Texworld Paris and affiliated trade events will take place July 4 - 6 2022

Organisers at Messe Frankfurt Paris say international companies of their July group of textile and garment events have returned in force after more than two years of restrictive participation under hybrid formats due to the Covid pandemic.

The Texworld Evolution Paris apparel sourcing event announce that major sourcing countries including China, India and Turkey have returned featuring more than 400 international exhibitors representing some 20 countries.

The show slated to take place from 4 to 6 July2022 at the Parc des Expositions Paris-Le-Bourget, coincides with its sister trade events Avantex, Leatherworld and Texworld Paris. 

Turkey will be represented by more than 100 companies organised in pavilions at Texworld Paris, 60 of which are grouped together supported by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO). 

Meanwhile Korean fabric manufacturers will also be at the event, registering 41 companies under the pavilion of the National Union of Korean Textile Manufacturers (Kofoti).  Among the regular exhibitors are knitters People N'Nature, A Jin Corporation, and Youngwon Corporation.

China is represented by 140 companies, while from India are more than 60 companies, among them are embroiderers Tarom and Eco Royal Hantex, with exceptional hand-embroidered fabrics. 

Denim is one of key focus areas of the shows, and will be participated by companies from Turkey, China, India and Bangladesh to name a few.

In addition from textiles, many of the international communities are in the Leatherworld Paris, as well as materials with enhanced performance qualities, including China, Turkey, Japan and Pakistan.

Copenhagen Fashion Week Aug 9 - 12 announces emerging designer support scheme

Copenhagen Fashion Week (August 9 - 12 2022) has announced the commencement of its emerging designer support scheme CPHFW NEWTALENT supported by Circulose® that formalises its dedication to supporting visionary talent of the Nordics. 

The first brands to be supported in the scheme are A. Roege Hove, Latimmier and P.L.N.

CPHFW NEWTALENT is established by Copenhagen Fashion Week to nurture, develop, and promote emerging Nordic talent on a global scale. The scheme creates new opportunities for the three emerging designers via monetary support, mentorships, partnership offerings, professional advisors, onboarding to the official Copenhagen Fashion Week show schedule, event participation, showroom activations, alumni network, and extensive PR through Copenhagen Fashion Week’s international community and channels.

The three brands within the CPHFW NEWTALENT support scheme will be enrolled for three consecutive seasons. Subsequently each brand will graduate on to the alumni scheme, that will continue supporting the graduates of the CPHFW NEWTALENT support scheme across showcasing, events, networking, business support, communication and sponsorship opportunities.

Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO Copenhagen Fashion Week said Copenhagen Fashion Week is investing in the next generation of exceptional talent. "With responsibility an overarching and foundational focus of our organisation, this scheme will allow us to continue to grow our dedication to talent. It is a vital step we have taken to provide an encompassing program for the talents to build their brand on an international scale and to introduce them to our global audience,” Said Cecile.

Copenhagen Fashion Week has meanwhile unveiled the SS23 Show Schedule.  Taking place from August 9 - 12, the new schedule will present 35 shows alongside a curated list of events, presentations, talks, and activities that will soon be released. The full series will be available to watch live on the CPHFW YouTube channel - streamed directly on the copenhagenfashionweek.com home page.

For the full schedule for SS23, click HERE.

Design Helsinki slated for August 24 - 25 2022

Finland has unveiled their first Nordic B2B fair dedicated to contemporary design which will take place in the capital city of Helsinki. 

Launching 24-25 August 2022, Design Helsinki will feature a programme showcasing "the best of Nordic design."

Organisers say the two-day Design Helsinki is set to become an annual fixture in the international design calendar.

"It will bring the area to life with immersive installations, a curated exhibition showcasing sought-after brands, plus delectable food and drink partners and a topical talks programme at the Design Museum."

"The fair will also celebrate the area's local design showrooms as well as a variety of influential contemporary design brands including the likes of Carl Hansen & Søn, Marimekko, Bang & Olufsen, Moooi, Tom Dixon and Louis Poulsen. We are also excited to partner with renowned organisations such as the Alvar Aalto Foundation, Habitare and Ornamo Art and Design Finland."

