Creative Expo in RDS from Sunday
Designers, manufacturers and craftspeople from all across Leinster will present their latest collections at Showcase - Ireland’s International Creative Expo which returns to the RDS from Sunday 24th to Wednesday 27st January.
2016 marks the 40th year of Showcase, one of Ireland’s largest trade shows.
Leinster designers and makers exhibiting at Showcase include Carlow-based Bunbury Boards, Kilkenny’s Cushendale Woollen Mills, Dublin-based jewellery designers, Juvi, Wicklow fragrance company, Brooke & Shoals, Kildare’s Elaine Madigan Cashmere, Meath’s Ansley Watches and Wexford-based milliner Amanda Byrne.
Showcase has established itself as a must-see trade event, attracting more than 5,000 buyers from Ireland and over 20 countries keen to view the latest collections from more than 450 Irish designers, manufacturers and craftspeople across Fashion, Jewellery and Home & Giftware. A particular emphasis is placed on new products to market, providing retailers with opportunities to discover and stock up on the latest design-led products, many of which are unique to the show.
This year, for the first time, Showcase will introduce The Knitwear Project, an exciting presentation of innovative Irish knitwear created by emerging and leading Irish designers and manufacturers. Collaborations include Peter O’Brien working with Donegal’s Fisherman Out of Ireland and twice Oscar-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon working with Beacon Designs Ltd. in Cork. New and original work by companies such as Coletti from Wicklow, Ireland’s Eye from Dublin and Ekotree from County Clare will be unveiled, and innovative designs from a strong cohort of recent graduates will also be on display. The new work developed through The Knitwear Project will be presented at Showcase 2016 in a special fashion show produced by Catherine Condell.
The Knitwear Project aims to highlight the potential of the Irish knitwear industry as a driver of Irish design, culture and exports. This new initiative has been led by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) working closely with both Enterprise Ireland in setting the brief and with an external panel of fashion and design experts, including Deirdre McQuillan, Catherine Condell and Angela O’Kelly, as advisors to the project.
For 2016, Showcase will once again feature Home & Giftware and Jewellery categories and specialist curators Alanna Gallagher (Home & Gift) and Natasha Sherling (Jewellery) will be guiding the international buyers to the very best and exciting new products from the show’s exhibitors.
82% of international buyers attending Showcase come to purchase products that have been authentically designed and made in Ireland. Creative Island, at the heart of the show, isa special area featuring 90 DCCoI client companies selected by an independent jury for their creativity, innovation and craftsmanship. In addition, the Enterprise Zone will feature unique products from almost 100 micro enterprises throughout Ireland whose attendance is supported by their Local Enterprise Offices.
Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland said: “This annual tradeshow plays a crucial role in growing the market for Irish design and craft both at home and internationally. We are seeing a growing recognition and appreciation for the quality, diversity and provenance of the work of Irish designers and makers, especially following on from Irish Design 2015, the year-long government-backed initiative showcasing contemporary Irish design in Ireland and abroad. Showcase provides a unique opportunty to connect buyers from Ireland and around the world with hundreds of Irish designers and makers over an intensive four day period, generating up to €20 million in sales orders. Through developing Showcase as a professional, world class trade show focused on Irish creativity, we continually strive to maximise the potential for increased sales and exports of creative Irish businesses.”
Showcase is promoted internationally by Enterprise Ireland through their network of offices overseas. According to Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland: 'Showcase is a unique platform for Irish designs, it is a ‘shop-window’ for Irish clothing, textiles and high quality designers. Every year, Enterprise Ireland helps promotes Showcase to International Buyers and in 2016, we will help bring more international buyers than ever before to visit Showcase. Some buyers are returning to Ireland, to build on the success of previous buying trips to Showcase, but importantly, many are first-time visitors to Showcase, notably almost 50% of UK buyers to Showcase are visiting for the first time. The rising number of buyers is a testament to the unique designs coming out of Ireland. We are excited to be part of such an iconic event and proud to promote intrinsically Irish products to global buyers. Our ambition is to help Irish design companies to win export orders from visiting buyers, thereby sustaining jobs within Irish businesses in Ireland.”
Always popular with attendees, an extensive retail seminar programme over the four days of the show will feature top international industry speakers delivering thought provoking presentations, providing retailers with expertise, research and advice.
Showcase 2016 runs from Sunday 24th to Wednesday 27th January and is for trade attendance only. For further details on the event and to register to attend, please visit: www.showcaseireland.com.
List of Leinster exhibitors by county:
Carlow
Rara Photography
Torc Candles
Bunbury Boards
Clare Jordan Ltd.
MC Jewellery
Bolina
Nicola Brown Fine Art Textiles
Dublin
ail + el
Aisling Higgins Jewellery
Alexandra Fitzpatrick
Alison Conneely
Allied Imports
Allison Garden Land Ltd.
Alljoy Design
Amethyst Dublin
Annie Quinn Jewellery
Anu Celtic Jewellery
Aria-V-Jewellery
Arran Street East
At It Again!
B. Slowey Ltd.
Barry Doyle Design Jewellers
Bedra Metals Ltd.
Berry Be Beauty
Bold Bunny
Boru Jewelry Ltd.
Breda Haugh Jewellery
Brendan Joseph
Brian V McKenna Agencies
Burke Joinery
Cara Craft
Castle of Ireland
Catherine Victoria
Celtic Candles
Celtic Gent
Christina Belle
Chupi
Clarkes of Dublin
Clonlea Design
Colm de Rís Irish Pottery Ltd.
