Interior Trade Fair Events: Decorex 2025 Unveils Line-Up for Design Talks at Olympia London

Decorex, the UK trade event for luxury interior design, has confirmed the programme for its 2025 Design Talks, taking place at Olympia London from 12–15 October. 

More than 100 speakers, including Brian Woulfe, Sophie Paterson, Irene Gunter and Livingetc’s Pip Rich, will cover topics ranging from business growth and sustainability to craftsmanship and smart home technology.

Decorex Event Director Sam Fisher said the programme reflects “the latest trends and innovations” in the sector,  adding: “We have curated a diverse range of sessions that promise to inspire, educate and engage visitors, from thought-provoking keynotes to educational panels.”

Among the highlights are:

• Style & Pitch – Interior stylists Maxine Brady and Gemma Gear explain how designers can secure media coverage and harness PR strategies.

• Tips on Running a Successful Design Business – Sophie Paterson, Charu Gandhi and Irene Gunter share practical advice on growing a practice.

• Local Meets Global – Pip Rich chairs a discussion on integrating regional craftsmanship into international design.

• The Energetics of a Thriving Business – Business coach Katy Stevenson-Bretton outlines strategies for aligning confidence and business growth.

• BIID: Scaling Success – BIID President Angela Bardino leads a panel on expanding and streamlining design businesses.

• A Problem-Solving Revolution – Jeff Hayward explores the role of smart home technology with designers Katie Earl, Naomi Astley-Clarke and NV Integration’s Pip Evans.

• Taking the Strain – Designers Christian Bense and Helen Bygraves discuss how to guide clients through the stresses of renovation projects.

• BIID: Mastering Marketing – BIID President-elect Liz Bell hosts a session on branding and social media for designers.

• Elevating the Standard – Pip Rich chairs a panel on the importance of service design in client success.

• The Empty Nest Redesigned – A discussion on how interiors can respond to lifestyle transitions, hosted by journalist Busola Evans.

This year also introduces two new formats: Design Circles, intimate roundtable-style discussions, and Brand Perspectives, curated panels featuring exhibitors and special guests to discuss trends and challenges.

For the first time, talks will also be available on-demand, included in VIP tickets or as a £20 add-on.

London Trade Events for Retail and Fashion: Top Drawer SS25 and SCOOP AW25 set to take place in January and February respectively. PURE relocates to Birmingham joining Moda and Spring Fair

Kicking off London’s 2025 retail and fashion trade fair calendar, Top Drawer S/S25 will take place from January 11 to 14 at Olympia in Kensington.

Organized by Clarion Events, Top Drawer caters to retailers and boutique owners by featuring producers, designers, manufacturers and brands across a diverse range of industries, including fashion, accessories, jewellery, home, interiors, personal care, stationery, and gifts. 

Visitors at Top Drawer SS24

The event features 600 plus design-led brands across the gift and lifestyle spectrum and attracts an average of 21,000 visitors per season.

One exhibiting company at Top Drawer S/S '25 - Design Frontier, an initiative led by Creative Kernow in collaboration with Cornwall Shop Small - will showcase a curated selection of Cornwall's most innovative designers, shining a spotlight on a diverse range of contemporary design talent, emphasising craftsmanship, sustainability, and originality.  The aim is to celebrate the rich design culture of Cornwall, positioning the region as a hub for innovation and creativity on the national stage.

Hand and Palm Art Prints 

Design Frontier will bring five leading designers to the show.  They are:

Alicia Breakspear: Botanical printmaker creating delicate monoprints and greeting cards using direct impressions from plants, emphasising natural forms and seasonal shifts.

Claire Paul: Known for her colourful giftware and stationery inspired by the vibrant landscapes of Cornwall and Scotland, merging folk art aesthetics with modern design.

EOT Ceramics: Cornwall-based potter Emily Tapp presents wheel-thrown stoneware featuring unique glazes inspired by the coastal landscape’s shifting hues.

Hand and Palm: Designer and illustrator Luci offers nature-inspired prints, cards, and homewares with a focus on sustainability and joyful minimalism.

