FEL’s FC Designer Workspace in Islington Shortlisted for The Pineapples Award

11-02-2025
The Pineapples is an annual festival and awards event celebrating projects that make a positive impact on places.
The 2025 shortlist for The Pineapples awards for place has been announced with 110 projects in the running for a golden pineapple for their contribution to place. The Festival of Pineapples is live streamed and this year will run from 25th – 27th February.

FEL’s FC Designer Workspace, part of the Andover Community Workspace, a collaboration with Islington Council and Studio Partington, has been shortlisted in ‘The Pineapple for Creative Retrofit’ category.
The affordable FC Designer Workspace was converted from disused garages and was delivered first as part of Studio Partington’s public realm improvements and new housing to Andover Estate. Run by Fashion-Enter Ltd the workspace nurtures, supports and teaches local residents and businesses within the fashion, creative and garment making industry.
Andover Community Workspace is the first successful conversion of a series of redundant under croft spaces across the estate. The existing three-storeys of flats and maisonettes above the new workspace are maintained with residents in place during the construction, and the building fabric of the residential parts has been substantially enhanced as part of the conversion to provide thermal, acoustic, access and security improvements to the whole building.

Jenny Holloway CEO Fashion-Enter Ltd said: “I can’t express how fantastic this programme is! We were involved from the start with Islington Council from the initial architectural plans upwards. We worked constantly with Osbourne and probably drove them mad too! It was all worth it because the space is perfect for industrial skills education and affordable studios for designers, two of which have progressed to present at London Fashion Week.
“The neighbouring shop at 113-115 Fonthill Road is an excellent showcase too and hosts upcycling and repair workshops for local residents. It was recently featured in The Guardian with an article by Sarah Mower.
“I have worked in the fashion sector for 35-years and I have never been involved in such an innovative, circular, sustainable fashion programme. Islington is ahead of its time.
“A huge thank you to the Greater London Authority, the Good Growth Fund and Islington Council for making the affordable workspace a reality. It’s a game-changer for fashion support today and an excellent example to pass on to all boroughs.
“Wish us luck at the digital Festival of Pineapples event, 25 – 27 February.”