Category: News

Here at LCW our festive season is already well underway. Here is a small selection of experiences and one-of-a-kind gifts to help you celebrate yours.

 

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Bespoke Experiences

 

One of the truly special things about a bespoke gift is that it’s a process you can share together with your loved ones, experiencing first hand the time and care that goes into making something unique. Here are a few pointers for gifts that are special, easy to find, plus come in handy if you’ve missed the last date for delivery!

 

4160Tuesdays Fragrance
From £1,000

 

Scent is very personal, which makes it one of the most thoughtful things you can give. Maybe consider the bespoke experience at 4160Tuesdays? During an afternoon with Head Perfumer Sarah McCartney at their Hammersmith Studio, learn about fragrance making and create two 100ml bottles of artisanal perfume.

Image: 4160Tuesdays

 

Charvet
Price on request

 

In the words of Simon Crompton, founder of Permanent Style and an authority on classic menswear, ‘few places in the world compare to Charvet’. For that person who’s super-tricky to find the right present for, why not gift Charvet’s bespoke shirt-making service? If you’re feeling extra generous, you could book the Eurostar to Paris where together you can visit Charvet’s Place Vendôme shop for a made-to-measure fitting with a shirt specialist, followed by a well deserved lunch.

Image: Jamie Ferguson for Permanent Style

 

Peter Reed Bed Linen
From £480 for a bed set

 

Bespoke bed linen is a true luxury in the best sense of the word. After all, what better gift can there be than a good night’s sleep? Peter Reed’s handmade linen is synonymous with the rich heritage of English textile manufacturing, having been made to order since 1861. For something (or someone) very special, choose to add a monogram or commission your own design.

Image: Peter Reed 

 

Emefa Cole
Erosion 1 ring, £1,850

 

A beautiful made-to-order ring from a gifted jeweller, inspired by natural phenomena and the African landscape. Emefa Cole uses 100% recycled metals and stones sourced directly from African gem cutters to forge her distinctive pieces, which have been acquired for the permanent collections of the V&A and the Goldsmiths’ Company. Erosion 1 is influenced by childhood tales of golden nuggets unearthed by heavy rainfall in Ghana: ‘the land of Gold’.

Image: Emefa Cole

 

Quilting with Jennifer Raish
Selvedge online workshop, £195

 

A handmade quilt is a wonderful way to bring together off-cuts of favourite textiles and beloved garments from family and friends. Take inspiration from Annabelle Harty and Sheelagh Boyce of Arrange Whatever Pieces Come Your Way, whose quilts take hundreds of hours to hand-sew and are a physical manifestation of a long friendship. Feel like having a go at making your own? Jennifer Raish offers accessible online workshops, which will introduce you to traditional quilting techniques and teach you how to sew a small art quilt by hand.

Image: Jennifer Raish, Selvedge 

 

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A very LCW Christmas

 

At LCW we believe that extra bit of care and attention goes a long way to making something really special, even with the simplest of things.

 

The Japanese Art of Gift Wrapping
Furoshiki Gift Wrapping Workshop, £35

 

In Japan, the giving of gifts is an important cultural ritual, with the presentation as important as the present itself. This month, furoshiki expert Tomoko Kakita is holding gift wrapping workshops at Pantechnicon to celebrate the launch of her new book, Furoshiki and the Japanese art of gift wrapping. Join Tomoko to learn the key techniques and find out why furoshiki is a sustainable alternative to paper wrap. You’ll also receive a copy of Tomoko’s book.

Image: Pantechnicon

 

Jochen Holz Lustre Baubles
SEEDS London, £40 +VAT

 

Working with his own experimental techniques, Jochen Holz employs metallic oxides that are painted onto molten glass to create these ethereal lustre pendants – each one completely unique. A special addition to your own tree, or a thoughtful gift. Find Jochen’s work at SEEDS London, where Nathalie Assi also has a wonderful selection of other pieces at a wide range of price points.

Image: SEEDS London

 

Torta Di Natale Kit
Skye McAlpine, £42

 

Skye McAlpine’s Make-Your-Own Christmas Cake Set includes all the essentials to decorate a 9 inch Christmas Cake. Each set comes with a Christmas Cake recipe, cake drum, glacé fruits, nuts and yellow marzipan, as well as a gift box, gift label and seasonal green velvet ribbon to tie the box up with. You can bake your own cake or box it up and give it away as a holiday gift.

For more foodie inspiration, look to Konditor, the mince pies especially. Buy them online or in-store, and serve with a dollop of clotted cream.

Image: Skye McAlpine

 

Christmas Cracker Kits
Inq, £45

 

Bring some pop to your festivities with Inq’s marbled Christmas Cracker Kits, which come in Obsidian, Mistletoe and Pomegranate colourways. Each kit contains enough material to make 6 crackers which are 100% recyclable and will add a touch of Venetian charm to your tablescape. If you fancy going one step further, join Florence Saumarez of Inq for an introduction to marbling workshop.

Image: Inq

 

Monogrammed Napkins
Hawthorne & Heaney, monogramming services from £40

 

Another idea for your Christmas table: commission some bespoke embroidered napkins from Hawthorne & Heaney. A set of personalised table linen will last for many years and is a lovely way to mark the tradition of family and friends coming together around the dinner table.

