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.

Interiors: New lighting by Sowden to be presented at Top Drawer

Sowden, the homeware and lighting brand created by British Milan-based designer George Sowden, will showcase their full Shades Collection of lights at the design-led trade fair Top Drawer 2024, from 14 - 16 January at Olympia London, announced SCP the UK distributor of Sowden.

Sowden Ceiling Lamps.
Photo by Alice Fiorilli from SCP website.

SCP is also presenting Sowden's new product launches being shown for the first time at the Top Drawer trade fair. 

The Shades Collection is composed of suspension, table and floor lamps, alongside a family of battery-powered designs suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

The idea for the Shade Collection took shape in 2020, when George Sowden, while working on another project, discovered the extraordinary potential and ability to diffuse light through soft silicone; a non-toxic material that is easy to clean, stands up to impact and conserves its aesthetic qualities without ever showing signs of ageing.

The use of silicone for this purpose, lends the Shades collection its distinctive allure.

The interplay of shapes and colours, assembled in diverse configurations, brings versatility and life to these remarkable lamps, according to SCP,  manufacturer and dealer of high-quality contemporary furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories, established in London in 1985 by Sheridan Coakley.

Headquartered in Milan, the Sowden brand has emerged as an epitome of design innovation. Created by George Sowden, a British designer originally from Leeds, who established himself in the Milanese design firmament, after moving to the city in the early 1970s. Sowden’s legacy includes co-founding the influential Memphis Group in 1981, alongside Ettore Sottsass and Nathalie Du Pasquier.

With a prolific portfolio spanning decades, Sowden has contributed iconic designs to leading brands such as Alessi, Bodum, Swatch, Steelcase, Tefal, and Pyrex.

Transitioning into the 2000s, Sowden's studio focused on self-branded products like the Sowden Softbrew coffee system, while also collaborating with renowned Danish brand HAY. The Shades Collection represents his latest success, introducing a bespoke lighting brand with a unique approach to designing and developing products.

Lifestyle Trade Fair: Top Drawer returns to London January 14 - 16 2024

Top Drawer will be returning to Olympia London in Kensington from the 14-16th January, featuring more than 600 contemporary brands presenting their new collections to some 10,000 retailers and trade visitors from 80 countries.

Organisers at Clarion Retail say following double-digit visitor growth in 2023, this January’s Top Drawer has seen a 10%  increase in exhibitor numbers, bringing retailers an unparalleled choice of hand-picked suppliers to explore. Particular stand-outs include the Craft, Greetings & Stationery and Wellbeing sections, which have seen 55%, 25% and 15% expansions respectively.

More than 30% of this season’s exhibitors are first time participants. Visitors will be able to browse new products from both emerging talent and top brands including Ameico UK, Aurora World, Baa Baby, Banwood, Be Home Europe, Flamingueo, Flick Fashions, Fog Linen Work, Littlemore Candle Company, Natural by Hillbrush, Okkia, Paper Rose, Papier, Pickle Picnics, Pott Candles, SAHI London, Signare, The Somewhere Co., Widdop and Co., Wigiwama and many more. 

The newness continues in the Launchpad sector for those looking for freshest products and suppliers to hit the market.  Here will be a showcase of 35 new talents looking to make their mark, including Arcana Living, Fugafit, Ghost & Bonesetter, Kensho Heirlooms, Lolly & Kiks, Peachie, Plinthy, POTR Pots, Shaven Raven Designs, Sunshine Lane, and Tillie Rose Studio amongst a host of others. For many of these exhibitors, this is their first ever trade show.  Additionally, Top Drawer is continuing its partnership with the University of the Arts London, which will showcase hand-selected products from talented recent graduates who are eager to increase their brand exposure. 

What's also new in this Spring/Summer 2024 edition is the launch of the inaugural Spotlight Awards that will recognise the best in class products from across all sections of the event. 

The Spotlight Awards will highlight the Best New Product in the following categories: from Gift to Home, Fashion, Wellbeing, Launchpad, PLAY, Food, Craft, Greetings & Stationery as well as an Innovation in Design award for the Best Newcomer.

The judging panel is made up of industry experts including retailers, designers, and members of the Top Drawer team will select the winners for each category, with the results being announced at the show on Sunday 14th January, the first day of the fair.

Also new in this edition if the Top Drawer Product Pitch, which sees brands pitch their products one-on-one to retailers. 

Organisers say Top Drawer Spring 2024 visitors will be treated to its most diverse product offering yet, with over 25% of the floorplan playing host to brand new exhibitors making their show debut, adding that they are expanding the Greetings & Stationery and Wellbeing sections due to unprecedented demand at this Spring edition.

Show Manager David Westbrooke said: “Seeing such a huge increase in both sectors is testament to our campaign to deliver the best possible customer experience. Clarion Retail has long been known for its customer-first approach, and this has especially borne fruit over the last 12 months – not only are we expanding Top Drawer to keep up with demand, but Home & Gift 2024 is also already 75% sold after just 3 months! It’s certainly shaping up to be an exciting year!”