Katy Luxton Jewellery: Blending traditional silversmithing with modern 3D printing, Katy creates bold, geometric jewellery that explores form, colour, and movement.

For more details on the Top Drawer SS25, click HERE. 

Meanwhile, the Autumn/Winter 2025 edition of SCOOP, a premier curated showroom event, will return to Olympia West in Kensington, London from February 9 to 11, solidifying its status as a must-attend highlight on London’s fashion calendar.

Separately,  the womenswear trade show PURE, which in the past was held in London at the same time as SCOOP, will now relocate to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC), where it will merge with Moda and Spring Fair, as announced by Hyve Group, the events and exhibitions company.

Operating under the combined banner of Moda x Pure, the upcoming edition is scheduled to run from February 2 to 5, 2025. The event will feature a programme designed to support trade buyers and visitors, showcasing the latest collections, emerging trends, and hosting seminar sessions with industry experts sharing their insights.

SCOOP is curated by Founder and Managing Director Karen Radley. This season she introduces a dynamic roster of talent, showcasing exciting new faces alongside a selection of international designers and lifestyle brands. Each participant has been thoughtfully chosen to engage and inspire buyers and visitors in a modern, intimate setting.

Karen Radley says, “Scoop is all about celebrating innovation and individuality. I am always on the lookout for designers who are pushing boundaries and setting trends in contemporary fashion. Each collection in this season’s lineup brings something fresh and unique, ensuring Scoop remains a beacon for newness and creativity in the industry. We are delighted to showcase such a wonderful selection at this season’s show!”

Among the new names in this season's Scoop is Artlove, which was founded in Paris in 2017.  Artlove is set to present a vibrant collection that cultivates the spontaneity of a feminine and easy-to-wear aesthetic. Committed to meticulous craftsmanship, Artlove’s clothes are inspired by the vivacious spirit of creativity, for a wardrobe imagined in Paris and to be enjoyed joyfully everywhere. Their dresses, knitwear and separates are designed in a palette of options to reflect individual personality. Each outfit is a work of art in itself, ready to be styled according to the wearer’s mood. 

Also making its debut at Scoop is iconic Spanish streetwear brand Loreak Mendian. Founded in Donostia over 25 years ago, Loreak Mendian means “flowers in the mountains”, and is faithful to its roots today by advocating for the power of design to create timeless and durable pieces. Driven by culture, their collections are inspired by artistic expressions; music, art, and graphic design, balance practicality with style, offering versatile urban apparel for both men and women that embodies the spirit of sustainability.

ALIX the Label

ALIX the Label, renowned for its luxurious take on wardrobe essentials, will also be showing for the first time. Designed ‘for those with a hint of rock and roll in their DNA’, this season’s highlights include leopard-print dresses paired with crisp sneakers for a laid-back look, and bold oversized blazers that can be styled with sky-high heels for a night out.

Orfeo Paris will unveil a collection that effortlessly blends structured tailoring with dreamy feminine charm. Expect tailored blazers, chic dresses, and cosy knitwear designed with precision and a keen eye for detail. Each piece captures the essence of Parisian sophistication while remaining approachable and practical for everyday wear.

Love Letter

For buyers seeking new jewellery designers, Love Letter’s latest collection, "The Divine Feminine," is an ode to feminine power and mystique. The line features jewellery pieces that harmonise celestial and earthly elements, with gemstones like rainbow moonstones, copper turquoise, malachite, amethyst, and carnelian taking centre stage. 

Also debuting, The Little Words Project is known for its handcrafted beaded bracelets featuring inspirational phrases. These customisable accessories promote kindness and positivity, encouraging wearers to “pay it forward” by gifting them to friends or loved ones in need of encouragement.

Travaux en Cours is set to impress with its chic and functional range of bags and hats.  Designed in France and woven in Italy, their unisex hats, crafted from durable woven paper that mimics straw, are available in a variety of colours, making them an ideal addition to any wardrobe.

Fancy Palas

Other new designers poised to catch buyers’ attention include My Beachy Side, Artemis Muse, Fancy Palas, Mirto, and Sunny Studio. 