As the foundation for Design Helsinki, a range of showrooms in the area will provide the festival with a programme of product launches, workshops, talks and parties held in some of the most inspiring commercial spaces that Helsinki has to offer. 

The showrooms include high-end contract furniture brands, technical specialists and material manufacturers, each of which will contribute to a diverse range of activities, led by industry experts. 

Trade visitors can now register on the Design Helsinki website to attend.

Bethan Gray's new lighting series with Baroncelli

For Salone del Mobile (Milan Design Week) 2022, British designer Bethan Gray shared her "Inky Dhow" universe, an installation of furniture, textiles, rugs, hand blown glass and ceramics, with those who visited Rosanna Orlandi’s eponymous gallery in Milan’s Magenta district. The new collection enticed all the senses whilst demonstrating the exquisite craftsmanship and innovative techniques imbued into every piece Bethan designs.

Ruggable collaborates with Monica Ahanonu

Ruggable, a patented machine-washable rug brand, has announced the launch of its new collaboration with recognised artist, illustrator, and model, Monica Ahanonu. 

The new Ruggable X Monica Ahanonu rug collection is Monica’s first venture
 into the home-design space 

The launch of the new rug collection is focused on breaking the mould of traditional home decor, according to Ruggable.

Inspired by accessible design and washable innovation, the ethos of Ruggable, Monica’s partnership with Ruggable will bring her unique passion and artistic style into the home. 

As a leader in the digital space for Black artists, Ahanonu’s art shines the limelight on diverse cultures, industries, and backgrounds encouraging inclusivity and equity. 

Ruggable noted that this collaboration pushes the limits of what is possible in design and decor, praising optimism, light, and energy. The collection is Monica’s first venture into the home-design space and includes 8 pieces, inclusive of indoor and outdoor rugs. 

Photo courtesy Ruggable X Monica Ahanonu.

Pure London to take place at Olympia London - July 17 - 19 2022

Pure London is back to the iconic Olympia London venue in Kensington from 17-19th July 2022.

Organisers say 2022 marks an exciting time for the trade fair for fashion and accessories, featuring hundreds of coveted designer collectionss, covering a wide range of products, from Womenswear, Footwear, Accessories, Pure Jewel (including fine and precious jewellery) and Pure Origin, while a new section called Pure Lab will be introduced.

Featuring more than 200 luxe labels lined up to showcase their products, the fair will see launches from various brands, including One Hundred Stars, Brodie Cashmere, Onjenu, Meraki Beach, Jayley, Alpe and Lily & Me. 

The programme will include catwalk presentations, as well as seminars for visitors to gain insights and learn about upcoming trends from the UK's leading fashion experts.

Designer Bethany Williams' Alternative System exhibition at The Design Museum London until September 2022

Exhibition: Bethany Williams: Alternative Systems
The Design Museum, London Kensington
Featured designs include  a handwoven shirt and trouser set made with plastic waste from the
"Adelaide House" collection.

 

London fashion designer Bethany Williams whose work has won accolade for embracing the discussion of social and environmental issues, is regarded as one of the most exciting new designers of the past decade.  Now some of her most exciting creations are on show at The Design Museum in London Kensington until September 4th 2022.

Bethany Williams works with recycled jerseys, and repurposed tent materials.

Bethany Williams has carved a name for her commitment to environmentally-friendly processes, designing apparel with an eco-social-conscious attitude, working with organic, recycled and dead stock materials to create bright, bold clothing.

Bethany Williams uses organic cotton and waste ribbon in imaginative ways
to highlight the adaptability of materials.

With a focus on sustainability, the reduction of waste is central to Bethany's ethos. The label regularly breathes new life into old materials by taking used textiles and building innovative garment designs around them, creating a playful collage aesthetic.

From the "All Our Children" collection.
Some of the materials used by Bethany Williams include recycled tent materials
and waste material supplied by adidas. 

According to the brand's Managing Director Nathalie Hodgson, Bethany "likes to combine social and environmental issues together, and also works with local and social manufacturing partners and everything in the supply chain is considered."

