SAMPLE, curated and produced with Greenwich Peninsula, was a quarterly market event aimed at helping young, up-and-coming traders build a network of like-minded entrepreneurs. SAMPLE provided a platform for new businesses, offering affordable rates that limit risk and stress for those starting out. The event was designed to lay the groundwork for the then-nascent Design District by embedding creativity, craft, and design into the area before any buildings or facilities were completed. By 2021,SAMPLE had fulfilled its mission, coinciding with the opening of the Design District — London’s first permanent, purpose-built workspace for the creative industries. Situated just a minute from North Greenwich Underground station, the District features 16 buildings designed by eight pioneering architects and supports a thriving ecosystem of creative businesses.
For visitors, SAMPLE was a celebration of the start of each new season, showcasing emerging creatives from the worlds of fashion, beauty, art, design and homewares with their collections, and archives, alongside a seasonal produce market, street food traders, creative workshops and music. It celebrated slow fashion, sustainable retail and locally-sourced goods, attracting between 12-20k visitors to each edition.