Condron Knitwear
Danu Designer Ceramics
De Blaca Jewellery
Declan Killen Ltd.
Deirdre O’Donnell Contemporary & Fine
Delvin Studios
Dolphin Music Group
Dr. Bear Co Ltd.
Eclectic Lens
Edge Only
Elks of Ireland
Emerald Freight Express
Fab Cow Design
Facet Jewellery
Fawn
Forgotten China
Gablestone Partners
Gallardo & Blaine Designs
Goldsmith Properties Ltd.
Grand Grand
Green Angel Skincare
Happiclose
Harold Elmes
Heart of Ireland / BM Ireland
HQ Ireland International / Malham USA
iLove-Scarves
Inner Island
Ireland’s Eye Knitwear
Irish Linen House
Jack & Jill Fashions
Jack Murphy
James Joyce Jewellery for Men
JC Walsh & Sons Ltd.
Jennifer Rothwell
Jimmy Hourihan
JMH Jewellery
John Hinde Ireland Ltd.
Jonathan Richards & Co Ltd.
Julie Dillon Knitwear
Juvi Designs
Killiney Arts
Kirkwood Group Ltd.
Lainey K
Lorna Gaffney White Design
Louloubelle Design
Mackintosh Rainwear Ltd.
Man of Aran
Manley
Marianne Flood
Maureen Lynch Gold & Silversmith
Melanie Hand Design Jewellery
Michelle Owens Art
MoMuse
Nature’s Craft
Newgrange Living
NJO Designs Ltd.
O’Rouke Art / IconicIreland
Pearls for Girls
Portfolio Group
Privatmark
Purcell & Woodcock Candles
Rebeka Kahn
Red Rufus
Reids of Ireland
Saturday Workshop
Scribble & Stone
Seamus Gill Silversmithing & Jewellery
Secrid Wallets
Shamrock Gift Co.
Shanore
Shevlin Millinery
Shirley Copperwhite Designs
Slate4U
Solvar
Stonechat Jewellers
Susannagh Grogan Accessories
Tara Giftwork
The Little Dearies
The Rare Auld Time Company
Tipperary Crystal
TJH Ltd. – The Jewellery House
Tory Long
Tourist Books Express
Tracy Gilbert Designs
Traditional Craft Co.
Trinity & Co.
Verano
Vivien Walsh
Walk Among Us
Waltons
Washbourne Quinlan
Westacre
Wild By Water
Windmill Distributors
Yoko Wool Products
Zoe Carol
Kildare
Breaking Ground Enterprises
Candella Ireland
Derek Malone Stone Crafts
Elaine Madigan Cashmere
Ireland Gifts
Joanna Doyle Ceramics
KT Metal Design
Maggi Designs
MGD Jewellery Ltd.
Nature’s Glow
Pat O’Rourke Promotions
Splate
The Bog Oak Studio
West End Knitwear / Aran Crafts
Kilkenny
All That Glisters
Brid Lyons Ceramics
Castle Arch Pottery
Conker Tree Studio
Cushendale Woollen Mills
Jerpoint Glass Studio
Kilkenny Silver
Nicholas Mosse Pottery
Orla Murphy Designs
Tinnakeenly Leathers Ltd.
Visions
Laois
Edyta ART
Rose & Alice Handcrafted Soaps and Gifts
Louth
Branigan Weavers
Charles Callen Ltd.
Corona Silver
Duinn Designs
Finca Skin Organics
Garret Mallon Jewellery
Helen Cui
Love Irish Crafts Ceramics
Martina Scott
Orla Barry Art
Sarah McKenna Ceramics
Shamballa
Meath
Agency International
Big Red Kitchen
Caulfield Country Boards
Colette Gough Craft
Diem Pottery
Floravilla Home & Gift Ltd.
Framanc
MacQuillan Distributors Ltd.
Noreen Walshe Art & Photography
Roberts Wholesale Books Ltd.
Royal Country Products
Soilse
The Handmade Soap Company
Offaly
Duffy & Scott Candlemakers
Eclipse Fashion Accessories
Laurence Carey Agencies
Mojo Creations Ltd.
Rita Daly Designs
Shannonbridge Pottery
Westmeath
Jeanette Everson Handmade Ceramics
KC Leisure & Marketing
Meab Enamels
Mullingar Pewter / Silver Spirits
MW Jewellery
Wexford
Amanda Byrne Milliner
Gloine Comhleá
Kymaia
Liwu Jewellery
Mad 4 Hats by Patsy Flood O’Connor
Naoimh Prim Hand-printed Textiles
Paul Maloney Pottery
Simone Walsh
Wicklow
Amalan-Dublin
Amoc Jewellery
Avoca
Brooke & Shoals Fragrances
CardBoutique.ie
Carrickmacross Lace Clare Salley
Chaim Factor
Chloe Dowds Ceramics
Daisy Chain Crafts
Donegal Design Ltd.
Fado Ltd.
Fragrances of Ireland
Geraldine Leonard Artist
Hairy Fruit Art
Island Distribution
Jolipa (Greville Agencies)
Kieran Cunningham
Max Benjamin
Old Court Linens
Oxford Blue Ltd.
Real Ireland / PicturePress.ie Ltd.
Shuttle Knit Ltd.
Slated
Snug
Terrible Beauty
The Crafty Bird
The Irish Nettle Co. / Neantog
Details on each exhibitor available at http://www.showcaseireland.com/exhibitors