Ruched dress from "All Our Stories" collection in deadstock silk crepe de chine,
depicting the Crying Tiger (screen-printed) base on an 
Artwork by Melissa Kitty Jarram.

Nathalie says, "Each season she works with a collaborative artist and a charitable partner and have that as the core base of the story to start the research process."

She said Bethany gives creative freedom to the collaborative partner and then select the final artwork that gets incorporated throughout the collection.

Knitted "face" cardigan and shorts from "All Our Children" collection,
made with second-hand knitwear and wool.
The outfit features patterns derived from a drawing by the founder of the Magpie Project,
Jane Williams and her daughter.

Bethany's creations are striking and bold, with stand-out motifs and bright colours.

As with every collection and project, Bethany works on, the social and environmental issues go hand in hand. 

Last year her work with The Magpie Project, a charity that supports women and children under five in temporary, unsuitable or no accommodation, featured a gender-neutral capsule coat collection which was stocked exclusively by the iconic department store Selfridges.

As the Women’s Institute community creates a personal blanket for every baby born into the Magpie Family, Bethany featured a blanket as a piece of fabric, and made that the  heart of the capsule collection.

Photos of exhibition at The Design Museum by Lucia Carpio.

NICHOLAS DALEY is winner of the 2022 BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund

The British Fashion Council (BFC)  announce today May 13th that Nicholas Daley, Founder of Nicholas Daley, as the recipient of the 2022 BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund.

Photo: British Fashion Council website

Nicholas Daley, standing in the middle in the photo above, will receive a 12-month bespoke high-level business mentoring programme, pro-bono legal services from Sheridans and a £150,000 cash prize.

Adam Baidawi, Head of Editorial Content, British GQ & Deputy Global Editorial Director, GQ magazine commented, “Nicholas Daley is a phenomenon. He has brought to life a menswear vision that is totally his own.” 

On top of his wild and dizzying design talent, Nicholas has a gift for curation, pulling together a diverse collection of collaborators and influences to create a truly modern brand. We couldn’t be prouder to be honouring him.”

Nicholas Daley commented “I am very honoured to receive this award and I would like to thank GQ the BFC and the industry judging panel for selecting me as this year’s winner. The funding and mentoring program will support me in continuing to grow my brand for the future.”

Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council commented, “With a continued emphasis on community, craftsmanship and culture and cementing a place at the centre of London society - Nicholas Daley is a menswear brand exploring the interplay of fashion, music and art in novel and exciting ways. With a forward-thinking approach, Daley challenges the way fashion is deciphered through presentations, live performances, and films. He is a breath of fresh air and we are excited to see what the brand continues to achieve in the future.”

Chaired by Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council and Adam Baidawi, Head of Editorial Content, British GQ & Deputy Global Editorial Director, GQ, the judging committee was made up of representatives from businesses who support the Fund and industry experts including Damien Paul, Head of Menswear Buying, MatchesFashion.com; Laurent Malecaze, CEO, Dunhill; Laura Yeomans, Market Development Director, Clearpay UK; Leah Abbott, Stylist; Samuel Ross, 2019 Winner of the BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund and Founder, A-COLD-WALL*; Tan France, Fashion Designer, TV Personality and Author; Teo van den Broeke, Style & Grooming Director, British GQ; Yinka Ilori, Multidisciplinary Artist.

Previous winners of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund include Ahluwalia (2021), A-COLD-WALL* (2019), Craig Green (2016), E Tautz (2015) and Christopher Shannon (2014).    

Tiffany’s dazzling “Vision & Virtuosity” exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery June 10 - August 19 2022

Entrance to Tiffany's exhibition at Saatchi Gallery.

Luxury jewellery brand Tiffany’s “Vision & Virtuosity” exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery, which opened on June 10th, celebrates the luxury house's 150th anniversary in London. 

The exhibition chronicles the brand's 185-years history through seven chapters, each explores a separate theme that is central to the brand's identity, heritage, and remarkable creativity that it has set the trends for many.

