The London Craft Week 2022 Programme is Live!
We are delighted to announce the launch of the London Craft Week 2022 programme. Returning to our original spring slot, the eighth edition of the festival is taking place from 9–15 May this year.
Visit our Programme page, and be one of the first to browse and book the exciting line-up of expertly-curated events taking place across the city.
London Craft Week continues to champion creativity and ingenuity across a wide range of disciplines, from heritage craft skills to innovative new techniques and materials. We hope you will join us at as many events as possible, but we are very pleased to share a selection of key highlights with you here. Do follow us @londoncraftweek to receive the latest updates as we draw closer to the festival dates.
Collectable Craft & Design
LCW 2022 features two major exhibitions at Sotheby’s: Material Consciousness – an exploration of pioneering sustainable design by furniture maker Brodie Neill, and Quartet: Goldsmithing in London Now, which brings together exquisite pieces of jewellery by Sian Evans, Lucie Gledhill, Castro Smith and Christopher Thompson-Royds. Meanwhile at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, contemporary craft fair Artefact will be shining a light on artisanal excellence across disciplines including metalwork, glass, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and upcycled materials.
International Perspectives
For the first time this year, we are delighted to announce two curated Country Pavilions, showcasing work by talented independent makers, artists, studios and workshops from Malaysia and Norway. Highlights include a large-scale exhibition of Royal Pahang Silk Weave presented by HM Queen Azizah of Malaysia, who has been an ambassador for the vanishing craft of silk weaving for more than two decades. At Cromwell Place, Norwegian Crafts will be collaborating with Oslo-based multidisciplinary platform and artist group PYTON to present an exhibition of pioneering works by emerging creatives and unsung heroes.
Pioneering Innovation in Making
LCW’s Innovation Partner The Mills Fabrica is an incubator for a new generation of independent brands and start-ups that are driving forward experimental forms of making, from exploring heritage processes to innovative technologies and materials. At Fabrica X, London’s first concept store and innovation gallery, discover demonstrations, workshops and retail experiences focused on sustainable innovation. Learn about companies like Renewcell, who turn discarded textiles into a natural material, or scan your perfect pair of jeans with Unspun, who eliminate waste with on-demand manufacturing.
Next Generation Creatives
Discover a renewed appreciation of craftsmanship within contemporary fashion design, materials and making. At the V&A, we celebrate the next generation of innovative talent with a programme of events around Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear, including a jewellery masterclass with Rosh Mahtani and tailoring demonstration with Kimberley Megan Lawton. In Belgravia, visit the Argentine Ambassador’s Residence to see designer Clara Pinto’s FW22 collection, which pays tribute to organic British wool, traditional tailoring and innovative degradable bioplastics.
Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
Imbued with rich traditions yet often thrillingly anarchic in mindset, Britain has always been at the cutting edge of craftsmanship. To mark the Platinum Jubilee, The Royal Exchange presents a Makers’ Market featuring a diverse selection of exceptional British craftspeople. Discover leather goods from Carréducker, fragrances from Maya Njie, and umbrellas from the UK’s longest-established umbrella manufacturer, James Ince & Sons. Continue the festivities at Fortnum & Mason, who are hosting a series of exhibitions showcasing the work of QEST-supported makers in leather, metal and textiles.
Artisan Chelsea
London’s artists’ quarter of the 19th century and centre of the Arts and Crafts movement; Chelsea is a neighbourhood rich in creativity and artisanal making. This year we are pleased to be working once again with the Cadogan Estate who present the Artisan Chelsea Series for LCW 2022. From an introduction to the history and craftsmanship of British luxury leather goods with Tanner Krolle, to artisanal ice cream tasting at Ice Cream Union, to Sarabande studios’ takeover of Soho Home, discover how craftsmanship is woven into the community through a programme of rich and varied events.
Pimlico Road and Belgravia
The Pimlico Road Design District in Belgravia presents the seventh annual Pimlico Road Series for LCW 2022. A fraternity of world-class craftspeople, artisans, curators and makers, Pimlico Road is a melting pot and meeting place for craft and design. Visit Bonadea to explore ‘Vienna Vibes’, a showcase of Viennese manufacturing, or attend a talk at Robertaebasta in celebration of the great Italian design master Gio Ponti. Elsewhere in Belgravia, Studio Pottery London host a discussion on turning passion into profit with Holly Tucker MBE, entrepreneur and founder of Not On The High Street.
Coal Drops Yard
King’s Cross is home of the extraordinary, and during LCW you can experience outstanding creativity across a broad range of disciplines as part of the Coal Drops Yard Series, from spectacle making to weaving to food and drink. Highlights include live demonstrations at COS by award-winning weaver Maria Sigma, who specialises in ‘zero waste’ design. Join a candle-making workshop at Earl of East, find out how to keep your leather shoes in tip top condition at Joseph Cheaney & Sons, and discover the flavours and aromas of Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse in an after-hours tasting.
St James’s London x Rémy Martin
Go behind the scenes of the hidden gems of St James’s London, one of the city’s most illustrious locations, alongside the House of Rémy Martin, renowned for their masterful production of exceptional spirits, in a series of events celebrating savoir faire. Join us for after-hours masterclasses, demonstrations, cocktails and tastings on a journey from St James’s, along Jermyn Street, the original home of menswear, to the elegant Princes Arcade with its boutiques that connect to Piccadilly.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to our events and together celebrating the best of creativity and craftsmanship.
Featured image courtesy Clara Pinto