Image: Hawthorne & Heaney

 

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Celebrate with Nyetimber
Special promotion

 

Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage, £37

This festive season, why not consider giving a bottle of Nyetimber English Sparkling Wine to special friends and family members? Or better yet, stock up for your own celebrations! The signature wine of Nyetimber, the Classic Cuvee is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier and is a perfect balance of elegance and intensity. Use the code LCW-15-Christmas to get 15% off any order over £100. Also good for seeing you through your Christmas wrapping!

This offer can only be redeemed once per person and is valid until the 31st December 2021. For full terms and conditions see here.

 

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Featured image from  Crafting a Difference at the Argentine Ambassador’s Residence, photo credit Dan Weill

Sign up to our newsletter below to get the latest London Craft Week news and curated content delivered straight to your inbox.

Would you like to be part of LCW 2022?

 

LCW is committed to supporting the work of emerging artist-maker-designers. Each year we are delighted to offer 25% of our Bronze Level places free of charge to independent makers, charities and sole traders.

We are now welcoming applications from individuals who are keen to be involved in this year’s festival (9–15 May 2022) and are particularly keen to hear from makers and sole traders at the start of their career.

London Craft Week aims to showcase outstanding British and international creativity to our visitors. Our curated programme of events brings together discerning consumers with makers, designers, brands and galleries, creating a unique opportunity to build engagement and sales.

As there are a limited number of spaces, each applicant for a free space must send in a proposal of their event which will be reviewed by the LCW team, and then offered on a discretionary basis.

Please apply via the online form below if you believe you qualify. The deadline for programme applications is 14 January 2022.

 

Apply Here

 

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Featured Image: Dharma Taylor at Paul Smith during London Craft Week 2021

Photo by Dan Weill

The recently concluded seventh edition of London Craft Week was our largest programme yet. If you weren’t able to fit everything into the week then don’t worry, as you can still catch up on some of the talks and exhibitions that are continuing this month.

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Talks

 

Image: Mark Cocksedge

ReCoil: Brodie Neill in conversation with Marcus Fairs, Dezeen

 

Designer Brodie Neill is known for his mastery of materials, form, and process. Born in Tasmania and based in London, his work aims to recontextualise our relationship with materials and our role in the natural world.

During London Craft Week, Brodie joined Marcus Fairs, Founder of Dezeen, for an intimate conversation discussing how he has revisited the indigenous timbers of Tasmania through the innovation of Hydrowood, a precious resource reclaimed from the island’s lakes. The result of Brodie’s collaboration with Design Tasmania, ‘ReCoil’ was presented for the first time during London Craft Week, alongside Continuum, a selection of his major upcycled works.

The exhibition is open everyday until 27 October at 6-7 Motcomb Street, Belgravia.

Watch the talk

 

Image: Dan Weill

In Good Company: Lucille Lewin in conversation with Louisa Buck

 

Lucille Lewin discusses her collaborative exhibition with Nicole Farhi, ‘In Good Company: A celebration of creativity and friendship’, with Louisa Buck, contemporary art correspondent at The Art Newspaper.

The exhibition includes new works in bronze, jesmonite, porcelain and glass, produced during the lockdowns – which both artists found incredibly productive – alongside select earlier pieces, on view until 22 October.

Watch the talk

 

Image: Katarzyna Perlak, courtesy of Jerwood Arts 

Tender Crafts: Panel Discussion at Jerwood Space

 

Ann Coxon, Curator of International Art at Tate Modern is joined by contemporary visual artists Katarzyna Perlak, Rebecca Bellantoni and Raisa Kabir for a discussion which explores how crafts can be used to revisit and reimagine history from contemporary diasporic, feminist and queer perspectives.

Jerwood Arts presented this event alongside the exhibition Survey II, which continues at Jerwood Space in London until 11 December before travelling to Sheffield.

Listen to the talk

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Exhibitions

 

Outside In
Until 27 October

Sarah Myerscough Gallery presents ‘Outside In’: exceptional works of crafted art and design by international artist-makers who define their practice through their decisions to use organic, sustainable materials. These ancient materials; wood, willow, and grasses, are reimagined for the contemporary world as the makers express their devotion to nature. Find out more

 

Layers
Until 13 November

Discover ‘Layers’ at SoShiro, the first UK solo show from Cuban multimedia artist Alexandre Arrechea. Through a new collection of handmade furniture embellished with decorative mosaic work, created in collaboration with the Mosaic School of Friuli, Italy, Arrechea celebrates the relationship between the human body, architecture and colour. Find out more

 

Kuniko Maeda
Until 16 October

Kuniko Maeda is a Japanese artist based in London who works mainly with paper, leather and textiles to create handmade jewellery, artworks and installations. Contemporary Applied Arts is exhibiting Kuniko’s latest work, which combines the reuse of materials, including paper and leather, Japanese traditional craft techniques and modern digital technology. Find out more

 

Terrain: Works in Porcelain
Until 29 October

‘Terrain’ at jaggedart is a celebration of porcelain used in different ways. Lucas Ferreira’s works are made from small handcrafted fragments of porcelain, accumulated to form sequences and rhythms, evoking geological formations. Almost paper-like, Alison Gautrey’s spun porcelain vessels are translucent and weightless, capturing a feeling of movement. Find out more

