Retail Event: African Fashion Takes Centre Stage at Paris' Galeries Lafayette with Africa Now Showcase

African fashion continues to cement its place on the global stage, evolving in recent years from a niche regional industry into a recognised force within international luxury fashion. Increasingly visible on major runways, in high-end retail spaces and across mainstream popular culture, the continent's designers are attracting growing international attention.

Adama Paris

Today's African designers are known for their unique blend of heritage with modern tailoring, minimalist design and global fashion trends, creating garments that appeal to both African and international markets, often favouring  bold colour palettes, layered textures and striking contrasts.

Building on the success of  previous years' AFRICA NOW pop-up, Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann has once again opened its doors to some of Africa's most exciting fashion talent. Running from 17 June to 8 July 2026, the showcase reflects the iconic Paris department store's longstanding commitment to promoting cultural exchange and creative collaboration with Africa.

Located on the third floor of the Coupole store, beneath Galeries Lafayette's celebrated Art Nouveau glass dome, the exhibition presents a curated selection of contemporary ready-to-wear, jewellery, handbags and accessories that highlight the diversity and innovation of modern African design. With its luxury boutiques and panoramic rooftop overlooking Paris, Galeries Lafayette provides a prestigious setting for a celebration of African fashion.

This year's Africa Now pop-up is presented in partnership with CANEX x TRANOÏ, Adama Paris, and Studio Ka x Africa Fashion Up, organisations that have played an increasingly influential role in promoting African designers internationally.

Christie Brown

Launched by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme supports the development of Africa's creative and cultural industries. Through its partnership with TRANOÏ—a leading Paris-based fashion trade show held during Paris Fashion Week—CANEX has, over the past eight seasons, provided African designers with access to international buyers, media and investors while helping expand opportunities in financing, production and global distribution.

Visitors to the pop-up have the opportunity to purchase exclusive pieces from designers' Spring/Summer 2026 collections, many of which are unavailable elsewhere in Paris.

Senegalese designer Adama Paris unveils an exclusive capsule collection celebrating a contemporary vision of African femininity.

Ibrahim Fernandez

Returning for a second consecutive year, Ibrahim Fernandez presents refined ready-to-wear inspired by both African and international influences. Founded in Abidjan in 2013, the label has become one of Côte d'Ivoire's leading contemporary fashion brands.

Another Senegalese label, Sisters of Afrika, founded by sisters Jeanne and Hélène Diouf, combines ethical luxury with traditional craftsmanship, locally produced textiles and modern design.

Sisters of Africa

Representing Ghana, Christie Brown, founded in 2008 by designer Aisha Ayensu, continues to reinterpret West African heritage through elegant contemporary collections aimed at an international clientele.

Late for Work

        Designers presented by CANEX           x TRANOÏ include Moroccan label Late For Work, winner of the Fashion Trust Arabia 2025 Ready-to-Wear Designer Award.  The brand reimagines women's tailoring with relaxed yet structured silhouettes that blur the line between discipline and freedom.

Judy Sanderson

Founded in 2020, Judy Sanderson combines African, European and Asian influences to produce sophisticated contemporary womenswear.

We are NBO

Kenyan jewellery brand We Are NBO showcases handcrafted sustainable jewellery produced from recycled materials.

Vanhu Vamwe

Meanwhile, Vanhu Vamwe blends Zimbabwean and Ecuadorian craftsmanship to create distinctive luxury handbags while supporting the economic empowerment of women in marginalised communities.

Eric Raisina

Africa Fashion Up x Studio Ka presents Madagascar-born designer Eric Raisina, a graduate of Paris's Duperré School of Applied Arts and the French Fashion Institute, is internationally recognised for pioneering textile innovations such as Silk Fur and Raffia Lace. His work has featured collaborations with Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix.

Kwiyiah Style 

Founded in 2017 by Lucie Gomba, Côte d'Ivoire-based Kwiyiah Style combines African cultural heritage with contemporary womenswear and has received several industry awards.

Talua

Luxury label Talua completes the line-up with refined ready-to-wear, leather goods and accessories inspired by African heritage. Combining traditional craftsmanship with clean contemporary design, the brand focuses on understated elegance and timeless luxury.

