Interiors Events: The Decorative Fair returns to London Battersea Park Celebrating 40th Anniversary

This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Decorative Fair, taking place from Tuesday, May 6 to Sunday, May 11, 2025, at London's Battersea Park. To commemorate the milestone, organisers are hosting The House Directory LIVE on the Mezzanine level, featuring a programme of talks and events designed to ignite interior design creativity.

Among the highlights is a panel discussion hosted by Emilio Pimentel-Reid—award-winning editor, interiors stylist, and brand consultant. 

From All Things Considered by Emilio Pimentel-Reid. Photo: Edvinas Bruzas

Drawing from his latest book All Things Considered, Emilio will lead a conversation with renowned designers featured in the publication: 

Holly Howe, Co-Creative Director of Howe London

Michal Silver, Creative Director of Christopher Farr

Natalia Miyar, designer and architect

Together, they’ll explore how unique period pieces can be used to craft deeply personal and distinctive interiors. Signed copies of All Things Considered, featuring photography by Edvinas Bruzas, will be available for purchase.

The Spring Decorative Fair will feature garden antiques and collectable objects, plus vintage jewellery, watches and couture. 

Additional Highlights from the Week's Events Include:

Wednesday, May 7 at 12 noon

Bringing Homes to Life for Photography: Staging & Styling with Antiques & Vintage

With Alice Robertson (writer, stylist, art director) and Samaya Ling (interior decorator and founder of Porter and Gold)

Thursday, May 8 at 12 noon

Save the Future by Rescuing the Past

With Sara Morel (Salvo) and Sam & Louise Coster (Mongers Architectural Salvage)

Thursday, May 8 at 2pm

MEET THE GREEN GRADS

A showcase of visionary ideas from the UK’s most promising young designers working toward a more sustainable future

Friday, May 9 at 4pm

The Role of Traditional Craft in Modern Design

Featuring master blacksmith Ian Thackery

All talks are free with a valid Fair ticket. Use code THDFREE25 when booking to gain complimentary access.

On 10 and 11 May, The House Directory will also present Makers Market, a showcase of work by artisans and suppliers of exquisite, handcrafted products. 

You can learn more here.

Also taking place in London in the upcoming Week …

Running concurrently from Friday, May 9 to Sunday, May 11, 2025, Ceramic Art London returns to Olympia in West London. Celebrated as Europe’s leading ceramics fair, it will feature 120 outstanding makers from across Europe, Canada, Korea, and beyond. Many UK-based participants bring a global perspective to their work, drawing on cultural influences from places such as Tokyo and Norway. A strict selection process ensures only the finest ceramicists are included in this highly anticipated event.

Luxury brand: Louis Vuitton's luxuriously crafted travel trunks and luggage have a timeless appeal

It’s not that the French fashion and luxury luggage brand Louis Vuitton has been keeping a low profile.

Louis Vuitton luggage remains one of today's most sought-after in vintage markets.
These were seen at the interiorboutiques.com stand at the Winter Decorative Fair in Battersea Park, London,
January 22 - 26 2025.
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Just last week, on the opening day of Paris Men’s Fashion Week, Louis Vuitton unveiled its Fall/Winter 2025 menswear collection, helmed by artistic director Pharrell Williams. The show generated significant media buzz, largely due to its collaboration with Japanese designer Nigo. A nostalgic ode to the 2000s, the collection reflected the duo’s 20-year relationship, dating back to their work on Billionaire Boys Club in 2004.

Historically, Louis Vuitton luggage was used by royalty, aristocrats, and celebrities.
Owning a vintage piece is often seen as owning a piece of history.

Then, this week, came another major announcement: Louis Vuitton will be the title sponsor of Formula One’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16, 2025. With prominent trackside signage, the official race name will be the Formula One Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix, featuring LV-designed trophy trunks on the podium. This partnership falls under the 10-year sponsorship deal that Louis Vuitton’s parent company, LVMH, signed with Liberty Media-owned Formula One last October—covering brands such as Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy, and TAG Heuer.

