Dezeen promotion: a centre for culture and innovation inside a former industrial building in High Point has welcomed the first visitors to look around its spaces, including a design store curated by Dezeen.

Plant Seven's soft launch took place from 12 to 17 October 2018 – coinciding with the High Point Market furniture trade fair in the North Carolina city.

Visitors are encouraged to explore the 100,000-square-foot (9,290-square-metre) former textile mill, to get a taste of the programming that will be rolled out over the coming months, as the venue opens in stages.

During Market Week, attractions at Plant Seven included a shop filled with designs sourced from across the American South.

Curated by Dezeen's editors and realised by the Plant Seven team, the pop-up store featured homeware, accessories and gifts from designers and brands like East Fork Pottery, Yield, Skylar Morgan Furniture and many more. The stock has almost entirely sold out.

Another retail offering comes in the form of a design book shop by Draw Down, which features titles geared towards the creative customer.

Two exhibitions are being held at the creative hub. The first, This Is Not A Chair curated by Standard Issue Design, features 40 works by international artists and designers that question the look and feel of a typical chair.

The second showcase, Mill Collective, presents the work of more than 20 furniture makers – including Skram, Niche Modern and Elijah Leed – and will be on view for the rest of this year.

A preview of the co-working space that will soon open at Plant Seven is furnished by European brands Arper and BuzziSpace, which have both recently set up factories in High Point, and features a Material ConneXion library of interior design solutions.

The building's full co-working area is expected to open next year, along with fabrication facilities and a cafe. Guest rooms will open in a future phase, while event venues, photography studios and public spaces will also be located throughout.

Located at 410 West English Road, Plant Seven was established by non-profit organisation HP365 to help revitalise the downtown area of High Point. The project's CEO and developer, Tim Branscome, believes the hub will help engage and promote the city's creative community.

"Plant Seven represents a new approach for the city," said Branscome. "It will allow for talent to emerge from the grassroots, and our programming will speak to the next generation with a blend of art and design that will resonate internationally."

The team is working with Raleigh-based firm Louis Cherry Architecture and Brooklyn-based Standard Issue Design to transform the 90-year-old building into a flexible space for designers, makers and entrepreneurs.

To sign up for updates about the project, visit the Plant Seven website.

Photography is by Keith Isaacs.