Supporting African fashion globally

The event highlights the work of its three principal partners.

Founded by Senegalese designer and entrepreneur Adama Amanda Ndiaye, Adama Paris has become one of the continent's most influential fashion organisations. Ndiaye is the founder of Dakar Fashion Week, Black Fashion Week and Black Fashion Xperience, and established Fashion Africa Channel, the first television network dedicated exclusively to African fashion. For more than two decades she has championed African designers and women entrepreneurs internationally.

CANEX x TRANOÏ continues to provide African designers with commercial opportunities through its partnership with the Paris and Tokyo editions of the TRANOÏ trade show, helping brands establish a foothold in international fashion markets.

Founded by Valérie Ka, Africa Fashion Up has become a leading Paris-based platform supporting emerging African designers through mentoring, industry partnerships and international exposure. 

The AFRICA NOW pop-up continues until 8 July 2026 at Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, 40 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris.

Show Report: Blossom Première Vision Unveils AW27-28 Colour Directions as Craftsmanship and Manufacturing Take Centre Stage

The June 2026 edition of Blossom Première Vision, held at the historic Carreau du Temple in Paris's Marais district, offered an early glimpse of the Autumn-Winter 2027-28 season, unveiling key colour directions while placing renewed emphasis on material innovation, manufacturing expertise and exceptional craftsmanship.

Taking place on 3-4 June, the event revealed the first shades of the season's palette under the theme "Wild Matter", a concept celebrating the intrinsic force of nature. The colour forecast presented a cultivated palette shaped by an expanding ecosystem, combining organic nuances, pigmented greys and sophisticated bright tones. The result was a regenerative, hybrid and grounded colour story designed to bridge nature and innovation.

At the heart of the exhibition, the Fashion Forum showcased some of the most creative savoir-faire for the AW27-28 season. More than 75 exhibitors, carefully selected from around the world, participated in the event, with particularly strong representation from France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

For this latest edition, Blossom Première Vision placed material at the centre of its narrative. Presented as a living, evolving element, material served as the common thread linking craftsmanship, technical expertise and artisanal knowledge. Organisers positioned it as a key driver of desirability, emotional connection and excellence within luxury fashion.

A major development for 2026 was the introduction of a dedicated area focused on specialised garment manufacturing. For the first time, members of the Groupement de la Fabrication Française (GFF) and Mode Grand Ouest (MGO) joined selected French workshops and manufacturers to showcase contemporary production capabilities rooted in traditional craftsmanship.

By integrating manufacturing expertise directly into the sourcing environment, the event offered designers and brands a comprehensive 360-degree ecosystem. Exhibitors demonstrated a range of specialist skills, including pleating, structural shaping, precision tailoring and the transformation of premium materials into finished garments. Together, they highlighted the strength of French manufacturing, where craftsmanship, technical precision and flexibility support both creative development and the production of complete collections.

The show also placed a strong spotlight on France's rich heritage of artisanal excellence through the Réseau Excellence initiative, which brought together companies certified as Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV). The network promotes outstanding French craftsmanship both domestically and internationally and, for this edition, showcased a rare concentration of EPV-certified exhibitors.

The selection highlighted regional traditions from across France, including Lyon's renowned silk heritage, Normandy's garment-making expertise and metalworking craftsmanship from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Exhibitors represented a broad spectrum of specialist skills, including luxury silk weaving, Jacquard innovation, Lyonnais printing, artisanal knitwear, premium leather tanning, haute couture lace, embroidery and bespoke metal accessories. Through this initiative, Blossom Première Vision reinforced its position as a refined, high-end platform showcasing the intersection of craftsmanship, luxury and innovation.

Alongside the sourcing and manufacturing showcases, visitors were also invited to engage with a special artistic installation presented by Guigou Fashion House. Founded in 1826 and long recognised as a key supplier to some of the world's leading couture houses, Guigou marked its bicentenary with an immersive installation created under the artistic direction of Olivia Philibert (in right picture).

