Founded by Vanessa Cheung, The Mills Fabrica reimagines a Victorian warehouse in King’s Cross as a pioneering incubator blending textiles and agri-food innovation to tackle global emissions and environmental challenges through collaborative technology and sustainable design.
The Mills Fabrica in King’s Cross epitomises a thriving synthesis of innovation and sustainability, establishing itself as a cornerstone for emerging enterprises within London’s vibrant landscape. Founded by Vanessa Cheung in conjunction with her family’s textile-manufacturing legacy, this hub has evolved depuis its inception in the textile sector to become a critical incubator for start-ups in both the textile and agri-food industries.
Vanessa Cheung, inspired by her education in the United States, sought to repurpose her family’s dormant factories for pioneering ventures that tackle pressing global challenges. The venture officially took flight in 2018, culminating in the opening of its London outpost in the heart of King’s Cross. According to Amy Tsang, Cheung’s first employee and a key figure in The Mills Fabrica, the focus on textiles and food arises from their intrinsic roles in daily life and their significant contributions to global carbon emissions. “The minute you wake up, you think about what to eat and what to wear,” Tsang asserts. “If we could reduce that, it could have a huge impact on our planet.”
Currently housed in a Victorian warehouse, The Mills Fabrica boasts comprehensive co-working spaces and cutting-edge facilities, including a prototyping lab equipped for 3D printing and other essential technologies. The venue also features an experiential concept store named Fabrica X, showcasing a range of sustainable brands and products. Situated within the “Knowledge Quarter,” the Mills’ location enhances its appeal, providing an ideal environment for collaboration among innovators from various sectors.
Their approach to nurturing startups is multifaceted, offering funding, mentorship, and access to a network of industry stakeholders. Recent events have seen participation from significant players in finance and retail, such as HSBC and Waitrose, reflecting the platform’s commitment to facilitating impactful partnerships. The emphasis on networking is clear: “If we can connect people, that’s the best way to accelerate a global transition to a more sustainable future,” Tsang explains.
Innovations emerging from The Mills Fabrica are not limited to textiles; they encompass diverse technological advancements aimed at sustainability. One such initiative, Nukoko, creatively transforms UK-grown fava beans into chocolate, presenting an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cocoa sourcing. Similarly, The Supplant Company is utilising agricultural by-products such as wheat straw to develop alternative flours. Other startups are making strides in tech, focusing on saving water or improving recycling processes for textiles. Notably, Unspun is deploying 3D weaving machines to create garments with minimal waste, forming partnerships with major retailers like Decathlon and Walmart as they scale their solutions across Europe.
The Mills Fabrica’s ethos of collaboration extends beyond mere financial support; it is predicated on the belief that innovations cannot flourish in isolation. By fostering an inclusive community of like-minded entrepreneurs, the platform aims to catalyse meaningful change across industries. Tsang affirms, “We encourage everyone to work together. Innovations don’t work in silos. We have to work together to make a difference to the planet.”
With its ongoing exhibition, “Taste of Tomorrow,” running through the end of July, The Mills Fabrica continues to spotlight the possibilities of sustainable innovation. This dynamic space is not only a testament to progressive design and functionality but a beacon for those committed to forging a sustainable future.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/the-mills-fabrica/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.themillsfabrica.com/spaces/co-working-space-london/ – The Mills Fabrica offers a variety of co-working spaces in London, including private offices, fixed desks, and floating desks. Amenities include meeting rooms, phone booths, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a prototyping lab equipped with laser cutting, sewing, and 3D printing facilities. Located just a 5-minute walk from King’s Cross station, the space is ideal for innovators in the techstyle and agrifood sectors. Membership also provides access to exclusive events and a community of like-minded professionals.
- https://www.regentquarter.london/the-estate/buildings/the-mills-fabrica – The Mills Fabrica, situated in Regent Quarter, King’s Cross, is a hub for sustainable innovators. The space includes a co-working area, event space, prototyping lab, and Fabrica X, an experiential concept store showcasing sustainable brands. The venue hosts curated events and offers a community for entrepreneurs focused on techstyle and agrifood innovations. Its location in the heart of Knowledge Quarter makes it a prime spot for collaboration and innovation.
- https://www.themillsfabrica.com/ – The Mills Fabrica is an innovation hub dedicated to accelerating techstyle and agrifood technology innovations for sustainability and social impact. It offers co-working spaces, a prototyping lab, and a concept store called Fabrica X. The platform supports early-stage start-ups through funding, mentoring, and connections to a network of international funders, specialists, and retailers. Their mission is to drive positive social impact by fostering sustainable innovations in the fashion and food industries.
- https://themillsfabricauk.spaces.nexudus.com/contact?v=4.0.700 – The Mills Fabrica London is located at Cottam House, 36-40 York Way, King’s Cross, London, N1 9AB. For inquiries, contact them at 020 3926 6381 or via email at [email protected]. The space offers co-working facilities, a prototyping lab, and hosts various events focused on sustainable innovation in the techstyle and agrifood sectors.
- https://www.onofficemagazine.com/interiors/home-circular-economy-coworking-london-kings-cross – The Mills Fabrica, housed in a three-storey Victorian warehouse in King’s Cross, offers a co-working space, event venue, prototyping lab, and Fabrica X, a concept store for sustainable brands. The space supports start-ups in the techstyle and agrifood sectors, providing resources like a café with vertical farming units and a community-focused environment. The design incorporates elements that reflect the Mills Fabrica’s environmental philosophy, creating an inviting and collaborative workspace.
- https://enkimagazine.com/the-mills-fabrica-new-home-for-sustainable-innovators/ – The Mills Fabrica, located in King’s Cross, London, is a hub for sustainable innovators in the techstyle and agrifood sectors. The space includes a co-working area, prototyping lab, and Fabrica X, a concept store showcasing sustainable brands. It offers a start-up incubation programme and hosts curated events to nurture a community of innovators. The design of the space reflects its environmental philosophy, creating an inviting and collaborative environment for entrepreneurs.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of prior publication. The earliest known publication date of similar content is June 12, 2025. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, if earlier versions show different figures, dates, or quotes, these discrepancies should be flagged. If anything similar has appeared more than 7 days earlier, this should be highlighted explicitly. If the article includes updated data but recycles older material, mention that the update may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The quotes attributed to Amy Tsang and Vanessa Cheung are unique to this narrative, with no identical matches found in earlier material. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content. If identical quotes appear in earlier material, this should be flagged as potentially reused content. If quote wording varies, note the differences. If no online matches are found, raise the score but flag as potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from Country & Town House, a reputable UK-based publication. However, the article is based on a press release, which may indicate a lack of independent verification. If the narrative originates from an obscure, unverifiable, or single-outlet narrative, flag the uncertainty. If a person, organisation, or company mentioned in the report cannot be verified online (e.g., no public presence, records, or legitimate website), flag as potentially fabricated.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about The Mills Fabrica’s initiatives and partnerships are plausible and align with known information about the organisation. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which should be flagged clearly. If the report lacks specific factual anchors (e.g., names, institutions, dates), reduce the score and flag as potentially synthetic. If language or tone feels inconsistent with the region or topic—e.g., strange phrasing, wrong spelling variant—flag as suspicious. If the structure includes excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim, note this as a possible distraction tactic. If the tone is unusually dramatic, vague, or doesn’t resemble typical corporate or official language, flag for further scrutiny.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be original and plausible, with unique quotes and no evidence of prior publication. However, it is based on a press release, which may indicate a lack of independent verification. The lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets and the recycling of older material suggest a need for further scrutiny.
