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Sustainable, Design-Led & Handcrafted Wares

Design-Nation is thrilled to be at the Spring 2022 instalment of Top Drawer. We’re pleased to announce that this year the event is live at London Olympia, as well as virtual. As usual, we have a talented group of DN members on our stand, representing some of the UK’s very best design-led designer/makers and curated for a retail buying audience.

We are pleased to have four of our members at Top Drawer SS22. Exhibiting a selection of top quality wares in leather, ceramic, textiles and wood; these artworks, fashion accessories and homewares encompass multiple styles, incorporating both contemporary and traditionally-inspired artisan techniques and with a strong emphasis on sustainability. Our exhibitors are: Linescapes (illustration-based products), Wolfram Lohr (leather goods for home and wear), Ruby Kite (contemporary art scarves), and Pegg Furniture (a fresh take on traditional joinery).

Michael Buick of Pegg Furniture is new to Top Drawer, having a launched his brand in spring 2020. Michael comes from a career in renewable energy and has a strong drive to create both beautifully and sustainably. “I really believe in the benefits of being surrounded by objects that are made beautifully, that work really well, and that point towards a simpler and less cluttered life. Thoughtful things, created with the big picture in mind – of materials sourced sustainably, workers employed fairly, and objects that can go back to nature without harming it.”

RubyKite is also new to Top Drawer, a gallery of contemporary art scarves created by designer and printmaker Tamara Williams and Joy Leese. Just over a year old, the collaboration between Tamara and Joy has been an unexpected pleasure full of new possibilities. “Making our products as sustainable as possible is really important to us. We’re already minimising waste; printing in small batches and replacing our gift boxes with silk pouches made from off-cuts as well as printing with dyes that are AZO free. But there’s still so much more we can do.”

Amalia Sanchez de la Blanca of Linescapes uses her background as an architect to create highly detailed CAD architectural portraits of iconic buildings and landmarks.  Amalia transforms these portraits into a range of architecture-inspired prints, cards and gifts. Her love of the architectural landscape started early: “Since I was a child, I was always at my happiest when drawing. I became interested in buildings while living in LA in the 90s, so I became an architect and obtained a masters degree from the Royal College of Art. But from the beginning my instincts pulled me toward the artistic rather than the technical side. This tension, between my passion and the demands of my job, was present throughout my career. I was basically an artist doing an architect’s job.”

The Wolfram Lohr brand has been producing luxury leather goods for men and women since 2003. All Wolfram Lohr products are handmade using high quality, traceable, Italian vegetable tanned leather and are skilfully created with a passion for quality and strength. Making classic belts, wallets, handbags, beautifully shaped rucksacks, practical messenger bags, desk accessories and selected homewares, Wolfram Lohr’s brand is about quality products made in England with a contemporary twist.

Images courtesy the artists.

On News index page:  London Eye coaster by Linescapes.

On carousel: Desk, stool and lamp; and detail of table by Pegg Furniture, photos by Yeshen Venema.

Details of Rubykite scarves. Moorland scarf by Rubykite.

Radcliffe Camera Blue print by Linescapes. Selection of other prints.

Peg Plant Holder and Glasses case by Wolfram Lohr.

Posted on

11.02.2022

Posted by

Liz Cooper

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