Brains : News

07 May 2019

London Craft Week Highlights

We're in denial that an entire year has passed since we were only last talking about London Craft Week, but we’re equally as excited to be welcoming it back in all its glory, as it lands in the Capital for its fifth edition.

With over 240 makers, designers, luxury brands and galleries from around the world gathering to offer hands-on workshops, panel discussions and to showcase new pieces, there is so much to see and do – and so, we’ve done the impossible of whittling down the calendar to a cherry-picked selection.

Lila Valadan’s Iranian Rugs: The Women, Their Craft and Culture
Since the mid-eighties, based out of Shiraz – the 'city of flowers, poetry and love' – Lila Valadan has been collecting and creating carpets side-by-side with her husband, Mohammed Naziri. Fast forward to the present day and Lila now counts herself as an award-winning rug maker, with her namesake company operating globally and holding seven Carpet Design Awards.

For Craft Week, London's first handmade rug showroom, FRONT London, welcomes Lila to the stage to talk about the production of Iranian rugs (spoiler: the unique handcraft seen today is the same as 100 years ago) – with the emphasis on the women who craft them and the natural materials they use. Plus, the showroom plays host to a collection of rugs, presented alongside the women's handmade tools to allow you to journey into their worlds, where creativity and passion flow at their relaxed paces.

Lila Valadan's Iranian Rugs: The Women, Their Craft and Culture runs on 8 May 6.30 until 8.30pm at 20 Bruton Place, W1J 6LY.

Yoshioka Dyeing Workshop Craftspeople.

Living Colours: Kasane – The Language of Japanese Colour Combinations

In celebration of the age-old art and language of kasane – a concept of layering colours, which was first seen during the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in the court fashions of Japan – the Living Colours exhibition shines a spotlight on the guardians of this tradition, the Yoshioka Dyeing Workshop.

Focusing on the work of the 200-year old Kyoto-based company – helmed by fifth-generation dyeing weaver, Yoshioka Sachio, who abandoned the use of synthetic colours in favour of plant-based dyeing techniques on taking over the business – the exhibition looks at the Japanese appreciation of colour, and brings it to our city for us to appreciate.

Living Colours: Kasane - The Language of Japanese Color Combinations runs from 8 until 11 May 10:00am – 20:00pm, 12 May 12:00pm –18:00pm at Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, W8 5SA.

English Bulrush-Weaving Workshop with Felicity Irons and British Standard Cupboards
What would London Craft Week be without quite literally getting crafty? Join one of the last English rush weavers, Felicity Irons of Rushmatters, and Katie Fontana of 'no frills' cupboards and worktop purveyors, British Standard Cupboards, for a bulrush-weaving workshop – and leave with your own rush basket.

Enjoy lunch at the workshop and hear Felicity and Katie in conversation about the craft of bulrush-weaving that remains unchanged since Anglo Saxon times. Keep the craft alive and have fun!

The workshop runs on 10 May from 10am until 5pm at British Standard Cupboards, 41 Hoxton Square, N1 6PB.

Elsewhere, glorious events are running left, right and centre across the Capital. Join a panel discussion on the craftsmanship behind soon-to-be-revealed gardens at sketch London's annual Flower Show; get stuck into a digital embroidery demonstration and workshop with Apple; create your own sleep oil at London's first 'sleep bar' with anatomē, and watch a demonstration of hand intarsia with Scottish knitwear brand, Pringle of Scotland.

For the full calendar, click here.