Environmental responsibility was central to this year’s edition of Decorex International

This year’s edition of Decorex International was held for the first time at Olympia in Kensington, right in the heart of London.  The 42% edition’s more centralised location may have been the reason why attendance number saw a 10% rise across the four-day spectacle.   

VIP room - Legacy Lounge.  

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

The fair acknowledged the importance of finding new and innovative ways to focus on the environment. And to demonstrate this, the VIP room – Legacy Lounge, was created by UK interior design studio, Harding & Read whose team worked closely with suppliers, including Vinterior, Matthew Cox, Christopher Howe, British Standard and Farrow & Ball, to encourage a conscious approach to consumption. Mindful of the lifecycle of furniture and fixtures, the studio chose vintage and reclaimed pieces where possible.

Each and every piece that featured in the Lounge was given the opportunity to find a new home after the show, with an online auction that raised £14,300 for Emmaus – the charity working to end  homelessness.  

Jennifer Manners' Malibu rug made from recycled plastic.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Alongside inspiring new ways for brands to think about their environmental impact, Decorex also celebrated those that are already going above and beyond to be sustainable.

Jennifer Manners' range of home products.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

This year’s Decorex Awards were the ideal opportunity, with the introduction of a new ‘Best Sustainable Product’ prize. Judges Henry Prideaux, interior designer, and Irene Gunter of interior architecture practice Gunter & Co, gave the accolade to Jennifer Manners, whose eponymous rug brand has released two new designs made from 100% recycled plastic.  

Photo of Bar area in Decorex by Lucia Carpio.

Similarly, this year’s bar design celebrated the very best of biophilic design in the interior space. Created by set designer, Paula May Evans, in collaboration with Cameron Landscapes and Gardens, the bar connected visitors with nature through distinct areas - the Amazonian Jungle Garden, the Abandoned Desert Garden, the English Country Garden and the Urban Industrial Garden.

Photo by Lucia Carpio

More than 400 of the world’s top design talents showcased everything from hand-painted wallpapers and printed fabrics to bespoke furniture and conceptual lighting at the fair held from October 6 to 9.  Visitors could preview the latest launches from leading brands including Arte International, Hästens, Beaumont & Fletcher, Bert Frank, Dedar, Devon & Devon, Ferreira de Sá, Lincrusta, Nicholas Haslam, Officine Gullo, Rose Uniacke, Tom Faulkner, Thibaut, Vaughan and Villaverde.