Built around the principles of biophilic design, Planted was successfully launched in London in September

Congratulations to organisers of new fair “Planted” which was launched successfully at King's Cross September 23-26 2021, after almost three years of planning. 

Organisers reported more than 4,000 visitors across the four-day show. On the programme was a six-part talks schedule headlined “delivering greener cities in a post pandemic world” as well as an exhibition showcasing more than 50 market leading design brands who all place the environment at their core.  

LSA x Eden Project

Participating leading sustainable design brands included Benchmark, Another Country, Naturalmat, Less is Better, Smile Plastics, MARK product, LSA x Eden Project, with an online showcase supported by lifestyle magazine Enki. 

Built around the principles of biophilic design, the event aimed at reconnecting people and spaces with nature, while exploring our innate need to be connected to nature.  Planted attempted to build the commercial case for greener and more biodiverse spaces.

“As launch events go, we couldn’t have dreamed of things going any better than they did,” said Planted event director and former designjunction owner, Deborah Spencer.

“What is abundantly clear now is that people still have the appetite to come together for high-quality design events while the understanding around biophilic design and the appetite for it is growing all the time.

"We're proud to be the only design industry event which places nature, sustainability and the environment at its very centre."

Oliver Heath, Planted's biophilic design ambassador added, “For years design events have paid lip service to sustainability, perhaps putting a solitary stand or section designated to the environment, but Planted has made it it’s business to be the design event for brands and organisations who truly value nature.”

Jo Liang, founder of Caulibox was one of the inspirational speakers
on the Design Council talks programme during Planted.

The six-part Planted Unearthed talks programme “delivering greener cities in a post pandemic world” was co-hosted by Heath and Planted co-founder Sam Peters.

Planted Unearthed explored how design, sustainability, food production, architecture and nature can combine to create cleaner, greener, healthier spaces, beginning with “What is biophilic design?”, and speakers included Patrick Begg from the National Trust, Julia Davies from We have the Power and Mark Shayler from This is Ape.

With a mission to make life better by design, the Design Council also hosted three talks at the event, including design for a sustainable future, making sustainable a reality and biodiversity by design: learning from experience and applying deign to complex challenges.

All talks will be available via Planted's You Tube channel in the coming weeks with the first talk "what is biophilic design?" airing on Thursday Oct 7.   Anyone who missed the show, can catch up on planted-cities.co.uk and enkimagazine.com alongside in-depth interviews in their 'Meet the maker' series. 

The Sleeping in Nature cabin design installation in association with Out of the Valley
taking pride of place on Granary Square at King's Cross.

And finally the Green Grads exhibition curated by Barbara Chandler shone a light on the next generation of designers.  Over 30 graduates from the lost classes of 2020 and 2021 displayed their work and ideas around the issues of sustainability, nurturing nature and presenting a cleaner, greener way to live at Samsung KX experience space at Coal Drops Yard.   Four awards were presented to these rising stars - the impact award, earth award, change maker award and illustration award. 

All photos by Lucia Carpio © for MyFashionConnectGlobal