Meanwhile, Louis Vuitton’s long-standing collaboration with Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami is celebrating its 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, LV is relaunching the collection with a campaign fronted by Hollywood star Zendaya, who was only eight years old when the original collaboration debuted. Murakami’s vibrant and playful designs made a major impact two decades ago, and the new “extensive re-edition” includes over 200 pieces, ranging from bags and footwear to fragrances and sunglasses.

Yet, despite this flurry of high-profile projects, Louis Vuitton was noticeably absent from the latest Lyst Index ranking of the world’s hottest brands.

This week, when global fashion search platform Lyst released its Q4 2024 Lyst Index—a quarterly ranking of fashion’s most sought-after brands—Louis Vuitton failed to make the Top 20.

Lyst, which tracks over 200 million shoppers annually, compiles the Index based on online searches, product views, sales, and social media engagement over a three-month period. According to Lyst, 2024 was a year of transformation in fashion, with consumers reassessing the value of luxury labels. Miu Miu dominated, taking the No.1 spot in three of the last four quarters, with Loewe briefly disrupting its streak in Q2. Prada remained a consistent Top 3 brand, while Saint Laurent climbed steadily within the Top 5.

The rest of the ranking saw significant movement, reflecting shifts in consumer preferences. Notably, Coach skyrocketed 10 places to No.5, experiencing a 332% year-on-year surge in demand thanks to a Gen Z-focused strategy and strong holiday sales.

LV’s menswear AW25 collection, blending streetwear influences with its luxury heritage, showcased boxy bomber jackets, distorted camouflage, checked Damier prints, shaggy cardigans, and flared denim. While tailoring was minimal, the collection embraced bold accessories, catering to younger consumers with chunky furry slippers, miniature bags, phone cases, backpacks, and even travel trunks.

Early Louis Vuitton flat-top trunks, wardrobe trunks, or pieces with exotic finishes can be especially valuable.

An antique Louis Vuitton steamer trunk or wardrobe trunk in excellent condition is valued for
 its age, provenance, and rarity.  Unique features like custom monograms, original interiors, and labels from different boutiques add to their value.

These were spotted at the interiorboutiques.com stand during the Winter Decorative Fair in Battersea Park, London, in January 2025.

It’s a stark contrast from the brand’s origins in luxury travel trunks. Yet, despite the shift in aesthetic, Louis Vuitton luggage remains one of today's most sought-after categories, both in contemporary and vintage markets.

With a legacy dating back to the mid-19th century, Louis Vuitton trunks and suitcases are crafted from premium materials like canvas, leather, and brass hardware, ensuring their durability and timeless appeal. The classic monogram canvas, Damier checkered print, and other signature motifs have never gone out of style, making vintage pieces highly coveted by collectors. Vintage trunks are often used as statement pieces in home decor. Their timeless elegance makes them versatile as coffee tables, storage units, or conversation starters.

Perhaps, in today’s volatile fashion landscape, Louis Vuitton should consider refocusing on its core business—luxuriously crafted travel trunks and luggage—an evergreen symbol of prestige, heritage, and craftsmanship.

The vintage Louis Vuitton luggage featured here were spotted at the Winter Decorative Fair in Battersea Park, London from January 22 - 26 2025.  The fair offered a unique mix of antiques, design and art for interiors and exteriors as well as collectable pieces of outstanding craftsmanship.  All photos by Lucia Carpio.

Market update:  

In the week of January 29, reports emerged that French luxury conglomerate Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) faced declines in both revenue and profit, reflecting the impact of challenging market conditions in fiscal year 2024.

For the year, group revenue totaled €84.7 billion, marking a 2% decrease compared to the record-breaking figures of 2023. However, on an organic basis—adjusted for currency fluctuations and portfolio changes—revenue showed a modest 1% increase. In the final quarter, the group also achieved 1% organic revenue growth, surpassing market expectations.

Performance by Division

Fashion & Leather Goods (including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Loewe, Givenchy, and Celine) recorded €41.1 billion in revenue, a 3% decline (organically -1%) from the previous year.

Wines & Spirits saw an 11% revenue drop (organically -8%), bringing in €5.9 billion.

Watches & Jewelry declined by 3% (organically -2%) to €10.6 billion.

Perfumes & Cosmetics was a bright spot, growing 2% (organically +4%) to €8.4 billion.

