Best Of Scottish Design To Be Showcased

Forty-five leading furniture makers and interior textiles companies from across Scotland will join forces later this month to create a unique one-off exhibition at Clerkenwell Design Week in London from 22-24 May.

For the first time Textiles Scotland and the Scottish Furniture Makers Association (SFMA) will join forces to present the Scottish Furniture and Interiors Exhibition, an event which will see the two vibrant industries showcase cutting-edge product and design capabilities.

Leading well-known interior textiles designers and manufacturers such as Timorous Beasties, Calzeat, Begg Scotland, and textiles artist Jilli Blackwood will be presented alongside internationally-recognised furniture makers such as Method Furniture, Daniel Lacey and John Galvin Design.

In addition, a number of never-seen-before bespoke collaborations between Scottish furniture makers and textiles brands, such as Johnstons of Elgin, Harris Tweed, Clockhouse Furniture, Ralph Christie and Turnberry Rug Works, will be unveiled, created exclusively for the 2012 event.


The design week, situated in Clerkenwell – an area renowned for more architects and interior designers per square mile than anywhere else in the world – is a three-day festival celebrating design's creative richness, social relevance and technological advancements through an exciting programme of workshops, presentations, product launches and debates.

Cathy Black, Scottish Enterprise said: "Our design-led industries are at the forefront of the quality and luxury market and this exhibition will give us an opportunity to bring a flavour of what Scotland can offer to this ever-growing audience – highlighting our undisputed quality, innovation, creativity and skill.

"We’re excited to be bringing Scottish design from two established sectors en masse to one of the biggest industry events in the world – clearly demonstrating why doing business with Scotland is doing business with the best."

Last year 24,000 people from the design community, as well as the general public, flocked to Clerkenwell. Now in its third year, the 2012 event looks to be its biggest yet.

Daren Newton, co-founder of Clerkenwell Design Week said: "This year will feature all the elements you would expect from a festival, including exhibitions, installations, street entertainment, music, food, parties and receptions. It is an ideal opportunity for the creative design community to meet new and existing clients in a relaxed yet inspiring environment.

"A major theme at this year’s festival is ‘Made in Britain’ and we’re very much looking forward to the Scottish Furniture and Interiors Exhibition as it will offer more insight into the high-quality of product being offered north of the border."

Clerkenwell Design Week is free to attend and will be taking place between 10am – 9pm on 22-24 May at various locations around Clerkenwell. The Scottish Furniture and Interiors Exhibition will be hosted in the House of Detention at stand number 17.

Visitors can register at: www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com/register

(GK)