London Craft Week 2025

London’s celebration of the creative industries is one of the many things that make this city so wonderful. A crown jewel within the sartorial calendar, LFW proves time and again to be a space that welcomes newcomers and young designers, regarded as a reinvigorating event in what can sometimes feel like a stagnant industry. Frieze London always offers an exciting few days for gallery hopping and mingling, and of course, the music scene never sleeps in the big smoke, with day festivals hosted year-round across the city’s many parks. Now, the city ushers in London Craft Week, a relatively new mainstay on the creative calendar but certainly one not to miss. Returning for its 11th season, LCW is a city-wide festival (from 12th-18th May) offering a curated program of events celebrating and inviting participation in a myriad of disciplines. Workshops, panel discussions, hands-on classes, and mini-courses will explore processes, inspiration, and materials, inviting guests, both new and returning, the chance to engage in new hobbies and interests, with a schedule that encourages curious discovery. Highlighting the minds and makers behind beautiful objets, costumes, books, wigs, candles, and more, we curate our picks from the busy itinerary. 

Secret Ceramics 

As part of its charity initiative, LCW presents the second edition of Secret Ceramics. This year, hosted at Christie’s, the exhibition will feature 100 ceramic works by leading and emerging artists, but of course, as the name suggests, each piece will be displayed anonymously, with the artist’s identity revealed only after purchase. Set up in partnership with FiredUp4, last year Secret Ceramics achieved its donation goal, with the money going towards a FiredUp4 ceramic studio at WEST Youth Zone. This year, the exhibit hopes to raise enough to fund the running costs of four other ceramic studios across the city, giving young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access to new skills, a space to be creative, and the healing power of clay. Find out more here.

Gucci, ‘The Art of Silk’ 

Exploring Gucci’s storied history in silk craftsmanship, this LCW in-store discussion promises to be a fascinating journey into the Italian design house’s relationship with the silk scarf, an accessory that commands a colorful and powerful history. After recently publishing ‘Gucci; The Art of Silk’ with Assouline, the LCW talk will lift the fashion fable off the pages of the book and narrate the designer’s love affair with silk and how it helped craft some of their most iconic pieces. Step into the world of silk crafting with Gucci here. 

The Lost Rosarium of Abney

Blending hands-on workshops, ceramic printing, wax-etching, and immersive exhibitions, WAX Atelier’s LCW offering invites guests to explore ‘The Lost Rosarium of Abney’, reimagining the botanical wonders of Abney Park. Memorializing the forgotten landscape of the 19th-century park, WAX Atelier aims to recapture the essence of the blooms long gone through sculpture, candle-making, and perfumery. Exhibiting the quiet history of Abney Park, this LCW event seeks to reunite visitors with the stories, sights, and scents of the past through the expressive art of wax crafting. Try your hand at candle-making and explore the lost Rosarium of Abney here. 

The Nereids: An Exhibition of Lettering Art

The digital sphere has largely subsumed our writing, with many of us jotting down notes, messages, invites, well-wishes, and thank-yous on our phones. However, in a bid to protect the ever-dissipating art of Calligraphy and lettering art, for their LCW offering, the Lettering Arts Trust presents ‘The Nereids,’ a mixed-medium exhibition on the classical antiquity figures of Nereids. Legend has it that Nereids were sea nymphs, admired by the Ancient Greeks. They were believed to protect the lives of sailors and nourish the maritime environment. The Lettering Arts Trust commissioned a curation of lettering artists to interpret the myth of Nereids in their own style and medium. Calligraphic works are displayed on paper, wood, or carvings in stone, and all proceeds will contribute to the trust's efforts, which seeks to support the heritage craft of hand letter design and help engage new and emerging artists. Take a look at the session across the week here. 

Diptyque

A Maison Diptyque store is akin to stepping into a world of wonders. Tailored to each of your senses, the fragrance house invites visitors to ditch the busy world outside and immerse themselves in the Maison’s meticulously crafted universe. Now, for their LCW contribution, Diptyque will be hosting a series of workshops, inviting guests to explore the intricacies behind the brand’s iconic designs. Artist Claire Coles will be leading a workshop inspired by her hand-painted appliqué floral ceiling in Maison Diptyque, where attendees will repurpose a candle receptacle into their own little piece of art to take home. Offering informative and hands-on sessions across the week, book here to enliven your creative spirit. 

William Morris Stitch and Sip

The charming space at the William Morris museum will host a stitch and sip evening for this LCW, inviting guests to bring along clothes and other textiles that need a little TLC. The museum, dedicated to the life and works of the British arts and crafts designer, figures as the perfect setting to let your crafting energy run wild, especially when accompanied by the ‘sip’ part of the evening. The workshop will offer the space to share tools and knowledge, with special William Morris mending patches to add a little flourish to your preloved clothes. Accompanied by some gin and tonics (and of course a non-alcoholic substitute), this LCW evening promises to be wholesome, inviting both pros and learners. Find out more here. 

Ink, paper, and pattern: The timeless beauty of Turkish book arts

Celebrating centuries-old techniques, LCW will be highlighting Turkey’s rich tradition of bookmaking at the Yunus Emre Institute. With a handful of workshops hosted later in the week, guests can explore the arts of paper marbling calligraphy, book embellishment and miniature bookbinding alongside some artisan-led workshops, talks and demonstrations. Seeking to inspire and preserve, the Yunus Emre Institute will also be hosting special workshops designed for children, nurturing an appreciation for Turkey’s book arts in the next generation. Whether you’re interested in the rich history of Turkey’s literary crafts or following a niche inkling to pick up a new hobby, find out more here. 

Beyond the Brim: The heritage of hat making

60 years ago, hats were considered a part of everyday dress. Of course, times have changed, and as personal style and fashion overall has become more casual, hats too, are something of a novelty. In a bid to preserve the meticulous art of millinery, LCW will be hosting a suite of events seeking to explore hat-making. Hosted at the museum of the Bank of England, ‘Beyond the Brim’ celebrates contemporary hat makers while informing visitors on the rich heritage of millinery. Taking a look into hats as fashion, function or fascination, the line-up includes talks with theatrical milliners, a history lesson on the bowler hat and hats for the fabulous. Piqued your interest and ready to get your thinking hats on, find out more here.