 

Woven Narratives
Until 24 October

In a collaboration that celebrates the beauty of paper, Smythson hosts an exhibition at their Sloane Street store featuring works by artist Gill Wilson, in partnership with Guilded. The collaboration sees Gill create a series of bespoke artworks, which incorporate the telltale Nile Blue paper seen across Smythson’s iconic blue packaging. Find out more

 

The Art of Plaster
Until 22 October

Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler has a long history of commissioning bespoke works for clients from the UK’s finest craftspeople. This exhibition in their Pimlico Road showroom shows the vibrant plasterwork of Geoffrey Preston, an English architectural sculptor specialising in decorative plaster and the art of stucco, and includes a collection of recent floral inspired works. Find out more

 

Meaning Behind Materiality
Until 31 October

Don’t miss ‘Meaning Behind Materiality’, presented by Cynthia Corbett Gallery. The showcase offers a deep dive into different forms of craft such as ceramics, textiles and mixed media. Gallery artists include Matt Smith, Albert Montserrat and Klari Reis, in addition to Young Masters Amy Hughes, Amanda McCavour, and Emilie Taylor. Find out more

 

Cracked ft. Troy Town Shop
Until 29 October

‘Cracked’, curated by Leonie Mir, is dedicated to hand-moulded ceramics made without the use of a wheel. The exhibition, at Tristan Hoare Gallery, focuses on emerging and established contemporary artists who construct, sculpt and mould clay, demonstrating what can be achieved with ‘a little bit of mud and a little bit of genius’ (Paul Gauguin). Find out more

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Tell us what you think

 

 

Image: Tristan Hoare Gallery, Photo by Dan Weill

We would love to hear your thoughts on the seventh edition of London Craft Week. Please tell us about your experience through our 2021 survey. All entries will have the chance to win £500 to spend at Liberty London.

Take the survey here

 

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Featured image from  ‘In Good Company’, photo credit Dan Weill

Sign up to our newsletter below to get the latest London Craft Week news and curated content delivered straight to your inbox.

We hope you have enjoyed the first few days of London Craft Week 2021! If you’re out and about this weekend, we’ve put together a selection of highlights from the programme of nearly 400 events taking place across London and online.

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Explore Fabrica X at The Mills Fabrica

Fabrica X, London’s first concept store and innovation gallery, is presenting a showcase of demonstrations, workshops and retail experiences this weekend centred on sustainable innovations.

Join Helen Kirkum Studio in their pop-up workshop to learn about the process of bespoke sneaker creation, and discover ‘Collection 03 Imagined Communities’ by designer Joao Maraschin, whose community-led eponymous brand is focused on social design. Meanwhile Bananatex®, the world’s first durable, technical fabric made purely from the naturally grown Abacá banana plants, will have a selection of QWSTION bags, totes and sleeves available for purchase.

Kavita Parmar and Marcella Echavarria of XTANT have brought together a selection of heritage textile stories that honour the wisdom and know-how coded into the ancient language of weaving and craft traditions. Explore pieces made from mud silk, Harris Tweed wool icons and naturally dyed hats by milliner Ana Lamata.

Elsewhere, join The Mills Fabrica for the world premiere of the Mylo Consortium led by Bolt Threads, who make their patented mushroom leather for Adidas, Stella McCartney and Lululemon. Made from mycelium, Mylo is a soft, supple and sustainable alternative to leather. Meet Mylo™ and learn how Bolt Threads is advancing sustainable innovation and the circular economy.

Find out more. 

Discover LOEWE’s Botanical Rainbow of Fragrances

LOEWE is highlighting the innovative and highly crafted nature of its Botanical Rainbow of fragrances by staging an installation of artworks and sculptural floral displays in the style of Sofu Teshigahara (1900 – 1979), Master of Ikebana, at their Grade II listed CASA LOEWE London flagship store.

Teshigahara’s imaginative and disruptive creations revolutionised the global practice, reach and relevance of Ikebana—the Japanese art of flower arranging—in the 1950s and 60s, and the Sogetsu School that he founded remains an influential force in the practice to this day.

His work encompassed unusual sculpted vases and found-object vessels, created for his displays, enhancing the light, refreshingly modern style of the botanical arrangements themselves.

Find out more.

 

Glass-Engraving at Purdey

Glass engraver Karl Palmer has been working with Purdey for over 15 years. Join him at Audley House and see this incredible skill up close. Find out more.

 

Serapian at B&B Italia

Visit the B&B Italia showroom and discover a new collaboration between Serapian and Azucena, two historical Milanese maisons. Find out more.

Innovation in Craft

The Innovation in Craft exhibition showcases Silverlining’s progressive ideas, craftsmanship and finishes in furniture through hand sketches and jewel-like material and finish samples. Find out more. 

 

Brodie Neill: ReCoil

Design Tasmania presents a unique collaboration with acclaimed London-based Tasmanian designer Brodie Neill. Find out more.

 

Ruup & Form: Disobedient

Ruup & Form explores wearable sculptures with makers who are disobedient to their material, whether by material, technique or presentation. Find out more.

