GNOME HOUSE: ONE COMMUNITY
Gnome house is a volunteer led community space concentrating in several aspects to tie together members of the community in Walthamstow in East London. The enterprise not only offers a space for its users but also includes a printing studio, meeting room, exhibition space, and a soon to be opened café. Workshops and classes offered surrounding the topic of printmaking ranges from an expert level to beginners and children, appealing to the wide range of the population in East London.
The center includes different rooms and spaces for each specific need of different companies and enterprises. Gnome house offers a large space which can accommodate up to two hundred fifty people which can also be split into two spaces. Prices for the rooms range according to different criteria such as community members, discretionary, and business rates each room are bookable by the hour. Also, the website for Gnome House features an event calendar showcasing the different events offered at different dates and times throughout the month. Some events and workshops include yoga classes, dance classes, Pilates classes, and health and well-being each with a summarized description of the workshop and fee. These workshops all go hand in hand with the main mission of Gnome House of bringing the community together through different activities. Gnome House facilitates the different needs of each workshop held such as the chairs, meeting rooms, and even the café. Diversification in form of a café is also one of the next goals of the enterprise which proves to increase community building and social interaction between members of the society.
FibreLab may look into collaborating with Gnome House through a few different alternatives. Initially, FibreLab can host an event focusing on circular waste solutions such as a vintage Levi’s Jeans clothes swap in which that community members can attend to browse and purchase a selection of pre-owned jeans helping the community be more sustainable towards fashion. The clothes swap can also include a section where people can customize their jeans with different hand embroideries. Furthermore, FibreLab can host a talk in the large space at Gnome House with London College of Fashion alumni who have focused their initiatives and work expertise around sustainability and waste management solutions. Founders of companies such as Know the Origin can provide insights and inspiration about the importance of sustainable fashion to the population of East London. Also, FibreLab can use the space to create a natural ink dye workshop with a minor entrance fee to cover the minimal costs associated with hosting the workshop. The workshop will tackle both the sustainable aspect of fashion and bringing the community together.
Gnome house proves to be a sustainable center in the community of East London by bringing together various businesses and enterprises under one roof. This allows the community to grow and share their ideas on how to create sustainable businesses and processes through the various workshops offered. Gnome House allows the community not only to grow independently but also offers to bring East London together.