Selective Retailing—which includes DFS, Sephora, and Le Bon Marché—increased 2% (organically +6%) to €18.3 billion.

Profit Decline

LVMH’s profitability also took a hit:

Profit from recurring operations dropped 14%, totaling €19.6 billion.

Net profit attributable to shareholders fell 17% to approximately €12.5 billion.

Despite the declines, LVMH remains the world’s largest luxury group, navigating economic headwinds while maintaining growth in selective areas.

London Antiques Event: The Decorative Fair in Battersea Park London celebrates 40th anniversary 21-26 January 2025

The Winter Decorative Fair, the first major antiques and interiors event of the year, and London’s largest, longest-running design and arts fair now in its 40th year, when it opens doors on January 21 2025 at Evolution London in Battersea Park. 

Organisers say visitors will be greeted by 130 exhibitors on the ground floor who will be offering "an exciting array of fine and formal antiques and 20th century design alongside decorative and unusual pieces dating from the 1700s to the 1970s", adding that art and sculpture of all periods, collectable ceramics and glassware, silver, architectural and garden antiques, textiles, curios and jewellery can be found in abundance. 

The Decorative Fair Winter, running until January 26th 2025, will also welcome The London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair, in its annual staging, with 15 specialist textile and carpet dealers showing upstairs on the mezzanine level.

The Foyer Display is The Architect’s Study, inspired by the drawings of classical architect George Saumarez Smith, whose work features in the Fair’s 2025 marketing imagery.  As shown in the photo above, the drawing was taken from the architect's Sketchbooks:  Collected Measured Drawings and Architectural Sketches. The presentation will inspire visitors with a showcase of furniture, art and objects suitable for a study, reading or office area.  All items come from dealers at the Fair and are for sale.

The Winter fair will feature a cross-section of the best antiques and period design on the market today, including furniture, lighting and mirrors as well as rugs and textiles, garden decoration, glassware, silver, ceramics, fine jewellery, folk and tribal art, vintage watches and couture. 

Seasonal favourites at the fair will also include fireplace accessories such as decorative fireguards, irons and grates; club fenders and log baskets/containers; mirrors and lighting are particularly in demand in January; cosy upholstered seating such as Howard chairs and Victorian sofas; useful occasional tables; glassware.

London's Decorative Fair - from May 9 to 14 May 2023

Celebrating the arrival of Spring is London's Decorative Fair in Battersea Park, taking place from May 8 - 14, 2023.

Billed as the UK’s "most beautiful antiques, design and art fair, and the interiors event of the season", the event is set to feature 130 stands, with an added focus on garden antiques this season, the fair  welcomes British and international savvy style-hunters and leading professional design and trade buyers on the hunt for unusual and one-off items of furniture and decoration for interiors and exteriors. 

With pieces for sale dating from the 17th century to the 1970s, a myriad tastes are tempted: from extraordinary to understated, opulent to folksy, formal to fun.  Paintings, prints, posters and sculpture are also on offer, from classic to contemporary.  

The Fair Foyer Feature will focus on early English furniture, textiles and objects both of, and inspired by, the period of Charles I and Charles II in the 17th century, displayed with later items in an informal country room setting.  The display will include still life paintings of all periods from the 1600s to the contemporary.  Expect simple English wood tables, coffers and chairs mixed with comfortable later seating and accessories in a timeless space.  Look out also for sustainable, expertly crafted heirloom designs that have stood the test of time..

New exhibitors at this Fair include:

Anthony James & Son Ltd (London): Member of BADA & LAPADA. 18th & 19th century furniture, objects and decorative items.

Cal Smith Gallery (London): Cal Smith is a dealer of Modernist and Brutalist artworks with a particular focus on relief wall sculptures. He is a trained restorer and conservation framing expert.  Cal will be presenting his large collection of exceptional works by the late Ron Hitchins (1926 - 2019).

Disquarded (Kent): Adam Green focuses on original antiques for the home and garden and unusual decorative items from the UK & France.

Florence Evans Fine Art (London): Art dealer and art historian specialising in 20th Century British pictures, sculpture and ceramics, with a focus on female artists.