 

Celebrating Silver

Explore the world of silver with Contemporary British Silversmiths in the setting of the Wellington Collection at Apsley House. Find out more.

Maker’s Eye: Stories of Craft

‘Maker’s Eye: Stories of Craft’ is the first exhibition in the new Crafts Council Gallery, celebrating the breadth and diversity of UK craft. Find out more.

 

Turkish Decorative Patterns

Visit Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, London, for a workshop to learn traditional geometric and floral patterns and create your own composition. Find out more.

 

Young Masters

Cynthia Corbett Gallery and Young Masters curator and judge Preston Fitzgerald present a showcase of past Young Masters winners and alumnae as well as new fresh diverse talent. Find out more.

 

Leach 101

Thrown presents a delayed celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Leach Pottery, St Ives, shwocasing the Leach studio team of today at The Old Brick Shop on Southwark Street. Find out more.

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Featured Image:  The Mills Fabrica

Sign up to our newsletter below to get the latest London Craft Week news and curated content delivered straight to your inbox.

London Craft Week creates an opportunity for established and emerging craftspeople to share their stories and make their work available to a larger audience, allowing the unsung artists, makers and brands as much sunlight as the world-famous names.

In our seventh year, London Craft Week 2021 features work and events from over 450 makers. Meet the artists, get close to their work and hear them talk about their creative process and what inspires them in a range of exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, open studios and online sessions.

We’ve featured a selection of maker profiles and exhibition highlights below.

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Lucille Lewin

Before pursuing a career in fine art, graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2017, Lucille Lewin had an influential career in fashion as Founder and Creative Director of Whistles and Creative Director of Liberty. During LCW, join Lucille in conversation with Louisa Buck, contemporary art correspondent at The Art Newspaper, as they discuss Lucille’s new exhibition ‘In Good Company’. Find out more.

Zuza Mengham

Bally Art Haus presents an exhibit of sculptural pieces by London-based artist and designer, Zuza Mengham. Rooted in a preoccupation with abstracted form, materials and their stories, Zuza’s work explores the connection between traditional crafts and new methods of making. Tying together soft layers of colour, the exhibition pieces draw upon the Alpine landscapes where Bally’s heritage is rooted. Find out more.

Geoffrey Preston

Geoffrey Preston is one of the UK’s leading architectural sculptors, specialising in decorative plaster and in particular the art of stucco. His recent work has an emphasis on floral sculpture, taking inspiration in the modelling of flowers and leaves in 18th-century plasterwork and their representation in other decorative arts. Discover Geoffrey’s new works in ‘The Art of Plaster’ exhibition at Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler. Find out more.

Darren Appiagyei

Darren’s work embraces imperfection, placing emphasis on the analysis and malleability of the natural form to create functional, textural objects. Through emphasising knots, cracks and lack of symmetry, each piece is imbued with it’s own individual story: a celebration of difference. Darren’s work is on display at the Garden Museum amongst the plants of the courtyard garden throughout London Craft Week. Find out more.

Dharma Taylor

Dharma Taylor is a multidisciplinary designer and maker with a background specialising in textiles. During LCW, discover an exhibition of one-off pieces Dharma has created exclusively for Paul Smith. Made from solid oak, the woodwork pieces were crafted in memory of Dharma’s great grandfather, a self-taught carpenter, while the textile work takes inspiration from the artist’s childhood memories of sunsets in London. Find out more.

 

Bill Amberg Studio

Bill Amberg Studio has existed for over 30 years, producing bespoke leather products, interiors and furniture. Bringing together designers and artisans from the worlds of saddlery, case-making, bookbinding and other forms of fine leathercraft, the studio has a mission to explore the aesthetic and material possibilities of leather. Bill Amberg Studio’s works will be on display at the Takumi Townhouse during LCW. Find out more.

 

Mac Collins

Mac is an emerging British designer who strives to create narrative-rich and experiential work. He has an ongoing focus on materiality and drawing specifically from off-cuts, shapes and textures created by default, as part of the furniture-making process. Discover his collaboration with FLOOR_STORY as part of London Craft Week, where two new, handcrafted rugs are on display at their Shoreditch showroom. Find out more.

 

Jinno Neko

Jinno Neko is a bamboo craftsperson, papier-mâché artist, illustrator and fashion designer. She uses papier-mâché as a medium, integrating bamboo crafting techniques into her creations and bringing together her passion for Hong Kong folklore and culture. On Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 October, visit Crafts on Peel’s exhibition ‘Imagine the ‘Im’possibilities: Bamboo’ to watch Jinno demonstrate her technique. Find out more.

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Exhibitions 

 

Crafting a Difference 

Crafting a Difference presents a new show for LCW at the Argentine Ambassador’s official residence, curated by Andrea Harari and Brian Kennedy. The exhibition will bring together over 200 works in ceramics, wood, glass, metal, textiles and paper by over 30 artists carefully selected from the five galleries, Cavaliero Finn, jaggedart, MADEINBRITALY, Ting Ying Gallery and Vessel Gallery. Find out more.

