Top Drawer boosted vendor confidence with a buoyant show to kick-start the 2017 buying season. The UK’s leading design-led lifestyle event opened its doors to present more than 1500 brands occupying the entire Olympia complex. Retailers and contract buyers took full advantage of the chance to source from an unprecedented roster of exclusive products and new launches from key international brands and new talents – most of whom were showing exclusively in the UK this January.
Top Drawers’ core principles of quality, selection and impeccable standards of presentation were much in evidence across the core “Worlds” of Home, Gift, Fashion, and Craft, as the S/S17 edit reflected increasing demand for premium design-led products from retailers. As the first UK trade show the of the new year, Top Drawer was clearly the ideal place to scout fresh trends and influential brands for 2017.
HOME
Over200brandsshowcasednewandinnovativeproductsacrosstheworldof Home .Coveringthebreadth of Contemporary Interiors, Interior Accessories, Kitchen & Dining, Furniture and Lighting and Outdoor Living – Home provided everything, from statement pieces to original new designs. Bliss Home, Bloomingville, Bronte, Coach House, GardenTrading, GrandIllusions, Linum, LSAInternational, Orla Kiely Home, Pad Home, PR Home, Skagerak, Skandium, Umbra and Voyage were amongst the expertly curated selection of top international names . These brandssatcomfortablyamongnewcomersof the likes of Emko furniture, scandi lifestyle brand Design Letters and new UK lighting company Haberdashery.
Visitors on Sunday were thrilled to meet celebrity chef and restaurateur Rick Stein . Rick visited the show for his new product launch with Bliss Home . The launching range of tableware – ‘ Coves’,was the winning entry in a competition launched by Rick which was open to design students at Falmouth University.
GIFT
The world of Gift, which housed over 450 influential brands, presented an inspired selection of the most original, beautifully designed and commercially appealing gifts. Abrams & Chronicle, Addison Ross, Caroline Gardner, Charles Farris, Diddy wear, Katie Leamon, Kikkerland Europe, KMI Brands, Rhombus and Pineapple, Rice and Turnaround all showcased their stunning new products ready for Spring Summer 2017. Sitting comfortably among these established brands were new brands to the show including FRED, who create fun twists on everyday objects, Sunnylife, who came to share Australia’s authentic summer style and Birds in Hats, from renowned illustrator Alice Tams.
Animating the beautiful heartland of Greetings & Stationery, PaperFest and the PaperAwards, both sponsored by G F Smith, pushed the boundaries of design with the creative coalition of paper and print. Visitors were invited to soak up industry knowledge at the PaperFest talks, with distinguished speakers from Harrods, Self ridges and Waterstones all sharing their insider tips. “ PaperFest was a fantastic success”, says Abigail Warner, of Abigail Warner Paper Goods and Founder of PaperFest, “our inspirational lineup, dynamic panels, lively talks and creative sessions proved to be a really great hit with both visitors and exhibitors ”. PaperAwards winners Lagom Design, Rhombus & Pineapple and Roger La Borde chosen for Emotive Design, Engaging Print and Exciting Use of Colour respectively, each had their unique collections showcased at the heart of Greetings & Stationery.
FASHION The dedicated Fashion Floor presentedthelatestjewelleryandaccessorycollectionsfromover250labels. Established brands made a welcomed return including Ashiana Jewellery, Nooki, Tribe and Fable, Matthew Calvin, Estella Bartlett, Toolally Jewellery and Rachel Jackson who commented,‘Thequality of the buyers, interactions with other exhibitor sand general atmosphere suit our label’s feel good vibe and high-quality product.’ Newcomers to the show made a sound impact including CLUSE, Decadron, OrlaKiely Jewellery, Tatty Devine, Autumn Crop and international arrival Honey & Heid; ‘We participated in the SS17 edition Top Drawer traveling from Melbourne Australia to develop our international market. We were amazed at the variety of customers we were able to meet and develop business with, and the contacts created were beyond our expectations.’
