The Night the Studio Opened - Lange Nacht der Bilder 2026

The first Friday in September is not just any old Friday — well, not in Lichtenberg, where my studio is based. Across the district, galleries, studios and creative spaces open their doors for the evening for Lange Nacht der Bilder. Translating to Long Night of the Pictures, the evening is a celebration of culture and art within Lichtenberg.

This year I decided to properly take part — to create an installation rather than simply open the door (although that is also perfectly fine). I wanted to create a space where people could see and feel what I do when I find fabrics: the moment of discovery, the ideas that spark before anything is cut, the quiet thinking that happens before something becomes a garment.

My studio is on the second floor of the front house at Kunstfabrik HB55 — an old margarine factory in the heart of Lichtenberg, and one of the most inspiring places I've ever worked. The whole complex comes alive for this event, with music and food trucks giving it a real festival feeling. There were group shows alongside individual artists opening their doors, and I feel very lucky to be part of such an exciting and creative collective.

Honestly, I was a little nervous. I had decided that not only would my door be open, but I was going to demonstrate the process of making throughout the evening. No pressure then. All set up, fabrics selected, the clock turned 18:00 — and I said to myself: here we go.

The first visitors were a lovely couple who live in the area and make the evening every year. They had a genuine interest in what I was doing, even asking for a photo — an interaction that immediately reminded me why I'd decided to open the door in the first place. Although the weather was less than pleasant, friends, family and fellow artists popped in and made the evening everything it was supposed to be.

So many visitors paused to chat, which made the making a slow process — but one I was more than happy to break for. There were conversations about fabrics, about fashion and its processes, about what it means to be a creative working alone. By the end of the evening my cup was full. Meeting people and getting to talk about what I love is such a joy, and something that happens so rarely when you work by yourself.

As for the shirt — it is almost finished, and will serve as the memory of a great evening until it finds its way into the collection. If you feel like you missed out, the studio door is always open to visitors in Berlin. Send me an email (hello@vickimalone.com)or find me on Instagram, where you can follow along with the goings on of studio life.

- Vicki