 

Outside In

Sarah Myerscough Gallery presents their off-site exhibition ‘Outside In’, showcasing art and design pieces by international artist-makers who have made ethical and emotional decisions to use organic materials that connect us to the natural world. These ancient materials – wood, willow and grasses – are reimagined for the contemporary world as the makers express their devotion to nature. Find out more.

Mosaic Works at Layers

SoShiro presents a striking new work in collaboration with Cuban multimedia artist Alexandre Arrechea and the Mosaic School of Friuli, Italy. The handmade modular unit, entitled ‘Collector’, explores the relationship between the human body, architecture and colours, taking inspiration from Arrechea’s native Havana by layering vibrant tones with echoes of the city’s buildings. Find out more.

 

Unveiled: The Meissen Edition

Esteemed milliners Rachel Trevor Morgan, Edwina Ibbotson and Noel Stewart have worked with the iconic porcelain manufacturer Meissen to curate an exhibition of fine porcelain-inspired hats, hosted by the renowned Thomas Goode & Company. To accompany the exhibition, the curators are leading a pin-making workshop at Thomas Goode on Thursday 7 October, using Meissen porcelain elements. Find out more.

 

Imagine the ‘Im’possibilities: Bamboo

‘Imagine the ‘Im’possibilities: Bamboo’ is organised by Crafts on Peel and co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (London). Ranging from the established to the emerging, traditional craftsmen and contemporary artisans from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan have come together to share their journey in reinventing the craft of bamboo at 180 The Strand. Find out more.

 

Modernity London

At the newly opened Westbourne Grove gallery in London, Modernity presents its curated collection of rare and unique 20th-century Nordic design and art, in addition to contemporary ceramic works from Alvina Jakobsson and Sandra Davolio, whose studios are based in Sweden and Denmark respectively. Alongside these contemporary works are classic design pieces from Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Josef Frank and Paavo Tynell, amongst others. Find out more.

 

Young Masters

Cynthia Corbett Gallery and Young Masters curator and judge Preston Fitzgerald present a showcase of past Young Masters winners and alumnae as well as new fresh diverse talent. The exhibition takes place at the recently inaugurated Gainsborough Hotel – a hub of contemporary art in the vibrant South Kensington art district. Find out more.

 

Cracked ft. Troy Town Shop

‘Cracked’, curated by Leonie Mir, is dedicated to hand-moulded ceramics made without the use of a wheel. Join Leonie today for a tour of the exhibition and discover works by emerging and established artists. At the same time, Tristan Hoare is delighted to be hosting the Troy Town Shop. Founded in 2014 by Aaron Angell, Troy Town Art Pottery is a ceramic workshop that provides a home to Hoxton Gardenware, a youth-led not-for-profit enterprise. Find out more.

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Calling all Makers

The Sipsmith Founders’ passionate love of gin led to them pioneering the craft gin boom.

In celebration of London Craft Week we are asking you to nominate a Smith who’s passion and love for what they craft should be recognised and championed.

Simply tag them in this post for a chance to win a morning of mentorship with the Sipsmith Founders!

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Featured Image:  Tessa Eastman by Alun Callender

Sign up to our newsletter below to get the latest London Craft Week news and curated content delivered straight to your inbox.

During and in the aftermath of the pandemic, creativity has flourished with makers using the enforced time in the studio to reflect, refocus and develop their practice. This year’s London Craft Week provides a snapshot of the talent, ingenuity and human resilience of the creative community during the national lockdowns, providing a platform for new work and makers who come together to support and inspire one another.

On Thursday 7 October at 6pm, join Lucille Lewin as she discusses her collaborative exhibition with Nicole Farhi, ‘In Good Company: A celebration of creativity and friendship’, with Louisa Buck, contemporary art correspondent at The Art Newspaper.

In Good Company is a celebration of the creativity and friendship of Lucille Lewin and Nicole Farhi, who both independently and unbeknown to each other left their long careers in fashion to have new equally successful careers as full-time sculptors.

The genesis of the exhibition was when Lucille Lewin and Nicole Farhi met up between lockdowns with Selina Skipwith, an independent curator and art advisor who had collaborated on a number of Nicole’s exhibitions. All agreed the thing they were missing most was the company of their female friends and going to exhibitions. Museums and galleries were busy untangling complicated exhibition schedules, and they decided rather than waiting for everyone else to work out what they were doing, it was the perfect opportunity to seize the moment and work together.

The exhibition showcases new works in bronze, jesmonite, porcelain and glass, produced during the lockdowns – which both Lewin and Farhi found incredibly productive – alongside select earlier pieces.

Book Now

Discover the largest London Craft Week to date from 4-10 October, with 241 partners and over 380 events taking place throughout the city. With just under two weeks until the festival launches we’ve put together a selection of LCW talks highlights to help you navigate the programme.

Find out more about the lively discussions taking place during LCW 2021 below.

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Image: Molly Mahon

Tuesday 5 October

 

9am -12.30pm: Enjoy breakfast in the Drawing Room at Charlotte Street Hotel and join journalist Jo Rodgers in conversation with textile designer Molly Mahon, founder and creative director of Firmdale Hotels and Kit Kemp Design Studio, Kit Kemp, and designer Melissa White as they share their love for the Bloomsbury Set.  Book now. 