The Tiffany ® Engagement Ring in Platinum and diamond,
introduced in 1886,  and Tiffany Blue Box 

Showcasing some 400 objects,  the show takes visitors on a journey to discover its amazing vast array of designs and desirable objects, from dazzling high jewellery pieces set in diamonds and precious stones, to intricate and delicate designs, from sports trophies to the celebrated Tiffany lamps and ornate decorative items and beauty compacts, and from memorable pieces designed by the likes of Elsa Peretti, Jean Schlumberger and Paloma Picasso by iconic pieces worn or owned by screen legends and stars. 

Thorns Clip designed by Jean Schlumberger (1947)

"Love in Flight": butterfly necklace in gold, black opals by Angela Cummings ,  featured in Tiffany's
celebrated Blue Book collections 1983.

Nature-themed designs are among the most sought-after for over a century at Tiffany & Co.  Among the many amazing designs at this “Vision & Virtuosity” exhibition is the extraordinary butterfly necklace by Angela Cummings (1983) in gold and black opal, presented in a window display named "Love in Flight".

Also remarkable are the life-like Orchid brooches by George Paulding Farnham for Tiffany.  Such superb quality, artistry  and craftsmanship.  

They are part of a series of brooches by Farnham, each depicting a different variety of Orchid, made in enamel, with diamonds, rubies, opals and other coloured stones, designed and created for the Paris Expo in 1889.  Farnham, who started designing for Tiffany in his early 20s, was the lead jewellery designer for Tiffany & Co in the late 1880s. 

"Hedges & Row" necklace by Jean Schlumberger (1978 - 1989) in diamonds,
rubellites and turquoise. 

Necklace with more than 15 types of precious stones designed by Paloma Picasso in 1985
that she later wore to the Met Gala.

"Fleur de Mer" brooch designed by Jean Schlumberger (1956 ) and given by
Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor a decade later.

The mesmerizing first room pays homage to the brand’s famously fabulous window displays.   

Feast your eyes on Jean Schlumberger’s 1965 Bird on a Rock brooch, featuring a vast 59-carat blue stone twinkling above a silhouetted London Big Ben skyline.  Reportedly this is one of two pieces in the exhibition that are available to purchase, should any visitors be so interested. 

The other is a reimagined version of the necklace that Tiffany debuted at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, featuring the 80-carat Empire Diamond it responsibly sourced in Botswana, cut and polished in Israel and set in New York, and is said to be the largest diamond ever offered by Tiffany & Co.  Both pieces are priced on request.

A 2012 window called Vanderbilt Gate pays homage to New York's Central Park Conservancy with a Dragonfly brooch and a House of Tiffany display of 2016 depict intricate earrings, bracelets and brooch.  

Another, an Ice Palace dreamlike setting mimicking scenes taken from CS Lewis' Narnia series.

Necklace in white gold, diamonds and aquamarines (2018)

In a room devoted to the annual Blue Book high jewellery collection, a giant pink heart pendant made from Morganite shines gloriously, one of the four gemstones that Tiffany & Co. was responsible for discovering and bringing to market first alongside Kunzite, Tanzanite and Tsavorite. 

One highlight is the Love Room which celebrates the Tiffany Setting engagement ring, and where visitors bathed in dreamy Tiffany blue lights, can write messages on a screen which then dance its way about the walls and dissolve.

In the room dedicated to the award-winning Breakfast at Tiffany's, the original film script is on show with Audrey Hepburn's personal annotations as well as the original Givenchy dress  in duchess satin that  main character Holly Golightly wore in the movie, along with Academy Awards statuettes. 

The pièce de resistance is the iconic 128.54-carat yellow Tiffany Diamond, last seen on Queen Bey (Beyoncé) in Tiffany’s 2021 “About Love” campaign and previously worn by Lady Gaga at the 2019 Oscars.  

And finally one enters the AR room, where you can take a selfie "wearing" the brand’s iconic 128.54-carat yellow Tiffany Diamond albeit a digital version, by scanning a QR code.

