About ALT Hackney

ALT Hackney was born in the stillness of lockdown — a small creative project that started in a flat in Hackney and quietly grew into something we couldn't stop making.
With time on our hands and a curiosity for materials, we began experimenting with Jesmonite, drawn to its versatility and the endless possibilities it offered through terrazzo and marbling techniques. What started as a way to stay sane during uncertain times became a genuine obsession with craft, colour, and texture.

Where It All Started
The very first piece I made was a rectangular plant pot. The vision was simple but specific — a pot with drainage holes paired with a water tray that aligned with it seamlessly, sitting flush underneath as if the two were made for each other. Because they were. That idea of things fitting together perfectly, both functionally and aesthetically, became the design philosophy that still drives everything we make today.

Small Batch, Always
We deliberately keep things small. Every piece is produced in limited batches — no mass production, no cutting corners. This means each item carries the subtle marks of being genuinely handmade; slight variations in pattern, tone, and texture that make every piece unique. When you buy from ALT Hackney, you're getting something that was made carefully, not churned out.

How We Make
Our process begins with design. We design and 3D print prototypes using biodegradable filaments, then create moulds to refine shapes and proportions before we start production. We begin casting with Jesmonite—a water-based, low-VOC material—working with terrazzo and marbling techniques to achieve the bold, tactile finishes you see in our products, which we hand sand and seal ourselves as the final touch.
No two pieces are ever identical. That's not a flaw — it's the whole point.

Made Responsibly
Sustainability isn't a trend for us, it's a consideration baked into every decision we make. From biodegradable 3D printing filaments in our prototyping process to packaging that we continuously work to make more sustainable, we're always asking whether there's a better way to do things. We're not perfect, but we're committed to improving.

East London Made
We're proudly based in Hackney, East London. The neighbourhood's creative energy, its mix of cultures and its refusal to take itself too seriously is woven into everything we make — from the colours we choose to the objects we design.
Thanks for being here. It means a lot.

— The ALT Hackney Team