The UK Jewellery Collection hosted some of the finest talentinBritishjewellerydesigntowowthebuyers. DeryaneTadd,Ownerofawardwinningindependent TheDressingRoomenthused;‘Topdrawerisalways a great show to ensure early deliveries of accessories and jewellery, thetimingisperfect. Thevarietyand range ofbrandsisgreatandIalwayscomeawayhavingfoundsomethingnewandexcitingthatIcan’twait to share with my team and customers.’ Inspiration flowed at the must-see fashion show, sponsored by The Design Lab , which took centre stage presenting six key aesthetic trends for the upcoming SS17 season. New directions in jewelry and accessories were expertly showcased to inspire buyers to the source with confidence, knowing what their customers will want to buy in the seasons ahead.
CRAFT
Quality was the name of the game in Craft at Top Drawer – over 150 talented creatives showcased their unique works, which offered the ultimate in cool, beautiful distinctiveness. The skilled designer-makers were on their stands throughout the show and available to talk in-depth about their designs. The huge variety of hand-crafted products on offer meant there was something for small and large retailers alike. “Craft, in its broadest sense, is booming,” says IanRudge , Development Director of ClarionEvents, “There is growing the appreciation of the value of work. Handmadeproductswithprovenance,originalityandintegrity are increasingly in demand as consumers seek out “real” products, with tradition, honesty, and inherent beauty… and are prepared to pay for them”.
FOOD EMPORIUM
Having doubled in size since launching in 2016, the Food Emporium drew strong interest former tailer sand buyers by presenting the largest collection of non-perishable premium artisan food producers ever assembled at a UK event. With the emphasisfirmlyonpremiumgiftablefoodproductstheFoodEmporium contained a comprehensive selection of beautifully packaged food gifts of every type,fromchocolateand confectionery to oils and condiments, drinks and beverages.
SPOTTED
Curated by acclaimed style writer Charlotte Abrahams, Spotted is an expert showcase of over 40 of the UK’s finest emerging designer and makers. Spanning every area of the show, Spotted presents the créme of new design stars launching fantastic, market-ready products. Spotted was an absolutenecessityforall creative retailer eager to present a fresh offering for S/S17. of new design stars launching fantastic, market-ready products. Spotted was an absolute necessity fo all creative retailer eager to present a fresh offering for S/S17.
FEATURES – INSPIRING TALKS AND EMERGING TRENDS
Academy Live was full of expert voices on stage, with insider knowledge and fresh thinking from the likes of M&S, Liberty, John Lew is, Design Museum, Living Etc and the V&A. Thekeynotespeakerscaptivated large crowds, eager to learn about emerging trends in business for 2017. Top Drawer introduced its key trends for S/S17 – Honest Simplicity, Happy, The Blues, TheTribeVibe, 70s Remix andEchoesofDeco. Fromthesoftandwarmtonesof HonestSimplicitytothebrightcolours and dynamic patterns of 70s Remix, these six key aesthetic trends could be seen throughout the show.
Reflected through a huge range of products on offer buyers could source with confidence the trends their customers will be buying in the seasons ahead. The six key trends were brought to life through the daily catwalk shows, with key accessories brands like Autumn Crop, One Button and Samantha Holmes responding to emerging trends across the lifestyle landscape. “I alwaysenjoythefashionshowatTopDrawer -distilling the output of all of the sector’sexhibitorsintosix Key Trends is such a helpful introduction to SS17” – Laura Sutherland, Editor of Attire Accessories Ahead of the second series of The Great Pottery Throwdown on the BBC, Keith Brymer Jones brought ceramics dynamics to proceedings:live-in-action at the wheel through out the show, he animated the world of Home at Top Drawer. The Autumn Winter edition of TopDrawertakesplaceatOlympiaLondonfromthe 10th-12thSeptember 2017.