About our cultural programme
“ HOMEGROWN “ is the new flagship cultural programme curated by Yasmin Jones-Henry for the reimagining of London’s West End.
Through co-design and cross-sector collaboration we’re championing the UK’s grassroots talent across craft, creative enterprise and cultural innovation. Our events, exhibitions and collaborations come with sector specific ambitions to define :
Rethinking Retail & Cultural Space Design
As Oxford Street and Soho goes through a once in a generation transformation, The Lab W1 is a safe space for experimentation and cross-sector collaboration that is designed to facilitate co-design with local stakeholders.
We’re working with pioneering partners such as Deaf City Hub, Fair Shot, Raindance, MYGROUP, Paul Smith Foundation to transform the future of commercial and cultural space design, activation and programming.
The Future of Circular Fashion & Regenerative Design
As an official partner for the launch of Soho as London’s newest Design District, we’re working with local partners to support the “rewilding” of Oxford Street and Soho for the future of design innovation.
In alignment with the British Fashion Council’s vision for a truly circular UK fashion and retail sector we’ll be supporting the incubation and acceleration of London’s NextGen designers manifesting craft excellence and material innovation.
The Future of Independent UK Music & Film
Soho and the West End has a long and groundbreaking heritage of supporting independent musicians and live performance. We will be ensuring accessible and affordable space for cultural production continues.
Nurturing the next generation of storytellers and content creators. Collaborating with industry pioneers to create career pathways for local youth.
The Future of Creative Enterprise
Our cultural programme supports the placeshaping vision for the regeneration of Oxford Street and Soho as London’s bespoke hub for the future of creative enterprise and co-designed workspace culture.
Our ambition and our aim is to deliver a future-proofed, testbed for the future of workspace culture and commercial leasing for London that retains the best talent and supports emerging businesses.
Who We Work With:
British Fashion Council, Creative UK, Crafts Council, Century Club - Soho, Colechi, Disability Urbanism, Deaf City Hub, Fair Shot, General Projects, Groucho Club, Heals, Intimate Records, Informare PR, Kind At Heart CIC, MYGroup - Refactory, Mayor of London Culture, Matter Space Soul, Paul Smith Foundation, Publica, Raindance, University Arts London, University Arts Plymouth, Vivobarefoot, Well—Crafted, University of Westminster, Westminster City Council, With Not For…
Delivery Partner for Soho Design District
About Our Programme for Soho Design District
“I am super grateful to be able to have been invited by Informare to develop the framework and curate the cultural programme for the launch of Soho as the newest design district for the London Design Festival 2026.
As part of The Lab W1’s flagship programme “HOMEGROWN” (2026-2033) this opportunity aligns with our ongoing mission to “rewild” Soho and Oxford Street creating authentic and sustainable space for the next generation: all delivered through the lense of my core “Regenerative By Design” principles.
The Lab W1’s activations across Soho for 2026 have a central focus on celebrating local heritage (across design, film, fashion and music), and amplifying the voices of NextGen grassroots talent.
Better Living By Design programme was supported by our venue partners The Heals Building (General Projects), Century Club and The Groucho Club. Our thanks to our collaborators such as Kind At Heart CIC, Pinterest, Brodie Neill, Vivobarefoot, University Arts London, Crafts Council, the Future Fabrics Expo, Daniel Heath Studio, Publica, MYGROUP, The Mills Fabrica, Raindance, Adoreum, Futurecity, COLECHI and many more!.”
Our programme and exhibition Soho, maps the story of how we, as a collective, possess the power to transform our ways of thinking, our lifestyles and our cities through craft, co-design and cultural innovation.
Yasmin Jones-Henry (Curator & Founder of The Lab W1)
Soho Design District x London Design Festival 2026
Photo Credits: Louie-Joe Findlater, The Lab W1, 2026
Career Pathways & Next Gen Talent
As part of HOMEGROWN we are providing space and support for charities, CIC’s, local authorities and local businesses creating opportunities, training and development tackling youth unemployment
Watch the video to learn more about “Show Up For Success”
About Show Up For Success
We're fundraising for their new home to continue their programme tackling youth unemployment and creating opportunities for disabled young people here in the heart of London for the next 3 years.
Their mission, through co-creation is to develop and scale a world class place-based platform and paradigm for innovating accessible career pathway solutions for disabled young people who wish to excel in the creative industries and hospitality sectors.
Show Up For Success was originally founded by Kind At Heart CIC, YJH Consulting and the London Borough of Newham Youth Empowerment Service Participation Team as a pilot in 2024, in response to the barriers to entry for disabled young people, looking for work in the creative industries and hospitality sectors.
The members of Today Not Tomorrow Youth Citizens Assembly Production group wanted to do something practical for themselves - and for their peers struggling to navigate the jungle of youth unemployment, and their youth workers Tim & Cassandra, quite literally knocked on my door (of The Lab E20) in 2023, to ask if we could help.
A collaboration that started life as one event, turned into a campaign, that evolved into a summer school (2024), that escalated to an industry symposium with our East Bank neighbours in May 2025. We co-designed every aspect - from the brand identity to the curriculum with the local young people here in Newham.
The Future
Sadly - their flagship home - The Lab E20 closed by landlords (Get Living) in 2025.
So they’re setting up a new home and location (The Lab W1) in the West End, they are now fundraising to to deliver a fully scaled London-wide cross-borough programme, including our:
Show Up For Success annual Summer School (August),
Show Up For Success annual Industry Employers Symposium (October)
Show Up For Success Craft, Wellbeing and Employability (Monthly workshops).
Together our vision is to have delivered a co-designed "Show Up For Success" Industry Toolkit (digital and print publication designed by our Show Up For Success students and partners) by 2028, bringing together our collective learnings from our network of sector specific partners and our students and alumni.
The social value legacy we would like to have left is a new - and permanent ecosystem between local authorities, local businesses and disabled young people co-designing solutions to youth unemployment for SEND, including helping our community of creative pioneers starting their own businesses and personal brands.
Previous collaborations have included Fair Shot Cafe, Barnet Council, University Arts London, Newham Council, Crafts Council, With Not For, Disability Urbanism, Daniel Heath Studio and RAEBURN.
Introducing DeafCity Hub
As part of our HOMEGROWN programme, we’re incubating London’s first purpose built flagship cultural and commercial hub for the deaf community.
Deaf City Hub, will transform the way our high streets are regenerated, providing London - and the world with a new paradigm for placeshaping and urban design.