Top Drawer, the UK’s leading international design-led trade show, kick-started the 2018 buying season with a host of exclusive brands and sensational world product launches at the show’s return to Olympia London on 14-16 January 2018.
International and UK buyers sought out the latest product launches across Home, Fashion, Gift and Craft from 1,500 expertly curated design-led brands; providing them with the opportunity to discover the latest trends for the year ahead and uncover the newest products from never-seen brands and the very best international labels alongside Britain’s most loved names.
HOME
Home offered an unrivalled collection of captivating products across Interior Accessories, Kitchen & Dining, Furniture & Lighting and Outdoor Living, presenting buyers with an exclusive selection of the very best brands including: Alessi, Bliss Home, Blomus, Bloomingville, Bluebellgray, Bronte by Moon, Broste Copenhagen, Burton McCall, Coach House, Eva Solo, Gallery Direct, Garden Trading, Grand Illusions, Leonardo, Light & Living, Lorna Syson, LSA International, Mini Moderns, Orla Kiely by Wild & Wolf, PR Home, Royal Crown Derby, Saga Form, Studio William and Wiltloft.
Commenting on the success of the show, Steve Rowley, Sales and Marketing Director at Royal Crown Derby, said: “Our first year at Top Drawer was a real success, launching four exceptional contemporary tableware collections – Art Glaze, Studio Glaze, Sketch and Effervesce, to the UK retail market to considerable acclaim.”
FASHION
With over 200 labels, the Fashion edit represented the largest curated showcase of fashion accessories and jewellery brands in the UK, offering buyers the chance to shop never before seen brands and loved labels, including names such as Amadoria, Azuni, Cove, Ebarito, Elk Accessories, Estella Bartlett, Last True Angel, Lisa Angel, Mockberg, One Hundred Stars Trading, Ottoman Hands, Rachel Jackson, Sixton London, Vow London and White Leaf.
New brands to the UK: Bermuda Born, Cuques De Ilum, Eduards Accessories, Flo & Vie, Isabel LaMadrid, L’Ellie, Luli Art Bijoux, Monica Maja Richardson, Paca Peca and Rosa Mendez showcased the latest ranges at the Fashion Spy area.
The debut of the MEN ONLY concept area was the fashion highlight for exhibitors and visitors alike. Leading men’s fashion brands including Both Barrels, Briston Watches, Double00, Il Bussetto, Junghan Watches, Oliver Spencer and Sipahi & Co showcased their collections at Top Drawer for the very first time.
Following its debut at Top Drawer, Mat Booth from Both Barrels commented: “Both Barrels’ debut at Top Drawer SS18 represented a big step up for our young brand. The event is well attended, well curated and impeccably organised. A great test of market place reaction in real time and golden opportunities to meet like-minded brands, buyers, retailers and connect directly with the outward vision for brand development”.
GIFT
The S/S18 edition of Top Drawer brought together the largest selection of new design-led products across Gift, Wellbeing and Children’s, from over 300 leading brands and sought-after names including Abahna, aden + anais, Artigos de Beleza, Ashleigh & Burwood, Bob & Blossom, Captain Fawcett, Caroline Gardner, Castelbel, Cubic, Dassie, Doiy, Durance, Izipizi, Jellycat, K-Play, Kikkerland, La compagnie de Provence, Londji, Margarete Steiff, Max Benjamin, Moomin, Moulin Roty, Nathalie Bond Organics, Nkuku, Notable Designs, Rice, SC Brands, S’ip by S’well, Sophie Allport, Stone Marketing, Sunnylife, Temerity Jones, True Grace, Valerie Graham, Wild & Wolf and Wildfire Tepees.
Speaking of their involvement in the show, Tanja Siburg, SVP, International Business Development at S’ip by S’well said: “Top Drawer offered an amazing debut for S’ip by S’well. The terrific turnout of high-calibre brands allowed the team to showcase S’ip by S’well and its
attributes with a wonderful list of key accounts like Science Museum and Hut Group, as well as important independent, department and specialty stores.”