Scoop favourites, such as Cocoa Cashmere, Dr. Bloom, Dream Catchers, Sophie + Lucie, Sofie Schnoor, Quinton Chadwick, Mou, Eribe, Dedicated, and Dr. Denim, will showcase their latest collections. 

Meanwhile, returning brands Dixie, Pom Amsterdam, Vilagallo, Nooki, Humility, and FRNCH promise to delight with their distinctive offerings.  

The much-anticipated Autumn/Winter '25 edition of Scoop will take place from 9–11 February 2025 at Olympia West, Kensington. 

For more information on SCOOP , click HERE. 

Edited by Lucia Carpio.  Images courtesy of SCOOP.

Trade show: Scoop fashion fair delivered a triumphant Spring/Summer 24 season

SCOOP premium contemporary fashion and lifestyle trade show, held from July 16 - 18 2023, greeted fashion buyers with a Moroccan-infuenced theme for its open and airy interiors decor, making use to great effect of the natural light that filled the West hall of Olympia London in Kensington.

Celebrating a triumphant Spring/Summer 24 season, the show offered an edit of over 250 contemporary womenswear, menswear, accessory and lifestyle collections exclusively curated by the show’s Creative Director and Founder, Karen Radley.  Designers commented on the incredible atmosphere, and styling of the event as well as the strength of the retailers attending.

Organisers reported the show was buzzing with buyers from across the country and internationally including teams from Fenwick, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Liberty, Galleries Lafayette, Anthropologie, Le Bon Marche, John Lewis, Hoopers, Macbees, Cavells, The Dressing Room, Aisling Maher, Anne Furbank, Collen and Clare, Jules B, Chatterton and many more. 

Cecile Massabie and Catherine Gomez from Paris retailer Galeries Lafayette said, “The curation of the show was lovely! We loved how the collections were styled and mixed, it was a beautiful environment. We especially liked Siamese Dreams, Agua Bendita and Scarlett Poppies. Louise Misha was a really interesting collection.” 

Julie Dennis from Jules Boutique commented, “This is the best show yet! We found some great new designers and I’m happy to say that I placed orders with 3 new collections as well as the designers that I always do. The show had a great atmosphere and we actually preferred it to the Saatchi Gallery. It felt really airy and spacious and easier to see new brands.” 

Angie Lou from Angie Lou Boutique said, “It's always beautiful and so enjoyable to come to Scoop. I managed to find Lola Casademunt by Maite and I wanted to mix up footwear in store so was pleased to find designer Lemon Jelly and lovely Espadrilles by Castana.” 

Johanne Taylor from Wild Orchard added, “We had a great Scoop, found a new brand and placed orders with existing. With so many of our brands being in one place it has made our buying trip so much more productive.” 

Exhibiting fashion brands were equally complimentary of the show this season.

Florence Chandler-Lee from International Designer Fashion Agency, Studio Thirteen showcased collections from TreBarraBi, Pearl & Caviar, Maurizo Mykonos and more and said, “Scoop is the hotspot for UK buyers, who travel from all over the country and beyond to be here.  Everyone we wanted to see has come and it has been a very successful show for us.  We love the space and the signature Scoop ambience and feel it sets the scene for our collections.” 

Nicola Orme Co-Founder and Designer of Queens of Archive said, “We are showing at Scoop for the first time this season. We were attracted to the show because of the retailers they welcome, the other brands that are showcasing here - it is all very premium, and the feedback we have heard from other designers.  We‘ve been turning heads all show, and the reaction to our collection has truly blown me away. We have been inundated with new business and coming to Scoop has absolutely been the right decision for us.” 

Jens Kvorning, Head of Internationalisation at SMV Danmark commented on the 16 Danish collections showcasing at Scoop this season, “We have been bringing Danish fashion collections to Scoop for 6 years and have always had a great experience at the show.  The designers this season love the venue, how open and easy it is for the visiting retailers.  They have all had a successful show and met with many new retailers.” 

