London Craft Week

When London Craft Week returns to the capital for its fifth edition this May, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and creativity, it will feature over 240 events with established and emerging makers, designers, heritage and contemporary brands and galleries from around the globe. This unique, one-of-a-kind festival started when Guy Salter OBE MVO, former deputy chairman at Walpole and business investor with an interest in luxury craftsmanship, noticed customers were displaying a new discernment in the quality of their purchases. He thought: there is London Fashion Week and London Design Festival so why not start up a similar celebration of craftsmanship and creativity?

Since the beginning, London Craft Week has offered countless opportunities for visitors to understand the full context in which beautiful objects are made – to meet the creators and witness their talent and skills up close and in person. It puts the spotlight on elite craftsmanship, whether it’s the engine of a Rolls Royce Phantom, the studio of a Viennese glassmaker or the carved medieval stones of St Paul’s Cathedral. It seeks to underline London’s status as a vibrant hub of international craft, encompassing makers of all sizes and scales, from the ateliers of well-known masters to the hidden workshops of little-known producers.

Spanning fragrance and furniture, couture and calligraphy, jewellery and ceramics, this is a platform for international artists and makers in every sector. ‘London Craft Week is a magical combination of the imagination, individuality, passion and skill found in the best-made things,’ says Guy. There will be a packed calendar of events including demonstrations, hands-on craft workshops, talks, interviews and discussions, featuring some of the most fascinating individuals working in craft today.

This year London Craft Week is focused on quality and substance in every sense. Independent makers taking part include artist and furniture maker Yinka Ilori, who has a solo exhibition in StudioRCA inspired by his 16 different concepts of happiness; rush weaver Felicity Irons, who collaborates with kitchen company British Standard; and ceramicist Christine Roland brings her latest collection of hand-built porcelain and stoneware to Roksanda’s flagship store. The festival also has a strong global outlook (there are plans in the pipeline to launch internationally this year) and will once again look towards Asia, with a broad range of makers and organisations represented throughout the festival from Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand and Korea. For instance, Japan House, which opened last summer, focuses on fashion, textiles, art and cuisine, while Heal’s department store will display work by makers from Japan’s Gifu area, which is being shown in the UK for the first time.

As in previous years, galleries, retailers and studios from all over the city will come together to explore specific craft themes. Pimlico Road retailers such as Daylesford, SCP and Cox London present events on Crafting Interiors, while St James’s Fortnum & Mason, D. R. Harris & Co and Floris give interpretations on the theme of A Sensory Journey. Other interiors-focused partners include Petersham Nurseries, Front Rugs and The Room Service, an online shop selling covetable items spied in hotels, restaurants and design-led spaces.

This is a vibrant five-day event that invites the public to venture behind the scenes and explore the people, processes and materials involved in creating the most beautifully-crafted design today.