The London Design Festival is an annual event, held to celebrate and promote London as the design capital of the world and as the gateway to the international creative community. 

First staged in 2003, the Festival programme is made up of over 400 events and exhibitions staged by hundreds of Partner organisations across the design spectrum and from around the world.

A centerpiece of the Festival is our commissions, theLandmark Projects, created with the help of our generous supporters. For the Landmark Projects we commission some of the world's greatest architects and designers to create pieces of work in some of London's best-loved public spaces. Then there are the Partner events; if anything is evidence of this city's vitality, it's the sheer scope and quality of the Festival events programmed by our Partners. From established businesses to emerging practices, from entrepreneurs to educators, from manufacturers to retailers, our Partners represent the heart of London's design culture.

The Festival is both a cultural and a commercial event. The programme ranges from major international exhibitions to trade events, installations to talks and seminars, from product launches to receptions, private views and parties. The majority of events are free of charge - enabling visitors to participate, listen, learn, commission and make purchases. The Festival is funded through a combination of public and private sources. The Mayor ofLondon's office provides grant funding for the Festival; Arts Council England have been long term supporters of the Festival. Private funding (approx 60%) is raised through sponsorship of Festival projects alongside a small range of London Design Festival products and services delivered throughout the year. Festival audiences are significant, with an estimated direct audience of over 375,000 people from over 75 countries, with a wider audience of over 1m people coming into contact with the major public commissions in 2015. The Festival also had a programme of 417 projects and events staged by 301 Partner organisations.

"The London Design Festival is the most vivid possible proof that London is the hub of the creative industries in the world. The London Design Festival is an annual event, held to celebrate and promote London as the design capital of the world and as the gateway to the International creative community." - Boris Johnson, former Mayor of London.

Clerkenwell is home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, making it truly one of the most important design hubs in the world. To celebrate this rich and diverse community, Clerkenwell Design Week has created a showcase of leading UK and international brands and companies presented in a series of showroom events,  exhibitions and special installations that take place across the area.

Celebrating its 8th year in May 2017 (23-25) the award-winning* CDW has firmly established itself as the UK’s leading independent design festival and annually attracts the international design community to this small area of London for three days of exciting events. In 2016, the design community flocked to Clerkenwell with 34,973 attendees and over 300 exhibiting brands.

This series of new paintings by Tom Cardwell take as their subject the customised ‘battle jackets’ worn by heavy metal fans. These jackets represent a significant tradition of DIY making practice and act as a display of identity and subcultural allegiance for the fan. Although contemporary in nature, the band logos and artworks hark back to past eras in Western cultural history. Cardwell exploits these connections to re-present the jackets as crossing points for diverse layers of narrative, with a nod to the concerns of Dutch still life painting.
 
The exhibition features two related series of works. A series of small watercolour paintings transcribe a selection of jackets made by fans, bringing the scrutiny of the medium to bear on the collections of patches, studs and other embellishments. These become a sort of contemporary ‘kunstkammer’ painting. The group of larger oil paintings connect and conflate the battle jackets with other related artefacts; a leather biker jacket, a military banner, a priest’s chasuble. These creative juxtapositions suggest connections between ostensibly disparate traditions that are reified in objects that only exist in the space of painting.
 
This exhibition forms the culmination of Cardwell’s practice-based PhD project and is presented with support from the CCW Graduate School and Wimbledon College of Arts.

Organised by the British Fashion Council and sponsored by Mercedes Benz and Toni & Guy, LFW takes place February 2016  in several locations throughout the city. Brewer Street Carpark, London Fashion Week’s central hub in the heart of London, is home to the Designer Showrooms showcasing collections from both established and emerging brands across ready-to-wear, accessories and footwear. The Designer Showrooms attract an audience of international and UK press and buyers throughout the week.

The Saatchi Gallery also allows consumers to experience the atmosphere of London Fashion Week and gain an insight into the fashion industry while designer brands have the opportunity to meet and build direct relationships with new customers.

London Fashion Weekend then commences; the ultimate fashion experience giving consumers exclusive access to catwalk shows; a curated talks schedule; designer shopping; and trend presentations and is at the forefront of the British Fashion Council’s strategy for extending the citywide celebration of London Fashion Week and engaging the consumer in related activity.

Pure London is an order writing tradeshow with over 82% of our visitors either directly responsible or influential in purchasing decisions. 52% of visitors intend to spend more than a quarter of their annual budget with brands they meet at Pure London. Our bold multichannel marketing and engagement campaign will present new platforms for visibility through Lookbooks, Direct Mail, Email, Social and our image-led website, attracting highly engaged, high-spending buying audiences on the lead up to and after the show.