Marika Drakakis from Traffic People said, “This is our first time showing at Scoop and I love the whole atmosphere and environment.  We have seen all the retailers we expected to see, and opened a lot of new accounts as well as made many more appointments for the showroom.  We have dressed some of the girls welcoming guests to Scoop and I think this has attracted attention to us and our collection!” 

Amanda Connock Founder of Connock London said, “We have been coming to Scoop for eight years now!  We do it every season and we always come back.  We started coming to Scoop to find independent boutiques to stock our collection and we love seeing so many of those stores every season.  For many we have become their signature scent, our product works so well in these stores and doesn’t distract from fashion collections. Scoop is different from everything else that we do, and it really works for us!  The quality of buyers is unmatched and our position right at the entrance this season has meant that we have met everyone that has walked through the door!” 

Wendy Dunne Founder of Lilly Pilly said, “Coming all the way from Australia we did a lot of research to ensure we would be at the right show.  All the feedback we had on Scoop reassured us on the premium designers, the aesthetic of the show and the quality of the retailers.  I am really excited by the leads I have made, and I will definitely want to return next season.” 

Panos Papanderou from Monochrome added, “I go to Paris, Milan and Miami and I can honestly say Scoop is the best show!  The details are beautiful and the music, you don’t see it anywhere else!” 

Scoop’s exclusive showcase also included inspirational collections from Marches Rosa, Saint Armont, Agua Bendita, Huit8, Siamese Dreams, Hanro, Chie Mihara, HIGH, Mes Demoiselles, Transit, Lola Casademunt by Maite, D.A.T.E, Louise Misha, Yerse, Mos Mosh and many more.

Commenting on the success, founder Karen Radley said: “We are closing doors on what has been a truly ‘Exceptional’ season! I have loved seeing buyers reactions to our Moroccan wonderland and the collections and also hearing from our designers how successful the event has been for them.”

All photos by Lucia Carpio

With Dame Zandra Rhodes as keynote speaker and a series of catwalk shows, PURE London off to a good start.

Luxury occasion wear by award winning British designer Matthew O'Brien, one of the 

new fashion brands on show at PURE.

PURE London opened today (Sunday 9 February 2020) at Kensington Olympia with a busy schedule of catwalk shows and a packed programme of seminars and talks, showcasing a exhibitor profile of established, contemporary fashion and emerging brands, covering womenswear, premium, menswear, kidswear, athleisure, footwear and accessories, as well as sustainable fashion, over three days until 11 February.

"Hibernate" is one of the key AW20/21 fashion trends, presented on catwalk at PURE London.

Comforting separates, cocooning shapes, in an array of natural shades.

Neon brights and strong colours among key trends for AW 2020.

Mixed patterns in bold colours mark the Nomad trend.

According to Fashion Portfolio Director Martin Arnold, for this AW2020/21 edition, the show is bringing together the fashion community under a theme of Nomad, "celebrating boundless creativity amidst turbulent political and economic times."

Also held during the same dates is the sourcing show PURE Origin, back for its fifth season, bring the fashion supply chain under one roof.

A highlight on Day One was having the iconic British designer Dame Zandra Rhodes as keynote speaker, celebrating her 50 Years of Fabulous, in conversation with Lauretta Roberts, Editor of The Industry Fashion (as shown in picture above) on the newly created Nomad stage in the National Hall of Olympia London.  Zandra is sporting one of her signature lipstick prints that has gained wide recognition.

Supported with a slide presentation, Zandra offers candid insights for longevity in the industry and highlights crucial moments of her career that include numerous coverage in top magazines and show events.

Over the past 50 years, Zandra has dressed figureheads of the fashion industry, British royalty including Princess Ann and Lady Diana, and Hollywood stars in her signature prints and iconic vibrant patterns and silhouettes in superior-quality fabrics that she is well-known for.

Zandra marked her 50 years in fashion last September with a retrospective exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum that she founded, located in Bermondsey, London, and a book "50 Years of Fabulous" published by Yale and a collection for SS2020 entitled "The Jubilee Collection".
Zandra shows no signs of slowing down, announcing a new collaboration with Ikea and working on her AW20 collection to be shown during London Fashion Week.

