window, constructing props to grab the attention of passers-by on the high street whilst also allowing the students' work to stand out on mannequins.

Specificity

Caramel Rock's residency ran from February to April, providing teaching and student workshops that were open to the public, as well as showcasing the work of 10 emerging fashion designers.

We will continue to work with the charity advising them on how they can use other spaces in the future as they expand their premises and take on residencies.

Sustainability

By working with charities such as Caramel Rock, we are promoting sustainable communities and supporting the work they do to take students’ work to the public on high streets in pop-up shops. It is their focus on local communities and nurturing talent that makes them an interesting charity to work with.

Our interventions here focussed on reusable window props and easily dismountable signage that can be reused in the future.

Shop Window by Studio Egret West

Shop Window by Studio Egret West

Interiors by Jan Kattein Architects

Interiors by Jan Kattein Architects

Interiors by Jan Kattein Architects