Drawing on her dual practice in contemporary dance and fashion, Philibert reinterpreted Guigou's textiles through what she describes as "organ-garments" — poetic and sensory extensions of the human body that treat fabric as an integral part of physical existence. The installation encouraged visitors to reflect on the enduring relationship between textiles, the body and human evolution, offering a creative counterpoint to the show's commercial and technical focus.

Blossom Première Vision also reaffirmed its commitment to celebrating the individuals who preserve and transmit artisanal knowledge by highlighting emerging creative talent. This season's featured artist was Kai Otsuki (in left picture), whose practice combines embroidery and artificial flower-making to place materiality and craftsmanship at the heart of contemporary fashion.

Otsuki's three-dimensional creations sit at the intersection of exceptional ornamentation and garment construction, translating artisanal excellence into everyday wardrobes through a contemporary lens. His work creates a dialogue between historical references and urban influences, resulting in an aesthetic that is both sensitive and distinctly modern. By spotlighting such emerging talents, the event underscored the continued relevance of traditional craft disciplines within contemporary luxury fashion.

Known for its intimate format and highly selective positioning, Blossom Première Vision continues to serve as a focused business platform for the luxury fashion industry. The event facilitated direct engagement between exhibitors and decision-makers from leading fashion houses, supporting sourcing activities, strategic meetings and partnership development.

According to organisers, the show's curated approach encourages high-quality interactions and strong commercial potential, providing exhibitors with opportunities to expand professional networks, enhance visibility and generate new business.

As the luxury sector faces increasing demands for transparency, traceability and proven expertise, Blossom Première Vision is evolving to place greater emphasis on the craftsmanship and textile culture that underpin the industry's future. By bringing together luxury garment manufacturers, specialist artisans, heritage companies and emerging creative voices, the event offered a strategic and inspiring meeting place for fashion professionals seeking to shape the next generation of luxury craftsmanship and innovation.

The next edition of Blossom Première Vision will take place on 9-10 December 2026. For the first time, the show will welcome a curated selection of Maison d'Exceptions exhibitors, bringing together rare craftsmanship, exceptional techniques and distinctive creative expertise.

Featuring artisans from around the world, this exclusive showcase will offer visitors the opportunity to discover some of the most remarkable expressions of innovation and savoir-faire. The addition is expected to further strengthen Blossom Première Vision's position as a key destination for fashion professionals seeking inspiration, excellence and cutting-edge craftsmanship.

Images from Blossom Première Vision website.

Home and Lifestyle Design Showcase: Wow!house 2026 at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, London - from June 2 - July 2

WOW!house 2026, now in its fifth year, is deemed the ultimate design barometer.  The month-long exhibition runs from 2 June to 2 July 2026 at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, featuring 22 full-scale rooms and outdoor installations created by 22 internationally renowned interior designers and architects in collaboration with leading sponsoring design brands and suppliers.

Schumacher Dining Room by Max Rollitt
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Widely regarded as one of the most influential destinations in the luxury interiors sector, the  immersive showhouse is erected within the Design Centre's Design Avenue, offering visitors the opportunity to experience highly detailed interiors as they walk through the connecting rooms as if in a real home.

The Art of Arrival - Entrance Hall by Francis Sultana
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Among the highlights is the Entrance Garden by landscape designers Hay Hwang and Simon Kitchin of The Gardenists. Inspired by the façade’s arched colonnades, the garden incorporates columnar evergreens, clipped bay laurel trees and white digitalis blooms arranged around English limestone and hand-crafted stone detailing supplied by Artorius Faber. A lead lion-mask fountain by Garden Art Plus provides a classical focal point to the space.

Artorius Faber Entrance Garden by The Gardenists
Photo by James McDonald

Another debut installation comes from Studio Enass, whose Garden Folly Room draws on designer Enass Mahmoud’s North African and Arab heritage. Conceived as a secluded island retreat, the room combines gemstone hues, layered textures and ornate decorative details including bronze mirrored ceilings, patterned textiles and handcrafted lighting.

Phillip Jeffries Morning Room by Sara Cosgrove
Photo by James McDonald

A recurring theme throughout WOW!house 2026 is the idea of slowing down and creating spaces of retreat from modern life.  In the Morning Room sponsored by Phillip Jeffries, interior designer Sara Cosgrove has created what she describes as “a quiet, uplifting analogue sanctuary”. ‘Aura’ mural with softly glazed surfaces designed to capture and reflect light.