Photos by Lucia Carpio at PURE London.

Inspiring hand-woven contemporary textiles enrich modern lives.

Thanks to modern technology, our daily life has become more efficient, and thus we should be left with more time to slow down and admire crafts that are lovingly made by hand.  As we wake up to the global crisis of throw-away plastics, hand-crafted home furnishing textiles remind us the joy of appreciating things that take time to make and indeed can last a long time.

At 100% Design trade fair in London, held in September at Olympia in Kensington, I met woven textile designer Pamela Print who had her weaving loom set up in her stand so she could demonstrate her craft.  She is the genius behind her wonderful hand-woven furnishing textile collection that included wall hangings, throws and cushions that she produces for her own brand.  

As a designer and weaver who is passionate about sustainability, Pamela Print is keen to demonstrate her eco credentials, as all her products are totally sustainable as her products are all in 100% wool.  

For example, the cushions front is made in merino lambswool and the back fabric  is in Harris Tweed while for the filling she uses eco-friendly British fleece (Dorset Horn.)

Pamela graduated from Central Saint Martins in London with a BA in Textile Design, and is an alumni of TexSelect (a London-based charity that nurtured and promoted UK textile graduates for some 50 years) through her career was launched 14 years ago after particpating at Premiere Vision trade fair in Paris.

Pamela worked for many years in textile and garment supply companies like Dewhirst and for top brands and retailers including Topshop and Marks & Spencer - before relocating to Brussels for seven years.  Recently she and family decided to move back to the UK.  

But Pamela has brought Brussels back with her through her geometric patterns that were inspired by architecture in Brussels with art deco influences.  But while on the loom, ideas are developed, she said.

With a studio set up outside London in the historical village of Writtle where her designs are developed and sampled, she has also got an agreement with Bristol Weaving Mill where small batches can be produced to order.

Also exhibiting at 100% Design was Lydia Forman, whose hand-woven upholstery fabric designs won her a place in the Design Fresh area of the trade fair held in September at Kensington Olympia in London.  

Lydia was one of 30 designers selected by curator Barbara Chandler, design editor of Homes & Property at the London Evening Standard, to showcase their breakthrough design talent. 

Lydia brings a vibrant modern aesthetic to complex traditional weaving skills, creating cushions, upholstery fabrics, hangings, and flatweave rugs in yarns that include cotton, silk and Lurex.   

She juxtaposes geometric structures with bright floral colours. Weights and textures are explored using different yarns and weaving techniques.

Inspiration ranges from the colours of Kew Gardens to the rigid repeating facades of contemporary architecture.  To showcase some of her colourful textile products was a vintage Ercol sofa and chair  at 100% Design which were covered in her fabrics.        

A graduate of Loughborough University this year with a BA degree in Textiles: Innovation and Design, specialising in Woven Textiles, Lydia Forman was also awarded First Prize in the 2019 Loughborough University Enterprise Award.

All photos by Lucia Carpio.

London Design Festival presented more than half a million international exhibitors from around the world

A seminar on Finnish design characteristics focused

on sustainability, wellbeing and healthy living environment

at the 100% Design fair in Olympia, Kensington. 

It has been a very busy month for everyone working, involved or interested in creative works and design as between September 14 and 22, a number of international trade fairs and exhibitions, along with a full programme of product launches, design collaborations, seminars, presentations, installations and workshops turned London into one big design hub as the capital played host to the 2019 edition of London Design Festival.  

Cubitt House was dedicated to exhibiting cutting-edge design, iconic furniture and lighting brands 

as a major part of designjunction in Kings Cross Design District.

Installations at Cubitt Park featured Bim Buton's creations using enamel reused as outdoor seating in 

From Inside to Out, and

in the background BioKnit by Stephanie Chaltiel of MuDD Architects and Jane Scott showcasing new textile architecture techniques integrating colour, materials and form into a knitted Pavilion.

Designers and creatives from the UK and around the world. including newcomers, artists, craftsmen and artisans, new product developers, well-known brands and established names got together for the  Festival to give the capital a great buzz.

