Are you making things on the sly? We would like to hear from you! Get in touch at hello@on-the-sly.com (anonymous submissions are welcome too).


Working on the sly refers to manual workers making objects for themselves using the tools, materials and working hours of their employers.

There is something profoundly creative in this practice, as workers appropriate their familiar work tools to design and craft their own ideas, their own objects.

Objects made on the sly are often given – a gift – or exchanged, yet rarely sold. Working on the sly can be done in secret, hidden from the bosses, or with their full knowledge. Working on the sly can be a bit cheeky, or in some instances, an act of rebellion.

A pair of knives made by a mechanic working at a bus depot, a keyholder in the shape of a plane crafted for his son by a dad working in the aviation industry, a jacket from leather offcuts made in a textile workshops, a tiny glass swan made in a factory producing jars for jams and dairy product are some examples of objects made on the sly.

If you make, have made, or know someone who makes things on the sly, we are keen to talk with you.


About
On the Sly is a research and film project by Justinien Tribillon, commissioned by the V&A East as part of their Work + progress programme, with additional research by George Kafka and film-making by Alice Doušová. It wants to feature workers in East London and the objects they craft on the sly. The film will be presented for the first time at V&A East in Spring 2026.

Justinien has been looking for stories and objects made on the sly in France and Italy since 2022. In 2023-2024 he did a fellowship at the Villa Medici to continue the work on this project.


FAQ
Why are you interested in objects made on the sly?
— Objects made on the sly always come with great stories about the way we make things, the skills of the men and women making them on a daily basis, about people’s lives and their relationship to work. This project is about sharing these stories with a wider audience.

What counts as objects on the sly?
— Any object made at the workplace for yourself, with the tools available, using offcuts or available material, and carried out during working hours or during your breaks. 

What kind of workers are you interested in?
— We’re looking for people manufacturing things in London (with a focus on East London). We’re interested in all industries and all trades. We want to hear from you if you’re active or retired. 

Can I take part and remain anonymous?
— We guarantee anonymity if you need it. Sometimes managers are not aware, or not okay with employees working on the sly. If that’s the case for you, we’ll make sure your cannot be identified.

Who is doing this research?
— My name is Justinien Tribillon, I’m a researcher and artist based in Paris, France. I also used to live in London for ten years. I’ve been fascinated by objects made on the sly for years, and realised by chance that my grand-dad has made some in his time as well, he was a mechanic in a bus depot in Paris. On this project, I’m also working with George Kafka, who is a researcher and writer, and Alice Doušová a film-maker. Both George and Alice are London-based. You can reach us by writing to hello@on-the-sly.com.