11am – 1pm; 2pm – 4pm: Renowned fabric manufacturers Humphries Weaving discuss their work on the restoration of Spencer House, a rare survival of an 18th-century London aristocratic palace. The talk takes place in the magnificent Great Room, surrounded by examples of Humphries Weaving’s work. Book now. 

11am; 3pm: ‘Cracked’ at Tristan Hoare Gallery, curated by Leonie Mir, is dedicated to hand-moulded ceramics made without the use of a wheel. The exhibition focuses on contemporary artists who construct, sculpt and mould clay, demonstrating what can be achieved with ‘a little bit of mud and a little bit of genius’ (Paul Gauguin). Meet Leonie and hear about the genesis of the exhibition. Book now.

11am – 1pm: The Korea Association of Art and Design is one of the oldest academic associations in Korea. Joined by the V&A’s curator of Korean art, they present an online talk on Korean crafts and their status within the international scene. The talk focuses on both makers and theorists, many of whom have been finalists in the Loewe Craft Prize. Book now.

5pm – 6pm: ‘The Contemporary Tapestry’ is a panel discussion bringing together maker, curator and designer. Panellists include Charu Gandhi, founder of interior design studio Elicyon, embroiderer Geraldine Larkin, fabric extraordinaire Bernie de Le Cuona, and furniture, decorative arts and fabric agent Miles de Lange. Design expert Tony Chambers hosts. Book now.

6pm – 7pm: Textile artist Aiveen Daly and furniture designer Tom Faulkner present the Lily Ottoman they created together at the Tom Faulkner showroom during London Craft Week. Combining two complimentary crafts has resulted in the iconic Lily Ottoman being reimagined using specialist leather artwork in a refined decorative style. Book now.

6.30 – 7.30pm: On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Lalique factory in Alsace, Nic Fiddian-Green and Frederick Fischer, Lalique managing director UK, talk about how fine art and craft are intertwined. The talk is hosted by Giles Kime, interiors editor at Country Life magazine. The ticket includes a Lalique gift, Lalique Champagne or wine, plus canapés and Champagne during the talk. Book now.

7 pm – 9pm: Yinka Ilori MBE is a London-based multidisciplinary artist who specialises in storytelling, fusing his British and Nigerian heritage to tell new stories in contemporary design. Hear him in conversation with the head of curatorial and interpretation at the Design Museum, Priya Khanchandani. Book now.

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Image: Royal Historic Palaces

Wednesday 6 October

 

11am – 12:30pm: The Makers Tales Collective presents a lively discussion led by The World of Interiors‘ Grace McCloud, exploring the human element of the making process and how it embraces beauty through imperfection. Guests will be given exclusive access to the beautiful West London home of artist Margit Wittig with opportunities to ask questions and view work in progress from all the Makers. Book now.

1.30pm – 2.30pm: MA Fashion Artefact is a unique course at London College of Fashion, UAL, dedicated to developing and making contemporary fashion products. Join a live panel discussion exploring the focus of Artefacts in fashion today, with panellists: Naomi Filmer, course leader for Fashion Artefact; Georgina Goodman, senior lecturer at LCF; Jo Cope, a graduate from Fashion Artefact; and Judith Clark from the centre for Fashion Curation at LCF and ambassador for Michelangelo Foundation. Book now.

4pm – 5pm: Join some of the UK’s Royal Warrant holders at the Luxury British Craftsmanship Pavilion for a showcase of exceptional talent. Ettinger will demonstrate how its fine leather accessories are handcrafted, while a cordwainer from Edward Green will show how their signature Dover style is painstakingly handsewn. Johnstons of Elgin sheds light on the brand’s heritage as producers of fine woollen cashmere knitwear made in Scotland, Floris will tell the stories behind nearly 300 years of artisanal perfume craftsmanship, and Jack Barclay Bentley will demonstrate the unique techniques involved in crafting cars by hand. Book now.

5pm – 8pm: FLOOR_STORY hosts a live Q&A with emerging British designer Mac Collins, chaired by Crafts Council creative director Natalie Melton and followed by a tour of the showroom with FLOOR_STORY founder Simon Goff, looking behind the scenes at the design process behind their recent collaboration. Book now.

5pm: The Courtauld Gallery reopens this November following a major renovation of its historic Somerset House home. Join architect Stephen Witherford, the lead project director from Witherford Watson Mann architects, as he talks through the challenges of this transformation and how they necessitated the close collaboration of architect and craftsman to achieve a highly ambitious set of relationships between the old and the new over the two-year construction period. Book now.

6pm – 7pm: Discover how and why the Elizabeth Tower, the Great Clock and the Great Bell, Big Ben, were built and learn about the enormous task of restoring the tower to its former glory as it is modernised to make it fit for the 21st century. This vital conservation work ensures that this iconic building, situated on a UNESCO World Heritage site, is safeguarded for future generations to visit and enjoy. Book now.

6pm – 8pm: Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, joins Leanne Elliott Young and Cattytay, co-founders of the Institute of Digital Fashion, for a drinks reception and talk exploring how we can use digital technology to shape a more sustainable and democratic future for the fashion industry. Book now.