Holtby & Co (Dorset): Young dealer specialising in unusual country house furniture, antiques and objects from 16th - 20th century.

Loveday Antiques (Hertfordshire): For over 50 years Loveday Antiques has specialised 18th - 20th century furniture, objects and works of art. Members of BADA & LAPADA.

For the garden, one can discover unusual decorative objects, sculpture, planters and furniture with dealers such as Muse The Sculpture Company who specialise in contemporary bronzes and large-scale works to commission for outdoor spaces, Wakelin & Linfield who favour elegant ironwork decoration such as étagères, benches and urns, Inglis-Hall Antiques where folk art weathervanes can often be found, The Home Bothy and Vagabond for stone and marble statuary pieces, D.J. Green Antiques for all manner of planters and garden pottery, Garden Artefacts with antique and vintage garden ephemera and Violet Grey for decorative urns, garden ceramics and garden furniture.

The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair has a relaxed and laid-back ambiance, where professional designers and trade buyers rub shoulders with private clients and international collectors of all ages. 

For further information, click HERE.

Orientalism taking hold in fashion and interior designs

Take the cue from the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Paris which has just launched “Yves Saint Laurent: Dreams of the Orient” as its first temporary exhibition since its opening in October 2017.

The exhibition - running from October 2, 2018 to January 27, 2019 - brings together some 50 haute couture dresses inspired by India, China and Japan from the museum’s collection, presented for the first time alongside ancient Asian artifacts loaned by the National Museum of Asian Arts, as well as private collectors, to offer authentic context to the collection’s historical influences.

All things inspired by cultures of the orient are presently having an influence in fashion as well as interior designs as evidenced in two of the latest wall-coverings launched this Autumn by British brand Fromental.  Known for their high-end couture approach to wallpapers and fabrics, Fromental's new ranges have been inspired by oriental cultures and focused the brand's bespoke approach with the use of hand embroidery and hand painting.

Above, as shown at a launch event set up at Centre Point in London was one of
the colourways of the Kiku wallcovering from Fromental.
Table lamps shown on shelves in the temporary installation are some of the new launches
from Gestalt's latest collection.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

Kiku for example draws much of its inspiration from the Japanese art and Europe's infatuation with form.

The Kiku design combines hand-painting and screen-printed details in a beautiful
panelled wallcovering, hand-painted onto paper-backed silk.

Separately also from the new range is a new colourway in their Cibar design.

Cibar wall covering on display at the launch event held in the Centre Point, an iconic 1960s building, being developed into luxury residences in the heart of London. Wall lamps shown at the same event are 

from Gestalt's latest collection.

Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

According to Fromental, Cibar is the epitome of mastery in design, representing hundreds of hours of refined skill and craftsmanship.

With its detailed painting, silk background and embroidered motifs, Cibar is a modern take on 19th Century Chinoiserie.

Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

In Cibar, the shifts between layered detail and open negative space, lead the eye through the compostition.  Note the hand-painted and hand-embroidered silk detailing.  Master artisans work in Fromental's studio in Suzhou, China, a city traditionally known for the production of silk and imperial embroidery.

Fromental is currently exhibiting in two galleries in London:  Lorfords Antiques and Talisman Gallery.  The brand founded in 2005 by partners Tim Butcher and Lizzie Deshayes who often collaborate with international clients to create customised designs.

A collection of 30 Japanese Kokashi dolls (1930s - 1970s) as spoted at the Autumn Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair which put Japonisme in the spotlight at the latest edition held at Battersea Park, south London.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

At the Autumn 29018 edition of the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair that took place 2 - 7 October at Battersea Park, south London, a themed Foyer Stand at the entrance demonstrated the infuence of Japonisme on European interiors.  On display were examples of Glasgow School and Aesthetic Period British furniture, secessionist designs from Austria, Art Nouveau decorative arts and mid-century pieces, alongside a small selection of 20th century and contemporary Japanese works.

Two Japanese silk cushions with hand embroidery on printed ground showed
by Bleu Anglais at the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

Kazuhito Takadoi from Nagoya, Japan works with a wide range of materials: grass, gold leaf, washi paper and sumi ink,  to create unique art work.  He was represented by Jaggedart London at the
Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair.  Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018