Greetings & Stationery
Greetings & Stationery housed the world’s largest curated selection of designers and publishers, bringing visitors the best new ranges of greeting cards, stationery, prints and gift wrap from the likes of 1973, ArtPress, Belly Button Designs, Five Dollar Shake, Katie Leamon, Lagom Design, Ohh Deer, Portico Designs, Roger La Borde, Suzan O’Hanlon, The Art File, U Studio, Wrap, and many more.
Katie Wagstaff founder of Oh Squirrel added: “Our first Top Drawer experience was incredible, we met with and took orders from so many new stockists and have had so much further interest after the event.”
CRAFT
Craft brought together over 140 makers across the disciplines of Ceramic & Glass, Fashion & Textiles, Jewellery and Mixed Media. Providing a platform for buyers to source the most exquisite handmade products, names of note this season include Abigail Bury, Ali Tomlin Ceramics, Arwyn Jones Ceramics, Benefield Spencer Glass, BTU Studio, Emily Cross Ceramics, Gilly Langton Jewellery, Glass by Butler, Harriet Elkerton, Harriet Morris Jewellery, Harris and Hall, Katie Victoria, Kyra Mihailovic Ceramics, Rachel Cox Ceramics, Rolfe and Wills, Snowden Flood, Suzanne Breakwell and The Silver Shed.
Mixed Media artist Alison Stockmarr exhibited at Top Drawer for the fourth consecutive time. Speaking of the show, Alison enthused: “Top Drawer has offered me an overwhelming amount of opportunities, magazine coverage, exhibitions, collaborative projects as well as the all-important sales and orders. Visitors vary from the small independent galleries and shops to big hitters of national and international significance, making Top Drawer a melting pot of possibilities.”
FOOD EMPORIUM
A delectable array of ‘giftable’ food products attracted buyers from across the globe to the Food Emporium, where 75 finest producers, artisans and brands offered everything from oils and condiments to seasonal treats and confectionery. Exhibitors included Ginmeister, Hasslachers, Hawkshead Relish Company, Joe’s Gourmet Foods, Joe’s Tea Co, Lillypuds, Love Cocoa, NomNom Chocolate, Paxton & Whitfield, Pinkster Gin, Plant ‘n’ Grow, Popcorn Kitchen, Truffle Hunter and Willie’s Cacao.
Commenting on the impact of Top Drawer on his business, Jeremy Bowen, Founder of Paxton and Whitfield said: “Top Drawer is my favourite Trade Show because it delivers financial results from customers I don’t see at others. It’s easy to deliver significant financial results from exhibiting in the Food Emporium at Top Drawer”.
Commenting on the impact of Top Drawer on his business, Jeremy Bowen, Founder of Paxton and Whitfield said: “Top Drawer is my favourite Trade Show because it delivers financial results from customers I don’t see at others. It’s easy to deliver significant financial results from exhibiting in the Food Emporium at Top Drawer”.
SPOTTED
Introducing a host of design debutants, Spotted is the home of new, innovative and commercially appealing, beautifully designed products.
Expertly curated by Charlotte Abrahams and spanning all Top Drawer sectors, this is where buyers sought exceptional talent.
This season’s line-up included Adelle Hickey, Alexia Peck, Allegoric Designs, Apiary Made, Cult Ceramics and Cult Vinegar, Ginger Hare, GLB Graphics, I am Nat, Keeler and Sidaway, Kitsch Noir, Moby Maps, Onua, Perch Upholstery, Pick Art Home, Print Circus, Rowenna Mason, Sofia Lima Sousa, The Natural Beauty Pot, The Pattern Book, The Owl & the Apothecary, Trinca-Ferro, Tutti London, Wanderlust Paper Co., Wolf & Ink and Yanii Akeliah.
Charlotte Abrahams, curator of Spotted added: “The S/S18 edition of Spotted was a huge success, launching 49 new, design-led brands to the trade. The inaugural Spotted Award went to re-usable water bottle brand Stay Sixty, with Cult Vinegar and Divine Savages scooping the runners up prizes. The fact that it took the judges a long time to choose the winners is testament to the quality and ingenuity of the brands showing in the Spotted zone. These will be the names to watch in 2018.”
Top Drawer will return to Olympia London for the Autumn/Winter edition on 9-11 September 2018 and for Spring/Summer 13-15 January 2019.