6pm: Chelsea Textiles hosts a talk and cocktail evening with textile designer Neisha Crosland and Museum of Home curator Danielle Patten, exploring how plants have been used to keep our homes healthy and beautiful for centuries. Botanical cocktails will be served using herbs straight from the garden of the Museum of Home. Book now.

6pm – 9pm: Armani/Casa hosts an exclusive talk and cocktail evening to showcase the latest addition to their iconic bar cabinet collection: Royal, a new piece limited to just 88 editions. To accompany the talk, sample world-class cocktails created by Agostino Perrone and Giorgio Bargiani, directors of mixology at the Connaught Bar. Book now.

6.30pm – 7.30pm: Pitzhanger, a rare and extraordinary example of architect John Soane’s work, was conserved and restored to its original design, reopening in 2019. Join a panel of interior design experts for a talk inspired by Pitzhanger’s recreated hand-painted wallpaper and find out about its historic paint recreation by specialist painters and decorators Hare & Humphreys. Book now.

6.30pm – 8pm: Join a discussion at the Design Museum on the enduring impact of Yoruba design practices through the work of designers operating across fashion, products, and interiors, featuring AHEC Discovered designer Mimi Shodeinde and 2020 Design Museum Designer in Residence Abiola Onabule. Book now.

6.30pm – 8.30pm: Join Kensington Palace curator, Claudia Ascott-Williams, to meet the people behind the iconic wardrobe of Diana, Princess of Wales, in an evening of drinks and canapes at Browns Hotel. With Sara Prentice of Garrard Jewellery, David Sassoon of Belville Sassoon, and curator of ‘Royal Style in the Making’, Matthew Storey. Book now.

7pm – 7.45pm: Conservation is the management of constant change. In conversation, Tim Gosling (designer and author of The DNA of Furniture Design) and Jürgen Huber (senior furniture conservator, The Wallace Collection) take a closer look at some of the Wallace Collection’s most fascinating examples of furniture creation and conservation. Book now.

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Image: Freya Bramble-Carter

Thursday 7 October 

 

8.30am – 10.30am: The Danish Arts Foundation has curated a collection of contemporary art, craft and design, on view at the Danish ambassador’s residence. Join artists Boris Berlin and Dr. Maria Sparre-Petersen for breakfast and a talk chaired by Henrietta Thompson that gives an insight into their practices and evolves into a wider conversation about Danish design. Book now.

9am – 10.30am: Join Walpole, the official sector body for UK luxury, together with interior designers, craftsmen and property developers, for breakfast at Belmond’s The Cadogan as they discuss the importance of craftsmanship, creativity and collaboration to the luxury industry, and announce a very special project that brings these three Cs to life. Book now.

11am – 12.30pm: Join Bonhams’ Head of European Ceramics Nette Megens for a coffee and Q&A with contemporary ceramicist Phoebe Cummings. Alongside the talk, visitors can preview samples of Cummings’ work and highlights from Bonhams’ upcoming European Ceramics auctions. Book now.

12pm – 1pm: Join Sang-ah Kim, the British Museum’s newly appointed Korean collections curator, as she interviews interdisciplinary artist Yeesookyung about her renowned Translated Vase series. Yee’s Translated Vase_2018 TVG 1 is currently on view in the Museum’s Korea Foundation Gallery. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea. Book now.

3pm – 4pm: Since its inception in 1986, Winch Design has become known as the ‘go-to’ studio for billionaires wishing to commission their dream home: on land, in the air and at sea. Join founder Andrew Winch in conversation with the wood carvers, furniture makers, embroiderers, ceramicists and textile designers who have helped create some of Winch’s most iconic projects. Learn about their craft and gain an insight into what it takes to create work for such discerning clients. Book now.

5pm – 7.30pm: The Heritage Crafts Association presents a talk exploring the invaluable and sometimes surprising links between craft and science through the experiences of people who have built their careers between the two. Join Zoe Laughlin and award-winning engineers, scientists and educators to discuss. Book now.

6pm – 6.45pm: The founder of Women in Sneakers, Stephanie Hulbert-Thomas, sits down with Helen Kirkum for discussion about the studio’s process and ideas. Discover Helen’s most recent collection and discover how she utilises consumer waste and champions design through making. Book now.

6pm: Chelsea Textiles hosts a talk and cocktail evening with leading designer and author Kit Kemp at their Pimlico Road store. Kit Kemp is a highly respected champion of British art and craft. In this talk, she discusses her design secrets and demonstrates how with a little bit of style and daring we can make our homes as individual as our clothes. Book now.

6pm – 7.30pm:  How can developers, architects and craftsmen create unexpected results, commissioning craft that’s woven into buildings? Join Adriana Paice Kent, director, Woven Spaces, Katerina Dionysopoulou, director, Bureau de Change, and Yelena Ford, managing director, The New Craftsmen, to discuss. Book now.

6pm – 8pm: Join Anya Hindmarch, founder and CEO of her eponymous brand, in conversation with Lisa Armstrong, author, journalist and head of fashion at The Daily Telegraph. They explore the importance of craftsmanship in a post-pandemic world, followed by a Q&A session at Anya Hindmarch’s new retail concept The Village. Book now.