The house that was founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany in 1837 is now entering a future under the LVMH umbrella, and judging by the continued love affair consumers have with luxury jewellery and collectables, the dazzling wonder world of Tiffany is deemed to continue.

The Tiffany Vision & Virtuosity Exhibitions opens at the Saatchi Gallery runs from June 10 to August  19 August. Tickets are from the Tiffany & Co. app available on IOS and Google.

Photos taken at Tiffany’s “Vision & Virtuosity” exhibition - London’s Saatchi Gallery © Lucia Carpio 2022

Kit Kemp Design Studio creates immersive "Day Room" at WOW!house - Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour

Kit and Minnie Kemp

Wow!house - Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour's first designer show house, has given interior designer Kit Kemp and her daughter Minnie - from Kit Kemp Design Studio - a unique opportunity to create an immersive "Day Room" which is named Mimi's Atelier, inspired by French milliner Mimi de Biarritz based in Paris.

"Day Room" at WOW1house - Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, London

The starting point for inspiration is the "Au bord du Lac" tapestry wallpaper from Pierre Frey.  Kit and Minnie's Day Room is all about blending one-off crafted pieces that add character and whimsy to any interior space, along with fabrics from Guell La Madrid, Liberty and Jim Thompson.  Porta Romana provides lighting and painted cabinetry by Tess Newall.  To watch a video showing the Day Room, click HERE.

Designers Kit and Minnie have drawn inspiration from Mimi's hat creations; 20 one-of-a-kind hats are hand-made from papier-maché, cardboard and objects ranging from matadors to fishing gnomes, as seen above and below.  The hats on unique paper hat stands are on display at the WOW!house show in Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour and on sale online.

Minnie Kemp models one of Mimi de Biarritz's hand-made hat creations: "Tour de France" 
in the Day Room.

Minnie says, "We want our space to feel like a living, breathing workshop where any moment now Mimi will storm through the door like a character from the Incredibles and fashion a new hat especially for you. 

"Do Not Disturb" -

  For the Kit Kemp Design Studio

In the narrow, cobbled streets of Paris, Mimi has her workshop making hats and is always buzzing with creativity.  Although her workshop is small, her mind knows no bounds and she is always thinking of grand spaces." 

The Wow!house in the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, London, is on from June 1st to July 1st.  It features a series of rooms conceived by 20 established and up-and-coming designers collectively representing a diversity of style and inspiration. 

Kit Kemp MBE is founder and creative director of Firmdale Hotels and the Kit Kemp Design Studio.  Minnie Kemp is an interior designer working across the hotels and residential projects.

Photos  by Lucia Carpio.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour hosts WOW!house June 1 - July 1 2022

The Design Centre at London’s Chelsea Harbour, a resource destination of more than 20 years for interior designers and architects, has launched a new event called WOW!house – from June 1st until July 1st 2022.  This first-ever designer show-house features the work of 20 world-class interior designers, each given a free rein to create individual rooms to provide inspiration and creative ideas to designers and their potential customers alike.

Julian Chichester Library
designed by Bunny Turner and Emma Pocock of
Turner Pocock

Claire German, CEO of the Design Centre, said she conceived the idea during lockdown in the UK, with an aim “to pioneer a sense of wonder, to amaze and inspire” by showing what extraordinary achievements can be made when talented industry comes together.

The interconnected but individually designed and fitted-out “rooms” have been constructed within the open communal atrium of the Centre. 

Entrance Foyer designed by Shalini Misra

In total, 20 designers – established names as well as rising stars - have been involved with the project, each given a room in the WOW!house, with which to propose their strong point of view and vision.  

Dining Room designed by Freddy Van ZevenBergen

From the Entrance Foyer of the “house”, visitors can wander continuously and experience the distinctively finished drawing rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, day room, a garden room, bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a study and a library.

Drawing Room designed by Paolo Moschino & Philip Vergeylen of Paolo Moschino Ltd.

Drawing Room designed by Rui Ribeiro

Principal Bedroom with bathing area designed by Rayman Boozer of Apartment 48.

