‘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.’