6pm – 8pm: Rupert Sanderson are hosting an open studio, complete with a livestream to their Italian factory. Rupert is delighted to invite you to hear him in conversation with Anna Garner (@thegarnered) to discuss how he has honed his craft. Join for a complimentary glass of Crémant and ask the designer anything in a Q&A. Book now.

6.30pm – 8.30pm: Petersham Nurseries celebrates the art of slow craft with an event hosted with ceramicist Freya Bramble-Carter in honour of her new ceramics collection, specially created for Petersham Nurseries Richmond. Freya will discuss her therapeutic process and how making mistakes can lead to creating some of the most loved and authentic pieces. Book now.

6.30pm – 8pm: Nicholas Lees is an artist working primarily in ceramic and on paper. His current work originates in observing and considering phenomena of light, space and time. Join Nicholas at the Royal Society of Sculptors as he discusses the conceptual and physical development of his work, in which there is a vital relationship between making and thinking; idea, material and process. Book now.

Multiple times: In their historically rich building, the Art Workers’ Guild makers showcase a range of craft disciplines, from woodcarving to textile dyeing, demonstrating the specialist skills involved. Join them for a programme of talks exploring architecture in miniature with Vicki Ambery-Smith,  the hierarchy implied in the words ‘Craftsman’, ‘designer’-craftsman, ‘artist’-craftsman with Llewellyn Thomas,  the world of the silver miniature with Jens Torp and a discussion around techniques and processes with glass engravers Tracey Sheppard and Katharine Coleman. Book now.

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Image: Barnaby Barford

Friday 8 October 

 

6.30pm – 8pm: Five ceramic artists – Clare Twomey, Barnaby Barford, Phoebe Cummings, Lucille Lewin and Malene Hartmann Rasmussen – come together at David Gill Gallery to discuss the way they work and the role that craftsmanship plays in their practice, moderated by the writer and journalist Emma Crichton-Miller, editor of The Design Edit. Book now.

Multiple times: In their historically rich building, the Art Workers’ Guild makers showcase a range of craft disciplines, from woodcarving to textile dyeing, demonstrating the specialist skills involved. Join them for a programme of talks exploring ways to interpret nature with Bridget Bailey, messages from the potter’s workshop with Prue Cooper, and woven narratives with Cathryn Shilling. Book now.

 

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Image: World Monuments Fund

Saturday 9 October 

 

12pm – 2pm: In this short documentary film premiere, experience the sights and sounds of World Monuments Fund’s Stonemasonry Training Programme in Tripoli, Lebanon from the perspective of the trainees. The project focused on training Syrian refugees and local Lebanese in the craft of conservation stonemasonry, equipping them with skills to improve their livelihoods and to restore their heritage post-conflict. They walked through the door of the training centre having never picked up a chisel before; six months later, they gained an accredited qualification, made friendships that will last a lifetime, and now have hope for the future. The screening will take pace at the Covent Garden Hotel in Seven Dials and is followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Wayne Holloway, hosted by John Darlington, Executive Director at WMF Britain. Book now.

12pm: Folded within Evoke London’s special showcase ‘Earth Textures’, is a display of artworks by British wood-carver and sculptor Henry Neville Wood. Titled ‘Walk Away With…’. Henry joins Evoke’s curator and designer Leonora Stathakis in an intimate and open conversation about his practice – the light-touch approach to material and a sense of connection and collaboration with nature. Book now.

2.30pm – 3.30pm: For London Craft Week 2021, Ann Coxon, Curator of International Art at Tate Modern is joined by contemporary visual artists Katarzyna Perlak, Rebecca Bellantoni and Raisa Kabir at Jerwood Space for a discussion which explores how crafts can be used to revisit and reimagine history from contemporary diasporic, feminist and queer perspectives.

Multiple times: In their historically rich building, the Art Workers’ Guild makers showcase a range of craft disciplines, from woodcarving to textile dyeing, demonstrating the specialist skills involved. Join them for a programme of talks exploring photo manipulation on fabric with Monica Boxley, making pots with Chris Keenan, contemporary application of natural dyes with Penny Walsh and an in conversation between Chila Burman and Frances Spalding. Book now.

 

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Image: Abigail Schama, courtesy of The New Craftsman

Sunday 10 October 

 

12pm – 4pm: Join ceramicist Abigail Schama and chef and food writer, Rosie Sykes who will explore the different ways craft and cooking align to one another. Whether that’s making a vessel or a dish of food, they will discuss the idea of fulfilment,  the creative process and the social and emotional connection one has with the act of creation. The event includes cocktails and food by chef Rosie Sykes, some of which is cooked in the studio’s pottery kiln. All proceeds from the tickets will go to charity, Camden Psychotherapy Unit (CPU). Book now.

Multiple times: In their historically rich building, the Art Workers’ Guild makers showcase a range of craft disciplines, from woodcarving to textile dyeing, demonstrating the specialist skills involved. Join them for a programme of talks exploring mechanical metal typesetting with Phil Abel, constructed textiles with handweavers Bobbie Kociejowski and Charlotte Grierson and textile artist Rachael Matthews, rubbish printmaking with Stephen Fowler, and an in conversation between Julie Arkell and Jane Cox. Book now.

 

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Featured Image Courtesy of Helen Kirkum Studio 

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