For retailers looking for inspiration and practical advice at this January fair, the newest and hottest trends will be on display courtesy of show partner The Better Trends Company, allowing buyers to discover what’s set to influence consumer habits and provide their next best-sellers for the coming months. 

RetailFest will once again hold a range of sessions covering the most pressing and important factors shopkeepers are set to face and the Business Hub is also set to return across all 3 days with an expanded line up of industry experts on hand to give tailored guidance to retailers to ensure they’re ready to hit the ground running this season.

A digital preview of Top Drawer S/S24 is now live and trade buyers and visitors can catch a glimpse pf the fair by clicking HERE.

Annie Sloan's take on Living Coral

Pantone’s announcing Living Coral as the new colour of 2019 signals images in my mind of exotic places with warm sunshine.

It is no doubt an uplifting and happy colour, giving a feeling of hope and optimism.

Living Coral is already making waves in the interior design world, that can add cheerful notes and personality to homes.








According to paint expert and colour guru Annie Sloan,  Living Coral is a vibrant, almost neon coral, rare throughout the history of colour, because a shade this strong would have been expensive to make.

Annie Sloan:  Chalk Paint Coral Mix Using Tilton And Emperor's Silk.
Image from Annie Sloan.

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Annie Sloan says, “To me, it (Living Coral) conjures up the flavours of India and Morocco, of spices and sunsets.” 

“Create your own coral by mixing two Chalk Paint™ colours together. (As shown above) Three parts of Tilton, a mustard yellow, with one part Emperor’s Silk, a pure bright red, reflects that energy you can see in Pantone’s colour.”

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ Sunset Squares On Panelled Wall, featuring Antoinette, Barcelona Orange, Emperor's Silk Radiator features Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan in Antoinette. Daybed covered in Antoinette Linen Union Panels in Chalk Paint™;  Table top and floorboards in Chalk Paint™ Scandinavian Pink. Table legs in Chalk Paint™ Honfleur.  Image from Annie Sloan.

Annie adds: "Pack a punch by playing with blocks of colour, Josef Albers-style.  A sunset-inspired palette of Chalk Paint™ in Antoinette, Barcelona Orange, Emperor’s Silk and an Antoinette and Barcelona Orange mix will create a lively look that’s perfect for summer schemes.

Annie Sloan giving a demonstration with her Chalk Paint™ at a recent TopDrawer  London trade event.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2019

"Once the walls are saturated with juicy colour, move onto floors, radiators, side table, trays - because of it’s unique formulation Chalk Paint™ can be applied to any surface without prepping, sanding or priming, while a coat of wax or lacquer will keep your furniture looking fresh into Autumn and beyond."

British Artists turn their talent to gift products and home ware

The rich colours of a painting caught my attention in the Spotted section of Top Drawer trade fair in London earlier this month:  an alluring tiger resting in a jungle of tropical green.

Equally beguiling are illustrations of colourful birds looking back at me.  These are limited edition hand-drawn prints and are available as greeting cards. 

Surrey-based British artist Marianne Glass informed that her exotic designs are not just for stationery but also home accessories, digitally printed on fabrics in the UK that are made into cushion covers.  

Her paintings, which she said are the starting points for her collection of designs, are sold as original art. 

Inspired mostly by the natural world around her, Marianne explained that she was born in the Solomon Islands and was brought up in Hong Kong and the UK.  

With a fine arts degree, Marianne said growing up influenced by different cultures has helped her develop her designs and started her business only a year ago.

The original paintings are sold on her website, along with prints of various bird head designs.

Marianne also produces Alphabet Animal Prints are available in A4 and A3 sizes for framing. These hand-drawn prints are black and white so will go with any interior colour theme.  They are also available as A6 greeting cards.

Marianne is also available for commissioned work and contact details are on her website.

In contrast, artist Kate Thorburn’s designs are delicate and elegantly hand-drawn blue and white botanical flora and fauna, and butterflies and bees.  These demonstrate the artist’s passion for nature, and along with vintage-inspired patterns are illustrated on ceramics produced in Stoke-on-Trent. 

The Yorkshire-based surface pattern designer said she started her brand of ceramics - What Kate Loves - in 2014.  As a keen traveller around the country, Kate’s designs are created originally from sketches inspired from photographs taken, mood boards, nature and illustrated guides. 

The new collection of ceramics in Wild Garden Sketches are both decorative and functional, and Kate is pround that they are British-made. 

“The history of the ceramic industry is really important to me.  I want to keep the tradition of this craft alive by producing timeless and beautiful things of the highest quality from Stoke-on-Trent,” said Kate.

The products and contact details are available on the What Kate Loves website. 

Pom-Poms and all things colourful are all the craze!

Pom-poms, tassles  and colour are great ways to liven up our lives. 

The appeal of puffy, fluffy pom-poms continues to fascinate us as it has been for hundreds of years.

