Meet Oxo Tower Wharf's community of makers on the River Thames

It’s impossible not to notice the Oxo Tower. An iconic part of London’s skyline, this riverside art deco building features stained glass windows spelling out ‘OXO’ – a nod to its industrial past as storage for the stock-cube company. Today, this landmark building is a bustling hub of creativity. Oxo Tower Wharf houses a wealth of designers and makers crafting everything from lighting to ceramics, watches to millinery.

‘Working in the Oxo Tower has always been a dream of mine,’ says jewellery designer Loveness Lee, who creates contemporary gold and silver pieces with her team of seven. ‘I’ve always wanted a shop that features a workshop, so that customers can see the whole process. All our pieces are handmade here.’

Lee is one of the Oxo Tower’s more recent arrivals; others, like Doreen Gittens of Archipelago Textiles, have stayed since the studios opened 25 years ago. ‘What’s kept me at the Oxo all these years is the community,’ reflects Gittens, who hand-weaves textile accessories and soft furnishings on the large loom that takes pride of place in her studio shop. ‘It’s a pleasure being here – I love coming to work in the morning. For me, the interesting thing about working at the Oxo is the environment – the ambience of the area. From the South Bank along the river, it’s such a vibrant place to be.’

Alongside the maker studios and shops, the Oxo Tower also features two galleries, Bargehouse and gallery@oxo, which play host to a rich roster of exhibitions and year-round events.

For some of the Oxo Tower’s residents, the Thames itself is a rich source of inspiration. ‘I’m inspired by the textures of sand, of driftwood, of pebbles’, says ceramic artist Sotis Filippides, who throws his textured vessels in the workshop behind his pristine gallery space. ‘I am very lucky to have a studio that’s actually facing the river, because this is the core of my inspiration.’

Tempted to join this community of designer-makers? Simply email lettings@coinstreet.org and complete an online form to express your interest. Visit the website for more info.