 Pure London is place where business is done. Launch your new collections in front of thousands of fashion buyers. This is your chance to contact the hard to reach, change mind-sets and drive your future. The UK Fashion Market Report brings together some of the best research and insight available to provide a comprehensive overview of retailing and the fashion sector in the UK. It helps to provide a detailed look at the reality of the market-place, from both a retailers and a consumer point of view. 

Retailing occupies a large and vital part of the UK economy, but for the UK consumer, shopping has become a key leisure activity and an important part of people’s lives. More than a third of all UK consumer spending goes through shops. And fashion is one of the key drivers of retail spending.

Scoop is a premium and contemporary womenswear and accessories tradeshow held at the iconic Saatchi Gallery, London. Our exhibitors are leaders in the industry – directional, talented, successful and unique. Scoop was launched in February 2011 by fashion industry expert Karen Radley.

With an impressive line-up of premium collections, Scoop is based around creating an international design-led and London-based exhibition for niche designers; one where labels do not have to battle one another for attention and where the diverse brand offering guarantees visitors something they have not seen elsewhere. Today, Scoop has become a key destination for showcasing over 250 international contemporary designers.

Jacket Required premium menswear show is a trade only event, open exclusively to buyers and members of the press. Hosting an inspiring, carefully edited international line-up of contemporary casualwear across apparel, footwear, accessories and lifestyle product over two floors at The Old Truman Brewery, London.

You know the story so far. In the city of London – capital of art and aristocracy, culture and commerce, education and entertainment, tourism and transport, finance and fashion – premium menswear trade show Jacket Required found its home some five years ago. 

Launched in the summer of 2011 by industry protagonists Craig Ford and Mark Batista, Jacket Required was born out of an idea to strip away the traditional showmanship of exhibitions, and instead offer a line-up of curated brands, editing collections down to display product on a level platform with a simple, supporting set up. 

Now, in preparation for its eleventh edition, Jacket Required turns the page to the next chapter as it returns to Shoreditch this summer. A microcosm of concept stores, ground-breaking bars, exclusive eateries, coffee shops and contemporary cafes where, come sunny days, the connoisseurs of cool crowd on each and every corner, with a cold beer in hand courtesy of a traditional East End boozer. It’s this relaxed, yet considered style which translates across to the people who join within The Old Truman Brewery’s industrial white-washed space – as the trade show brings together a selection of emerging and established brands from around the globe, with buyers and members of the press and a mutual appreciation of an uncompromising commitment to content. 

“Content is key. It’s king,” says Mark Batista. “Since the very first edition of Jacket Required, our aim was to pull together the most pertinent brands, from the archetypes that have laid the foundations of menswear, our industry friends and those who have personally influenced us, while also picking out ones to watch – there’s always something new, innovative and inspiring to discover. Brands that make a great first impression, but also have staying power – those are the collections we welcome into our fashion family and look to present to the European market.” And it’s fair to say that, without Ford and Batista, many a menswear brand may never have been introduced into that market.

With apparel labels such as Levi’s Made & Crafted, Hartford, Alpha Industries, Edwin, Billionaire Boys Club, Wood Wood and Dickies; footwear favourites Saucony, Gourmet, Red Wing and Clarks Originals joining accessory brands Sandqvist, Il Bussetto and Porter Yoshida to present their spring/summer 2017 collections, Jacket Required stays true to its original vision as it continues to develop its recognisable voice at a conscious pace. Its narrative of brands across casualwear, sportswear, tailoring and streetwear are punctuated with complementary lifestyle product – all satisfying a mission to provide accessible luxury to the modern male.

“The diverse London men’s retail landscape increases in relevance season upon season,” says Craig Ford. “Our capital is a growing, interesting setting for buyers to visit and therefore brands to showcase – you can see some of the most exciting stores and best labels on the same trip as part of the international buying calendar. At Jacket Required, we continue to invite strong brands that are relevant to the market and which sit well together without overlap – we may now boast over 300 collections, but our collective energy stands strong and our style quota is still ever present.”

So, now it’s time for the show’s authors to continue its rewarding adventure. Set within a true destination for cutting-edge fashion, the London menswear trade show’s distinctive mix of brands and forward-thinking philosophy gives chapter and verse, with the promise that there is much more to come from the Jacket Required story.

To be continued...

The Sustainable Angle is a not for profit organisation that initiates and supports projects which contribute to minimizing the environmental impact of industry and society, and that help make it easier for companies, institutions and individuals, to make better informed decisions when it comes to sustainability.

The 6th Future Fabrics Expo will feature:

| Even more inspiring, globally sourced and commercially available materials with a reduced environmental impact, ideal for fashion, activewear, footwear and accessories.
| Resources, tools and background research related to sustainability in the fashion and textiles supply chains.
| Guided tours of the expo available for brands to learn about the materials on display and gain a more in-depth understanding of available options (to be booked in advance).

