LONDON CRAFT WEEK 9 - 15 May 2022
This year’s London Craft Week (LCW) continues in its ambition to be “a practical showcase championing less well-known artists, makers, designers as well as other creators, some hidden below the surface, others household names, but all world-class” explains London Craft Week’s Chairman Guy Salter, “we are redoubling our efforts 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.”
The eighth edition of this week-long festival has become a much-anticipated event in London’s calendar telling 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 independent artist-makers and provides a great opportunity to discover hidden workshops, independent makers and heritage craftsmen. 
Image: Pimlico Road district boasts a fraternity of interiors craftspeople and curators. Daylesford Organic on the Green, is hosting a botanical cloth dyeing workshop with Cloth Collective.
This year’s sponsors include Delvaux, the Belgian luxury leather goods company, men’s luxury outfitters Dunhill and Italian leather company, Serapian. New this year are two Country Pavilions, reinforcing the festival as a platform for sharing global perspectives. The inaugural Pavilions will focus on Malaysia (see upcoming blog post for details) and Norway; a multidisciplinary exhibition of designer makers of the 20th century through to contemporary Norwegian craft, art and design.
Image: Sponsors Stefano Serapian delicate strips of lamb nappa are meticulously hand woven together by Serapian’s skilled artisans to create a geometric, hypnotic effect influenced by Byzantine mosaics and Japanese origami.
Chelsea is reasserting itself as London's original artists' quarter with a plethora of fashion, printing, leatherwork, embroidery and embellishment. Soho Home’s flagship store on the King’s Road has mocked up the Sarabande Foundation’s East London studios, usually off-limits to the public, to show the work of two its resident artists: paper sculptor Alice Von Maltzahn and embroiderer, Aurora Pettinari York.
Image: Alice Von Maltzahn's work examines temporality, the environment, our place within it and the traces we leave behind. It can be seen at Soho Home on the King’s Road between 11 - 22 May 2022.
Oxo Tower Wharf, Future Icons and Design-Nation have collaborated to bring back The Future of Craft at Bargehouse. Cockpit Arts and the Royal College of Art will also add to the astonishing 100 makers gathered under one roof offering an extensive range of free talks and demonstrations. 
Image: Kamilah Ahmed’s textile pieces draw inspiration from inherited traditional textile disciplines such as the art of Jamdani weaving and reimagine the potential of hand making techniques through digital embroidery to create fresh and elaborate finishes. Demonstration 10 May 2022, 18:00 - 19:30 BST, Cockpit Arts, Secrets of the Workshop at Bargehouse, Oxo Tower, London.
LCW has split London into five main districts: central, west, north, south and east. Nonetheless, whether you are an old hand or it’s your first visit there are a slightly overwhelming quantity of destinations, exhibitors, and events to get your head round. Over the next seven days we will navigate the 765 artists, makers and designers, brands and galleries from 26 different countries, and 300 events of London Craft Week to find the most innovative and interesting to share with you.
London Craft Week runs between 9 - 15 May 2022. We will be posting daily about the different events and textile makers and designers from tomorrow until 12 May 2022.