London Craft Week (LCW) returns for its eighth edition with a fresh programme of events taking place
across the capital from 9th – 15th May 2022. Bringing together the work of celebrated and emerging artists, makers and designers, the festival showcases the best of craftsmanship from around the world.
From the latest developments in material innovation and digital craft to collectable objects and heritage
skills, the programme includes over 300 events, showcasing work by more than 765 artists, makers and
designers, alongside brands and galleries from 26 different countries. Spanning the fields of craft, art,
design, luxury, food, fashion and accessories, the week-long festival tells the stories behind some of the
world’s most beautiful objects – the material, the maker, the process and the inspiration – against the backdrop of workshops, immersive experiences, pop-up stores and original exhibitions.
LCW reflects the zeitgeist of rising interest in high-quality and one-of-a-kind products from leading creative brands to independent artist-makers, and provides a unique platform for this work, introducing it to new audiences. Visitors are encouraged to discover hidden workshops, independent makers, heritage craftsmen, alongside great luxury houses, famous artists and designers, leading department stores,
national museums and contemporary galleries. As we move out of the crisis phase of the pandemic, LCW
brings people together to celebrate shared cultural values and human ingenuity and is a thriving symbol of the diverse, creative developments and innovation taking place internationally.
Visitors will be able to discover the savoir-faire, uncompromising craftsmanship and storytelling of Delvaux, inventor of the modern handbag, in its London flagship on New Bond Street or join Dunhill’s master craftsmen and women across bespoke leather, tailoring and The White Spot at the iconic lifestyle
destination Dunhill House on Davies Street. Serapian pays tribute to the exquisite materials it carefully
selects to craft its elegant creations with an exhibition of crafted objects and outstanding leather goods.
Highlights include:
LCW’s first-ever Country Pavilions, reinforcing the festival as a platform for sharing global
perspectives and shining a spotlight on London as an international hub where visitors can
encounter exceptional makers and creativity from around the world. The inaugural Pavilions will
focus on Malaysia and Norway.
Workshops, talks, installations, and exhibitions showcasing a new generation of makers and
brands that are reframing the sustainability narrative with innovative new technologies and
materials and the possibilities of the circular economy. A dedicated programme at The Mills
Fabrica includes the UK’s first exhibition of Circulose® by Renewcell; an exhibition exploring the
possibilities of mushrooms; and a screen-printing workshop with Colorifix using bacterial pigment
technology.
An exploration of the heritage and future of craftsmanship in the fashion industry, including a
dedicated programme tied to the V&A’s Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear exhibition.Rising talents, including Daniel w. Fletcher, Joao Maraschin and Clara Pinto, explore traditional
craft skills as a means to reduce environmental impact in their practice and pioneering designer
Anya Hindmarch hosts a talk asking, ‘Is There a Future for Leather?’. While at Central Saint
Martins, UAL, The Fabricant introduces visitors to the possibilities of digital fashion in a workshop
offering the chance to create a digital garment.
A spotlight on the best of collectible design and crafts, including exhibitions of contemporary
jewellery and furniture at Sotheby’s London, contemporary craft fair Artefact aligns with London
Craft Week for the first time, The Future of Craft, returns to The Barge House, and there is an
exclusive preview of Phillips’ Design Auction plus a tour of the Danish Ambassador’s residence.
o Product launches, talks and demonstrations across crafted homeware and interiors that reflect the
zeitgeist of rising consumer interest in high-quality and one-of-a-kind products from leading creative
brands to independent artist-makers.
Festival programming in key London destinations with a wide range of curated events in Belgravia
(Pimlico Road Series), Chelsea (Artisan Chelsea), King’s Cross (Coal Drops Yard) and St
James’s.
“From the first London Craft Week we wanted to be a practical showcase of what we call the Iceberg of Creative Talent, championing less well-known artists makers-designers as well as other creators, some hidden below the surface, others household names, but all world-class. The last two years have seen their numbers grow and their work become even richer. But many remain undiscovered and undervalued. Hence us redoubling our efforts this year to draw as much attention as possible to those extraordinary men and women in workshops, studios and at home – in London, across the UK and around the world, creating quite exceptionally special things.”
Guy Salter, Chairman of London Craft Week
London Craft Week 9th – 15th May full details here: londoncraftweek.com