“Each space tells a compelling narrative,” said Claire, “in different but relevant styles, layers of pattern, colour and texture, along with carefully chosen furniture, lighting, art and objets d’art.”

Day Room designed by Kit Kemp, founder of Firmdale Hotels and her own design studio.

Visitors are presented with room after room of diverse styles and a wide selection of soft furnishing, wallpaper, rugs, decorative pieces, accessories, bespoke and unique furniture from a myriad of companies to support each designer’s individual creations, achieved through careful space planning and use of colour, materials, special finishes, lighting and technology.

Schumacher Garden Room designed by Duncan Campbell and Charlotte Rey.

Morris & Co Courtyard Bedroom designed by Brandon Schubert

De La Cuona Living Room designed by graduates Roshu Shrestha and Christine Omerere.

Study designed by Stephanie Barba Mendoza.

Photos © Lucia Carpio 2022

Christie's launches The ART OF LITERATURE Exhibition with fashion by MOLLY GODDARD

This June and July, auction house Christie’s in London is staging London Now, featuring a season of two exhibitions under the heading The Art of Literature, as well as events and auctions to celebrate London's vibrant diversity and unique identity at Christie's headquarters on King's Street in the historic district of St James's in central London.

One of the exhibitions, The Art of Literature: Auction Highlights  is staged June 6 to June 15  and presents highlights from their summer sale season, featuring alongside fashion by Molly Goddard, to explore connections between art and literature across a wide range of genres and periods. 

From antiquities and Old Master paintings to fine jewellery and contemporary art, the works in this exhibition underscore the interconnections between painters and poets, sculptors and novelists, dramatists and craftspeople that have existed for millennia.

Molly Goddard has been a fixture on the British runway since the brand’s inception in 2014, with the designer known internationally for her ethereal tulle dresses loved by many, and worn on the red carpet and on screen including by actresses Sonam Kapoor, Rosamund Pike and Jodie Comer (who famously wore one of Molly's pink tulle dresses in the popular Killing Eve TV series.)

Molly Goddard has been creatively inspired by a range of influences, particularly from the English countryside and also from classic narratives of English literature, in particular from the author Thomas Hardy’s novel, Tess of the d’Urbervilles. 

Tracey Dress by
Molly Goddard A/W 2019 Show

Skye dress by
Molly Goddard S/S 2020 Show

Over the seasons the iconic tulle has been joined by taffeta, organdie and silk in voluminous, tiered and frilled joyful creations.  Molly explained that these looks were about being frivolous and fabulous but also strong, tough and resilient – not just surviving but thriving. Signature tulle was adapted for all weathers and paired with utilitarian accessories inspired by Thomas Hardy’s ill-fated 19th-century British heroine, Tess Durbeyfield.

Pearl dress by Molly Goddard, 
A/W 2019 show.

Molly Goddard comments, ‘Hardy paints an incredible picture of the English landscape and seasons in Tess of the d’Urbervilles.  The collection was definitely about being wrapped up against the weather physically and metaphorically. The pieces included in the exhibition are a very good representation of what we do best, by which I mean taking simple designs and turning them into something totally different, using techniques like shirring and hand-smocking, or by scaling them up and using unexpected fabrics.’

Annabelle Scholar, co-curator comments, ‘We are thrilled to include these wondrous creations by Molly in The Art of Literature Exhibition, pieces which were inspired by a work of literature and ushered in a new era of British fashion. In this cross category exhibition spanning three millennia we’re looking at how the written word has inspired artists and creatives to make works of art, or bring new meaning to existing works of art.’

The other Christie's exhibition, The Art of Literature: Loan and Selling is staged from June 6 to July 14, which brings together an extraordinary selection of masterpieces embodying this most productive of creative partnerships between literature and art, at times direct and at other times subtly allusive.  

Aesop's Fables

Picasso

Their intricate connections have been explored across this exhibition offering insights into the works of important artists and writers including Marlene Dumas, William Shakespeare, Peter Paul Rubens, Lucian Freud, Joan Mitchell, James Joyce, Pablo Picasso and Peter Doig.

All photos at Christie's exhibitions by Lucia Carpio.