Shepel' Library by Roisin Lafferty
Photo by James McDonald

Similarly, the Shepel’ Library by Dublin-based designer Róisín Lafferty embraces art deco influences through the use of burl timber, parchment and ebony finishes. The room has been designed as a contemplative environment where “the tempo softens” and discovery takes precedence over distraction.

Misia for Casamance Group Bedroom Suite by Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Art deco references continue in the Bedroom Suite by Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay, created in partnership with Misia, part of the Casamance Group. Jazz Age-inspired fabrics, period furniture and hand-carved detailing combine to evoke the glamour of 1930s interiors.

Samuel Heath Primary Bathroom by Rigby & Rigby
Photo by James McDonald

In contrast, the Primary Bathroom by Rigby & Rigby adopts a minimalist Japandi aesthetic, blending Scandinavian simplicity with Japanese-inspired wellness traditions. A circular wooden ofuro bath forms the centrepiece, while integrated technology is used to create a calming sensory experience.

Elsewhere, De Rosee Sa’s Ca’ Pietra Bathroom transports visitors to a Mediterranean hotel of the 1970s, while Samantha Bartlett’s Martin Moore Kitchen celebrates tactile natural materials including fumed oak, bronze and Verde Natura quartzite.

Martin Moore Kitchen with Samantha Bartlett
Photo by James McDonald

“This is a room rooted in the poetry of nature,” says Bartlett. Martin Moore’s Legacy kitchen is the key focus, in a quietly glamorous combination of grained fumed oak teamed with bronze handles paired with Verde Natura quartzite.

Lalique Home Bar by Elicyon
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Luxury craftsmanship also takes centre stage in the Lalique Home Bar by Elicyon, where designer

Lalique Home Bar by Elicyon
Photo by James McDonald

Charu Gandhi has incorporated crystal panels inspired by René Lalique’s celebrated 1928 designs for the Orient Express.  

The iconic French house's art deco heritage is referenced in the many arches and curves.  The ceiling is a showcase for the magnificent "Swallows" chandelier while the walls and bar are inset with a bold, asymmetrical composition of crystal panels inspired by stories of goddesses and mythology.

Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by Young Huh
Photo by James McDonald

Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by Young Huh
Photo by James McDonald

International influences continue in the Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by New York-based designer Young Huh, who references Korean folk art alongside the opulent miniature paintings of Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace.  The Salon is bursting with colours and patterns.  The lacquered walls are inset with 55 boxes painted in joyful high gloss colours often found in fold art, according to the designer.

Technology-driven design features prominently in the Nucleus Immersive Room by Russell Sage Studio. Equipped with a HYRISS immersive sound system by L-Acoustics, Sony display technology and integrated Crestron controls, the installation combines light, sound, scent and texture to create what designer Russell Sage calls “The Momentarium” — an environment intended to redefine shared sensory experiences.

Traditional craftsmanship is also celebrated throughout the exhibition. Max Rollitt’s Schumacher Dining Room juxtaposes 18th-century-inspired architecture with contemporary interpretations of dining culture, while Tiffany Duggan’s Speakeasy Salon combines theatrical interiors with multifunctional living.

Richard Miers’ Courtyard for Munder Skiles
Photo by James McDonald

Outdoor living spaces form another key component of the showhouse. Richard Miers’ Courtyard for Munder Skiles recreates a timeless stone courtyard shaded by London plant trees.

The main focus of the courtyard space is a showstopping "Whispering Water" feature.

Fettle Design’s Garden Terrace for Perennials and Sutherland
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Fettle Design’s Garden Terrace for Perennials and Sutherland evokes the atmosphere of a relaxed romantic Italian holiday setting with Mediterranean-inspired materials, furnishings and textiles, inspired by Perennials’ La Dolce Vita collection and incorporating Sutherland’s skillfully-crafted performance furniture.

Perennials and Sutherland Garden Terrace
Photo by Lucia Carpio

To explore all the Rooms in preparation for your visit to WOW!, click HERE.