The Future Fabrics Expo showcases and promotes innovative and commercially viable fibres, fabrics and products that embody a range of sustainable principles and new technologies, sourced from suppliers and mills who demonstrate a commitment to lowering environmental impact across the textile supply chain.The intention is to creatively inspire designers and fashion brands as well as educating them about the newest developments in sustainable fabrics and ending outdated cliches (mostly the assumption that sustainable fabrics are either low quality or are mainly artisanal fabrics).

In order to demonstrate that responsible fashion design goes beyond using sustainable fabrics, each expo goes further than materials, showcasing new ideas that look at improvements throughout the whole supply chain, as well as novel approaches to transforming the fashion design system and fashion design practice. Over the last few years developments in technology producing textiles with a low environmental impact have generated sophisticated new qualities in fashionable fabrics, that are suitable for high fashion and are able to withstand stringent quality controls typically used by the fashion industry. Bringing these fabrics to the attention of as many fashion designers and their brands as possible is leading the fashion industry to catch on to the zeitgeist, and demonstrates that it is possible to lower the environmental footprint without compromising on style or quality.

The expo shows more sustainable alternatives to the widely available conventional fabrics that currently dominate the market, helping fashion companies to begin diversifying their fabric base and lowering their environmental impact at the same time. Sourcing fabrics of high quality that also offer clear sustainability gains can be an onerous and time consuming task, as no fair or marketplace is showing such fabrics with sufficient transparent production information in one place at present. The expo features sample lengths of fabrics rather than swatches allowing designers and buyers to experience the handle and drape.

Targeting mid to high-end influential fashion brands and engaging them with the sustainability agenda will have a trickle down effect on the high street. The concept and scope of the expo develops and expands as this growing market continues to progress, in order to continuously look ahead and showcase the most innovative solutions to current and preempted environmental issues. Fabrics are often the first step in the designer’s creative journey, and are therefore a good starting point for a more conscious and responsible approach to the creation of fashion products.

There is a pressing need to transform the way clothes are made. Our choice of materials has an impact upon a product’s entire life and therefore making intelligent and creative sourcing decisions can ultimately help to create clothing with minimal negative impacts upon the environment, animals and human welfare. Eliminating wasteful practices, reducing electricity, water and chemicals consumption can have a positive effect on the balance sheet and moreover, the adoption of an innovative future-ready approach to business can help to attract a talented and loyal workforce as well as increasing consumer loyalty.

The current dominance of cotton and polyester fibres in the market is unsustainable; together they account for over 80% of the world’s clothing output. This lack of diversity has led to growing problems such as excessive water consumption, pollution, loss of soil fertility and biodiversity and an over-dependency on oil. Fabrics that offer innovative alternatives are part of a better future – one in which we are able to manage our resources wisely and cost effectively. The future lies in taking a holistic view where sustainable fashion fabrics play an important role as part of the whole fashion system, which needs to undergo widespread improvement to reach long term sustainability.

The second in Wimbledon’s 2016-17 series on Communities and drawing on research by artist and course leader of Wimbledon’s BA Print & Time-Based Media, Richard Layzell, Korea Town at Wimbledon Space will focus on the nearby community of North and South Koreans living in New Malden, just two train stops down the line from Wimbledon.
 
More than 10,000 of the 29,000 people living in this part of London are Korean, and Layzell’s research involves interaction with the public facing elements of these communities: shops, cafes, hairdressers and, particularly,  HAN Karaoke Bar. Kpop Noraebang (karaoke) in Korea is a national obsession, taking place in small rooms that are hired out by the hour.
 
The centrepiece of the gallery, whose walls will be decorated with allusions to Korean popular culture, will be a reconstruction of one of HAN Karaoke Bar’s private rooms: a participatory, interactive structure where audience members can participate in karaoke, with an emphasis on Korean popular songs. Accompanying this will be video projections of documentary and performance works.

London Art Fair, the UK’s premier fair for Modern British and contemporary art, returns to the Business Design Centre, Islington, from 18-22 January 2017. Known for its welcoming and supportive environment for collectors of all levels, the 2017 Fair will see over 125 galleries showcase the very best contemporary and modern art from the UK and around the world. For its 29th edition, London Art Fair has announced The Lightbox, Woking as its 2017 museum partner, with an exhibition of Modern British art from The Ingram Collection titled Ten Years: A Century of Art. This follows successful partnerships with Jerwood Gallery in 2016, Pallant House Gallery in 2015 and The Hepworth Wakefield in 2014. Miguel Amado, curator of the Portuguese Pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale and currently senior curator at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, has been appointed guest curator for Art Projects ‘Dialogues’, while Christiane Monarchi, Editor of Photomonitor, will curate Photo50 under the title Gravitas. Upper Street Events has also appointed Lee Cavaliere, former Head of Contemporary at The Fine Art Society, as Sales Manager and Tanya Pineault, former Corporate Hospitality Manager for Art Basel, Hong Kong, as VIP Relations Manager for London Art Fair. Working closely with Director Sarah Monk, Cavaliere will have responsibility for gallery development.

