We dropped by the living and work spaces of menswear designer Peir Wu for the latest installment of Selectism Visits.

Peir Wu is an independent label that was founded in 2011, and produces finely crafted garments with a purist ethos. Wu has developed a highly considered way of working and is well-known for a design style that is refined and evocative.

In her London home and studio, tucked away in Hackney Wick, light floods in through wide windows and gives the space a sense of calm. The space is minimal and well-planned. Wu works on a big wooden desk with views of the Olympic park.

We spoke to Wu about what makes a good neighborhood and what she likes most about her workspace.

What's your favorite aspect of your live/work space as a whole?

The double story pitch roof, big windows, natural light and working in comfort.

Tell us about your favorite piece of furniture or equipment in your space.

There’s this big metal grid frame, which was reclaimed by Joel of Listen Studio from an industrial shelving warehouse in Seven Sisters for our Fall/Winter 2014 presentation. It’s perfect for the studio -- tall, solid and lightweight. We now use it as our mood board, images and fabric collage -- whatever inspires us for the season.

Is there anything specific you do to keep your space inspiring?

There’s the mood board, and I own a lot of books, objects from my travels and from flea markets. I have a little space on my bookshelf where my favorite objects come together, like an altar of inspirations and ideas.

What role does location play with regard to your space?

I moved to Hackney Wick/Fish Island five years ago. It was the closest I could get to how I lived in Antwerp. I was there for a year before, in a huge warehouse building with some artists. It was amazing, we had a swing in the communal area, rode bicycles around each floor...

When I moved back to London, temporarily into a tiny room in a Victorian house, it felt really claustrophobic. Hackney Wick was the only area, close to the climbing wall (a big bonus), big space, cheap rent. It was pretty dodgy then, but I didn’t mind that one bit. It’s cleaned up a lot since.

I just stayed after college to start my business. We’re a small team, like family. It’s easy for now, there’s just enough space to work and we keep operations lean.

How do you combine aesthetics between your work and living in your space?

The bookshelf is where all books, documents, materials, etc. go and everywhere else is neutral space. We clear up the space every evening; everything is put back in place. I’m not OCD about it -- it’s more like an organized chaos. I like when things are where they should be so we don’t have to think about it. It’s efficient and intuitive. And the act of cleaning up the space is kind of like a ritual for us to clear our heads as well.

If work gets too intense, I run off to the climbing wall and jump around for a couple of hours, and that’s my mental detox.

If you could add something new or change one thing about your space, what would you do?

An extra floor would be nice. I think three floors is good Feng Shui. Eventually, I’d like to find something bigger -- hopefully own it -- and have more freedom with the space.

Words & Photography: Lydia Garnett/Selectism.com