In addition to the showhouse itself, more than 130 showrooms across the Design Centre will open to ticketed visitors during the event, showcasing luxury interiors, furnishings and design innovation from across the industry.

A series of more than 20 talks will take place across the month, curated to inspire and inform. For more information and tickets, click HERE.  There are also special guided tours throughout the month where visitors can gain extra insights into the creativity behind the WOW!rooms. 

Now in its fifth year, WOW!house has established itself as one of the UK’s leading cultural and design events, offering visitors immersive interiors intended to inspire, entertain and redefine how design is experienced.    

Event: London Festival of Architecture 2026: “Belonging”

In June 2026, the London Festival of Architecture 2026 will return with the theme “Belonging”, inviting Londoners, designers, communities and organisations to reflect on how cities can become more inclusive, connected and caring places. Through exhibitions, discussions, installations and community-led projects, the festival aims to explore how architecture and the built environment can help create a stronger sense of shared ownership, participation and hope across the city.

From the Thames to Eternity - an Installation of new inclusive seating made of reused granite stones outside St Paul's Cathedral.
Photo from London Festival of Architecture 2026 website.

The theme of "Belonging" responds to a world increasingly shaped by division, inequality and uncertainty. Rather than accepting pessimism or disengagement, LFA2026 positions itself as a platform for optimism and collective action — encouraging people to reimagine how cities can foster connection, safety and opportunity for everyone.

London is presented as a city constantly shaped by migration, collaboration and reinvention. Across its neighbourhoods, community spaces, grassroots initiatives and mutual aid networks demonstrate that belonging is not simply about being present in a place, but about actively creating relationships of solidarity, care and inclusion, even in difficult social and economic conditions.

The organisers explain that belonging goes beyond physical access to streets, parks and buildings. It also means feeling welcomed, represented and empowered within those spaces — able to move freely, participate confidently and access the resources needed to thrive. 

The festival also highlights the growing pressures facing communities worldwide, including rising living costs, climate change and political restrictions on civic participation.  LFA2026 asks how cities can protect and reinvent spaces that nurture collective identity and participation.

Central to this conversation is the role of the built environment industry. Decisions about what is built, preserved or demolished directly influence who feels included in the city. The festival draws attention to the disproportionate impact these decisions often have on young people, disabled people and communities from global majority backgrounds, raising important questions about representation, access and power in urban development.

The curators add that belonging cannot be imposed from above. Instead, it requires collaboration with communities, the removal of barriers and the creation of opportunities for people to shape their own environments. The festival promotes a vision of belonging that is open, shared and inclusive of difference, while recognising joy, creativity and care as powerful forms of resilience and resistance.

Ultimately, LFA2026 hopes to leave a lasting legacy beyond the month of June. By bringing together lived experience and professional expertise, the festival aims to inspire long-term change — from reclaiming neglected spaces and strengthening neighbourhood connections to encouraging collective responsibility for creating cities where everyone can feel they belong.

To learn more about the full LFA programme, click HERE.

Exhibition: A Century of Style: Queen Elizabeth II’s Exhibition in Buckingham Palace Extended by Six Months

A landmark exhibition celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s enduring influence on British fashion, that opened at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace in London in April 2026, will now be extended till 18 April 2027, due to popular demand.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style has been presented as the most extensive display of the late monarch’s wardrobe ever staged, featuring around 200 items—half of them making their public debut. Tickets are on sale via the Royal Collection Trust website.  Due to ongoing high demand, visitors are encouraged to book tickets well in advance as no tickets are held back for on the day walk-ups.

Queen Elizabeth II on Princess Margaret’s Wedding Day, Cecil Beaton, 1960.
© Cecil Beaton / Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Hat worn for the wedding of Princess Margaret, Claude St Cyr, 1960.© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Paul Bulley

Three leading British designers—Erdem Moralioglu, Richard Quinn and Christopher Kane are featured, each contributing a piece inspired by the late Queen’s distinctive style. Their works, drawn from previous collections, are shown alongside related garments from the Queen’s archive. All three designers also provide reflections for the exhibition’s official publication, Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style, which includes a tribute by Dame Anna Wintour and an essay by Professor Amy de la Haye of the London College of Fashion.

Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said the retrospective demonstrates the “symbolism, tailoring and British craftsmanship” that defined the Queen’s wardrobe. 

The exhibition charts Queen Elizabeth II’s attire across all ten decades of her life, from couture evening gowns to the tailored countrywear that became synonymous with her off-duty style. Many of the garments—now part of the Royal Collection—are accompanied by original sketches, fabric samples and annotated design drawings, some bearing notes penned by the late Queen herself.

Ensemble worn for the wedding of Princess Margaret, Norman Hartnell, 1960

Highlights include an apple-green Norman Hartnell gown worn at a 1957 state banquet for US President Eisenhower, and the blue crinoline-skirted gown and bolero chosen for Princess Margaret’s wedding in 1960.  Items from her private wardrobe are also featured, such as a 1950s Harris tweed jacket and Balmoral tartan skirt, as well as the green coat designed by Angela Kelly and worn in her later years.

Transparent rain coat, worn over a patterned silk day dress and coat, both by Hardy Amies, 1970s.© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Jon Stokes

One of the more unexpected pieces on display is a clear plastic raincoat created by Hardy Amies in the 1960s, considered a precursor to the Queen’s later transparent umbrellas edged in colour to match her outfits. Amies would go on to produce futuristic designs for Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Evening gown by Norman Hartnell, 1957. Worn for a state banquet given for President Eisenhower at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. Here displayed in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. Credit: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Paul Bulley

A previously unseen Hartnell sketch for a silver lamé dress designed for a 1972 State Visit to France is also shown, bearing the Queen’s handwritten note indicating that it was later re-worn for the opening of parliament in Canberra—evidence of her long-standing practice of repeating outfits.

The silver lamé beaded shift dress is shown in photo below.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style is at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace,  extended until 18 April 2027.

Royal Collection Trust will offer £1 tickets to visitors receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits, alongside concessions for young people aged 18 to 24, as part of its commitment to widening access to the Collection.

London Event: RHS Chelsea Flower Show collection from Sophie Allport; A ban on garden gnomes at the Chelsea Flower Show is temporarily lifted

Widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious flower and garden show, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show returns to London from 19–23 May, marking the beginning of the UK’s summer social season. Organised annually by the Royal Horticultural Society, the event takes place in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London and continues to attract global attention for its celebration of horticulture, garden design and British creativity.

Sophis Allport's RHS Chelsea Flower Show Mug
made from fine bone china.
Hand-decorated and finished in the UK.

Among the brands embracing the spirit of this year’s show is Sophie Allport, the British lifestyle and homewares company founded by illustrator Sophie Allport, who runs the family business alongside her brother, Jem. Known for creating timeless collections inspired by nature and the countryside, the brand has unveiled its Signature Edit from the official 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show collection.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show Edit – Classic
From Sophie Allport

The collection features a range of homeware and accessory pieces, including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Mug, Tea Towel, Tote Bag and Serving Tray. They showcase Sophie Allport’s hand-painted garden illustration, inspired by the tranquillity and creativity of a summer’s day.

A Limited edition RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 print  (Print size 12" x 16") is shown below.

The design depicts a serene pond with frogs beside a flourishing greenhouse, surrounded by hollyhocks, lupins and colourful cottage garden flowers. Bees and butterflies move among the blooms, while hares, hedgehogs and parakeets emerge from woodland greenery. With the Great Pavilion in the background, the design aims to capture the atmosphere and charm of the Chelsea Flower Show.

Over the decades the RHS Chelsea Flower Show became the premier showcase for new garden design, rare plants, and horticultural trends. The modern era of Chelsea increasingly emphasises environmental themes, biodiversity, sustainability, and accessible gardening. Many show gardens are now relocated after the event for community or charitable use.

The 2026 edition continues those trends, with gardens focused on wellbeing, sustainability, British-grown plants, and ecological design. It has also attracted attention for temporarily lifting the show’s long-standing ban on garden gnomes — a rule dating back to 1927.

A poster print of playful garden gnomes by Hanna Melin at Wallsauce.com.
Made in the UK, this print is available in a range of sizes and wooden frames. 