According to historians, these playful puff balls have a colourful history of pomp and circumstance, decorating national costumes and traditional attires, from clergymen's caps to cheerleaders' socks.

Tsarouhi shoes with giant pom-poms are part of the Greek
guards (Evzones) national uniforms.
Photos taken in Athens by Lucia Carpio for
My Fashion Connect Global.

Even today, in Greece, guards known as Evzones on duty at national monuments and government buildings wear the Tsarouhi shoes with giant pom-poms as part of their traditional uniform.














At the Top Drawer trade fair held at London - Kensington Olympia earlier this week, fluffy Pom-poms were spotted on many new products.

At Brand Native, the British brand founded and owned by Colombian-born Claudia Correa-Bell, pom-poms decoarded sandals with colourful woven straps, and the hand-crafted Mochita bags by indigenous Colombian Wayuu artisans of Guajira.  Claudia said she  is dedicated to supporting these native communities by paying the artisans fair prices You can read about the full story by clicking HERE.

Meanwhile, the Bohemia design company showcased a range of  products decorated with pom-poms such as these Moroccan market baskets shownj below, which are perfect for today's "No More Plastic Bags" lifestyle.  There are also garlands featuring rows of carefully spaced pom-poms which are good as room dividers and as window decorations.

Along with pom-poms, there are colourful tassels adorning wall-hanging  as well as pocket mirrors of varying sizes which are eye-catching and fun.

The Bohemia creative team are based in Edinburgh with a design studio and warehouse near the Port of Leith and a boutique on the south side of the city.   Apparently, the Scottish capital is a hotbed of bohemians and eccentrics, writers, artists, philosophers, poets, photographers, and home to the Edinburgh Festival, the largest arts festival in the world. From that base, the design team travel widely and work in partnership with skillful artisans around the globe, from sourcing leather babouche slippers in Morocco to colourful pouffes and traditional hand-block printed fabrics fro India is the source of our traditional hand block printed fabrics, as well as cotton hammam towels, scarfs and semi-precious stone jewellery from Turkey.

Product shots taken at Top Drawer, London Kensington Olympia (held 17 - 19 January) by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect Global.

Designers put their magical touch on hand-crafted jewellery.

Nature and animals are popular themes for many jewellery designers.  Here are a few featured at the new Jewellery and Accessories floor showcased at the Top Drawer London  fair last week at its new home at Kensington Olympia.

While admiring designer Amanda Coleman’s delicate handmade jewellery, I experienced an "Into the Woods" fairy-tale moment as her jewellery are whimsical and can take us into a magical world of playful scenes.

Amanda said she takes inspiration for her designs from her love of the natural world, all things miniature and the peculiarities of everyday life.

Equally pretty are Amanda Coleman's jewellery stands from which her magical jewellery are hung.  The stands are perfect complements to her jewellery.

Carved from birch plywood, as well as veneered mdf, cherry and walnut, each stand - which can be in the shape of a Big C featuring a woodland scene or in the shape of a Moose - and features an array of holes and hooks from which jewellery can be hung and displayed and these stands can be bought separately.  Perfect for the girl who has everything.

The hand-finished and hand-decorated jewellery from Mar Moo by Amanda Cope of Wiltshire are miniature works of art.  Amanda uses sterling silver, wood paper and clay for an array of necklaces, pendants, earrings and bracelets.

Each one - in the shape of a bird, dog or cat - is hand decorated so no two are exactly the same but are very similar.  Perfect for animal lovers.

Among its efforts to promote the new jewellery floor, Top Drawer London showcased two designers who were awarded as the fair's Fashion First “rising stars”.

Designer Clara Francis who taught herself the ancient craft of bead weaving, demonstrated her own unique style of bead-work at her stand .

Her designs are inspired by flora, fauna and a dose of pop culture thrown into the mix.  Among my favourites are her butterfly and star-themed designs.

This was the first time Clara had taken part in a trade fair having started her label over 10 years ago.
Using an average of 600 glass beads – ranging from 1.3 mm to 2.5 mm in diameter, Clara has created jewellery and accessories for wide ranging clients including Harvey Nichols and the Victoria and Albert Museum, and her designs have been worn by a number of red-carpet celebrities, including Alexa Chung, Victoria Beckham and Kirsten Dunst. 

Hard at work in her stand at Top Drawer, Clara was making a special bridal tiara for retailer Browns Brides.  “I have a delivery deadline to make and so I thought why not do them during the fair while trying to keep on schedule.”

“The bridal range started after my wedding a year ago.  I made for myself a star headwear which inspired me to develop more bridal designs, ” she said.

Designer Urvi Vora, a London College of Fashion graduate, started her unique Trousseau brand of bold and colourful jeweller.

Her stand at Top Drawer was a treasure trove of statement pieces.

Though London based, Urvi's one-of-a-kind pieces featuring ethnic influences are hand-made in India.  She uses semi-precious stones in various shapes and sizes, set in gold plated metal.

All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.