Museum partnership with The Lightbox, Woking – Ten Years: A Century of Art To mark its tenth anniversary since opening in 2007, The Lightbox gallery and museum, in Woking, Surrey, will display significant works from The Ingram Collection of Modern British Art, in Ten Years: A Century of Art; a unique exhibition in the pavilion at the entrance to London Art Fair 2017. Founded by media entrepreneur Chris Ingram in 2002, The Ingram Collection is widely acknowledged as one of Europe’s most significant collections of Modern British art and is further distinguished by its loan to The Lightbox for public display in a series of rotating exhibitions since 2007. Works from the collection are also regularly loaned to international and national exhibitions. Ten Years: A Century of Art will include key works by twentieth century artists such as Henri GaudierBrzeska, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson and Eric Ravilious. Curated by Peter Hall, Curator of The Lightbox, and Jo Baring, Curator of The Ingram Collection, this exhibition of paintings, drawings and sculpture will demonstrate the breadth, depth and quality of The Ingram Collection, and tell the story of a century of British Art rich in innovation and discovery.

Art Projects: ‘Dialogues’ curated by Miguel Amado Art Projects is an important international platform for galleries to showcase the most stimulating contemporary practice. Dedicated to fostering a community of emerging international galleries, Art Projects ‘Dialogues’ is a unique and much anticipated section of the Fair which features collaborative presentations between invited UK and international gallery partners. ‘Dialogues’ will be curated in 2017 by Miguel Amado, Senior Curator at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. Amado brings a wealth of international experience to the role, including his work as curator for Joana Vasconcelos’ Portuguese Pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale and appointments at institutions such as Tate St Ives, the PLMJ Foundation in Lisbon, and the Centro de Artes Visuais in Coimbra, Portugal. Other projects include apexart in New York, Frieze Projects at Frieze London and No Soul for Sale: A Festival of Independents at the X Initiative in New York and Tate Modern in London.

Photo50 curated by Christiane Monarchi Photo50 is an annual guest-curated exhibition at the Fair which provides a critical showcase of some of the most interesting and distinctive elements of current photographic practice. Christiane Monarchi, Editor of Photomonitor, has been appointed as guest curator for the 2017 edition with a group exhibition of lens-based works entitled ‘Gravitas’. In ancient Roman society, presence of gravitas signalled the transition of the Roman youth from the ranks of boyhood to become a respected member of society. At a time when childhood itself is coming under increasing pressure from society, in both real and virtual arenas, Monarchi’s Photo50 exhibition will highlight the work of photographers who explore this path through adolescence today.

Welcome to the four beautifully curated worlds of Top Drawer: Home | Gift | Fashion | Craft. This is where the leading brands, designers, suppliers, manufacturers and distributors in these sectors come to do business with the most successful and creative retail and contract buyers.

Top Drawer has a strong brand heritage built on:

| Carefully curated content –  you know you’ll be in good company commitment to discovering and supporting bright new talent – which keeps bringing key buyers to the show
| A warm and friendly atmosphere – an enjoyable place to do business the quality and mix of buyers – meet the whole market the major scale of the show (offering a rare depth and breadth of quality product choice)
| Beautiful and original show design – an exquisite showcase for your products deep sector knowledge which enables us to innovate,
| Creating new opportunities for you our location in London –one of the world’s most exciting creative and retail centres.

All four new worlds at Top Drawer continue to share and build on these distinguishing characteristics, constantly evolving to ensure the event remains the destination of choice for discerning, design-led brands and buyers. 

London Collections Men is a biannual showcase that takes place every January and June and celebrates the creative and commercial importance of the British menswear industry. London Collections: Men emphasises both the creative and commercial importance of British brands and emerging talent as well as the rich cultural landscape that contributes to the inspiration and success of this sector. All events on the schedule are designed to showcase the breadth of British fashion talent, from the world’s most innovative emerging talents to global menswear brands and Savile Row tailors.

This season 180 Strand will remain the sole hub for activity during London Fashion Week Men's. The venue will house the main BFC Show Space on the ground floor while the BFC Presentation Space and the Designer Showrooms including ready-to-wear, accessories and multi-brand showrooms will be located on the first floor.