So for the second time in the history of the world’s most famous gardening event, the gnome ban at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is being lifted to raise funds for the RHS’ work with schools.  

Chelsea Gnomes 2026 online auction from May 15th - 24th
Photo from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show website.

 Celebrities including Sir Brian May, Dame Mary Berry and Cate Blanchett have decorated gnomes which will be on display at the 2026 Show and available to bid on, in an online auction that will run from Friday 15th to Sunday 24th May.

The funds raised will go towards the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, to help inspire the next generation of gardeners.  The RHS’ work with schools enables pupils to learn through gardening as well as boost their wellbeing, skills and environmental awareness.   

The initiative will be highlighted in The RHS and The King's Foundation Curious Garden, which aims to encourage visitors to embrace curiosity and enjoy gardening in a fun and accessible way. The inclusion of garden gnomes within the Curious Garden, as well as elsewhere across the showground, also pays tribute to a long-standing tradition at Highgrove Gardens, the private residence of King Charles III in Gloucestershire, where a gnome is frequently spotted among the features of the Stumpery.

To bid on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden Gnomes, click HERE. 

Exhibition: The Monkey Puzzle Tree Unveils Innovative Full-Colour Cork Wallpaper at Clerkenwell Design Week in London

British design house The Monkey Puzzle Tree is set to unveil a new full-colour cork wallpaper design, Up Hill Down Dale, at Clerkenwell Design Week (May 19 - 21, 2026) in London.

The new wallcovering marks a significant technical development for the Leeds-based company, which is traditionally known for embracing heritage craftsmanship and artisanal production methods. The design has been created using an innovative digital printing process capable of printing white and full colour directly onto real cork wallpaper

'Up Hill Down Dale' is the result of a collaboration between The Monkey Puzzel and Yorkshire artist Olivia Beau
who uses acrylic paints and found items such as old maps to depict
the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside where she grew up.

Created in collaboration with Yorkshire painter and multimedia artist Olivia Beau, the panoramic design celebrates the changing beauty of the English countryside throughout the seasons. The artwork depicts sheep sheltering on the moors as spring blossom gives way to snow, while the vivid greens of summer transition into autumnal tones beneath circling red kites. Graphic contour lines inspired by vintage maps add a bold visual layer to the large-scale composition.

According to the company, the design was created entirely without the use of artificial intelligence and instead relied on traditional artistic techniques combined with extensive experimentation and sampling.

The wallpaper is produced in England using a highly specialised printing technique on natural cork, with production limited to just three metres per hour. The wallcovering measures 130cm (51 inches) wide and is sold by the metre, with installation carried out using a paste-the-wall application method and standard pre-mixed wallpaper paste.

Company founder Charlotte Raffo said the printing process requires patience due to the delicate nature of the machinery involved.

“‘Walter’ the printer is a little temperamental and doesn’t like to be rushed, and it takes an hour to print just 3m of this wallpaper, but we think it’s worth the wait,” she said.

Raffo added that development of the design began more than a year ago, starting with hand-drawn concepts before inviting Beau to help realise the final artwork.

“Olivia uses acrylic paints and found pieces such as vintage maps in her work. I particularly love the graphic elements created by the map contours,” Raffo said. “With a natural background like real cork, it’s quite challenging to make the colours complement and stand out, so there have been weeks of behind-the-scenes work and sampling to get the design just right.”

The Monkey Puzzle Tree has previously received widespread recognition for its cork wallpaper collections, including the award-winning Hit The North, created in collaboration with graphic artist Drew Millward, known for his psychedelic poster artwork for bands including Foo Fighters and Arctic Monkeys. The design seen above, inspired by Northern industry and creativity, received the prestigious Design Guild Mark Award in 2021 for excellence and innovation in British design.

The company has also won accolades including Best in British Product Design at the Brit List Awards and several subsequent Design Guild Marks. Its cork wallpapers gained further national attention following appearances on the BBC Two interior design programme Your Home Made Perfect.

Based in Leeds, The Monkey Puzzle Tree is an independent British design studio known for its artist-led fabrics and wallpapers.

Images from The Monkey Puzzle Tree.