Samsung presented an exposition of Indiosincratico by Italian designer Martino Gamper in Samsung's

experience-led concept store in Coal Drop Yard, Kings Cross Design District.

Giant Anglepoise Lamps in The Light Tunnel in Kings Cross featured inspirational quotes 

to engage with visitors.

In total, 10 official Design Districts across the city were earmarked as special regions where concentrations of design activity and events took place.  All the Districts have their own personalities ad identities, many with partner events and special Routes for visitors.

Bill Amberg Print - a range of bull hides printed with graphics by some of the world's renowned creatives was essentially a collection of leather decoration employing specialist digital printing technology.  The hides have been developed for upholstery and interior architectural use.

SolidWool presented chairs made with not fibreglass but with WOOL, a great recycling process.  The Hembury Collection showcased at Design Junction are made in an old woollen mill in Buckfastleigh, a small market town once a thriving part of the woollen industry.  The seat is made from a composite materials made from coarse wool which is a by-product from hill-farmed, upland sheep farming.

Designs by Tom Dixon in Kings Cross Design District.

Each Design District was organised locally and independently.

New to join this year was the Kings Cross Design District which was the main venue for the ninth Design Junction trade fair.

British designer Tom Dixon's Coal Office headquarters and adjourning showrooms/shops/restaurant in Kings Cross were turned into special zones for visitors to experience various senses, under the banner Touchy Smelly Feely Noisy Tasty.  Tom Dixon was also named as London Design Medal Winner.

Bill Amberg also showcased his leather hides Print collection to demonstrate specialist digital printing technology on leather.

Also held during London Design Festival were 100% Design at Kensington Olympia, Focus/19 at Chelsea Harbour and London Design Fair at the Old Truman Brewery.

100% Design trade fair celebrated its 25th anniversary in the historical Olympia in Kensington.

A Sense of Finland in 100% Design was a specially built eco log house presenting Finnish furniture, products and lighting focused around sustainability, wellbeing and healthy living environments.

Other designated Design Districts included Bankside, Brompton, Clerkenwell, Marylebone, Mayfair, Pimlico, Shoreditch, Victoria and West Kensington.

Also at Kings Cross, 10 finalists of the Rado Star Prize winners were on display in The Light Tunnel, along with product installations by Haberdashery and Anglepoise.  The Rado Star Prize winner this year was Huw Evans for his Concertina furniture using English Ash and Cherry wood.

There were also two giant wooden block 'figures' named Talk to Me by Steuart Padwick installed in Kings Cross Design District for visitors to "React" to, a major theme in this years Design Junction show.  One of which is shown in a picture below.

An installation "Talk to Me" by Steuart Padwick

Rado Star Prize winner this year was Huw Evans
for his Consertina collection.

Designer and woven textile designer Pamela Print showcased her weaving technique during 100% Design along with 

her new collection of sustainable hand-woven designs for home furnishing including throws and cushions all in British wool (Merino lambswool).  Cushion backing is made with Harris Tweed and the filling is eco-friendly British fleece - Dorset Horn.  

This was the 17th annual festival which also marked 11 years collaborating with the Victoria and Albert Museum which was also the official Festival Hub for  a series of specially-commissioned project by international designers.

Welsh artist Thomas Perceval was on hand to discuss his unique artistic craft with visitors at 100% Design.
Based on the border of Mid Wales and Herefordshire, Thomas captures the beauty of trees - especially in the winter and early spring when absent of leaves, trees reveal the complexity of their intricate branches formed by nature.
He combines drawing techniques with laser burning technology to create amazing images of trees.  Each laser etched tree artwork meticulously takes a few months to create.

Original hand-woven upholstery fabric designs by Lydia Forman,

one of 30 designers selected by Barbara Chandler, design editor of Homes & Property at the London Evening Standard, to showcase their breakthrough design talent. 

on show at the Design Fresh area at 100% Design.

Creative China was one of the country pavilions at 100% Design.  
The China Pavilion promoted 22 companies that showcased creative design with traditional cultural elements.

All photos by Lucia Carpio.