I just strolled in off the street and a friendly fella named Jim gave me a tour of their workshop.

I found out that Material Lab offers all sorts of samples, swatches and other resources for designer working on projects big and small. Mat Lab opened about three and a half years ago as a marketing tool for sales development by Johnson Tiles.

Since then they have been looking toward local architects and designers for feedback and suggestions for the workshop so it has evolved and grown into quite a cool, handy space. Check it out below.

Mat Lab had evolved into a space that includes a library of reference materials and swatches.

All samples are free and they are catalogued for easy reference and application.

They keep two walls dedicated to showcasing new material available.

People are encouraged to work on site with the samples in their own dedicated work space complete with a water feature- see wall on right below the monumental Escher print.

The newest addition to the Mat Lab repitoire is the Absolute Gallery, a space downstairs where they showcases 3000+ range of Johnson products and host events.

They also have a satellite space at Studio Milliken in London.

If you are visiting or working in London or possibly thinking of starting something like this in the UAE defiantly look up Material Lab because we would could really use the resource!

Later on I took a quick walk up and down Savile Road to spy on the workshops below their respected shops.

I caught this fine gentleman delivering a suit to a customer.

Issey Miyaki was having a sale so I had to take a peak.

I met up for a wander around Brick Lane in the East End of London with a mate of a mate named Chuka. Who better to tour one of the best neighborhoods in the world for vintage clothing and young, avante garde designers than a local stylist, model and designer.

Chuka on the left and me on the right.

'no photography' signs posted everywhere and here I am breaking all the rules... again.

We got lucky and perused the graduate design work by students from Nottingham University.

Waaaaaaay too hipster- so it must be a fashion shoot.

yep indeed.

Note- a special thanks to Chuka and our Nigerian connection in Qatar for hooking us up!  This day ended in Chelsea with one Mister Rusty, a mate of a mate, and as there are good reasons for the lack of visual proof, I can't post anything here. I would just like to say many thanks to him and our mutual mate in NYC.