Drive in to Dalston Pier studio’s multi-functional space.

Dalston Pier studio is a multifunctional space in, no surprises, the heart of fashionable East London and it’s big: really big. Described as a “drive in” studio, not because it shows movies for rock-n-roll teens wearing leather perfectos in hot-rods to watch (though wouldn’t that be a nice slice of Slimane-does-Americana?), but because, with 2260f2 of main space, you could quite literally drive a car quite comfortably into it – should you want to…

It’s all minimalist white-brick walls and steel-framed ceilings, with big skylights flooding the place with natural light (a perfect back drop for, well, anything really). But if spaces as clinical as Patrick Bateman’s apartment in American Psycho aren’t your thing – though they definitely should be – then those skylights close up for a black-out effect so you can pretty much do whatever you need with the space.

Obviously there are all the amenities you would expect from a fashion studio: steamers, hangers, sandbags, various props and, of course, Nespresso machine for essential caffeine boosts when those last minute shoots get stressful. It’s not just for fashion projects though, the cavernous space does well as an exhibition location (a clean backdrop for canvases and larger installations) and is a great place for popups of all shapes and sizes.

Words: Benji Walters