British lighting champions, indoor-outdoor living and recycled waste lead the way at Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 (20 – 22 May)

Set to be its largest edition to date, Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) returns from 20 – 22 May 2025 with its 14th edition. With over 15 venues and 160 local design showrooms, the event promises an immersive experience featuring product launches, installations, exhibitions, talks and workshops. The 2025 festival is underpinned by a range of captivating themes, making it the go-to destination for discovering the latest trends and innovations in design and specification.

Lighting takes centre stage in this year’s programme, particularly among British brands, while the rise of indoor-outdoor living is reflected in a wave of adaptable designs. “Designed and made in the UK” remains a strong message, complemented by the debut of an exciting Spanish design showcase. Sustainability continues to be a defining topic, with pioneering technology and materials leading the charge towards a greener future. Meanwhile, showroom events offer a diverse array of experiences, from exploring acoustic solutions to investigating the power of design and perception in interior spaces.

BRITISH TALENT SHINES IN LIGHTING DESIGN

Expect a diverse mix of British lighting design talent, celebrating materials, craftsmanship and creativity. Marking its 15th anniversary, Curiousa is set to unveil Carnival, a new addition to its Sculptural Stack series, at Light. Carnival combines porcelain, wood and Curiousa’s signature hand-blown glass to create three striking drop chandeliers. Reminiscent of the geometric Harlequin motif from the 16th-century Italian Commedia dell'arte theatre, the collection offers a rich, textured colour palette with a sophisticated balance of depth and playfulness.

J. Adams & Co will present its new Apex and Strata Circular lights at its St John Street showroom. Designed by founder Will Earl, these handcrafted Birmingham-made pieces continue the studio's tradition of blending art and workmanship in timeless lighting designs.

Artifact Lighting, established in 2011 by Mark McConnell and Greg Bailey, returns to the festival with its Rocco pendant – an elegant piece inspired by Dorset’s coastal landscapes, crafted from a fusion of plaster, sand and water – on display at Light. Devon-based Hand & Eye Studio also makes a return, bringing new collaborations with ceramicists Sue Pryke and Justin Page to the British Collection. Meanwhile, Buster + Punch (at Elements) and Bert Frank (Farringdon Road) enhance this year’s lineup with their latest designs.

Beyond British talent, the festival welcomes leading European brands, including Lights of Vienna, which will present Lightstories by Karin Binder at Detail as part of the Austrian Collection. Danish brand Nordlux will launch a new table lamp and pendant at Light, while Belgium’s Vincent Sheppard will introduce its Bill and Bob rattan lamps alongside its furniture pieces at Old Sessions House.

INDOOR OR OUTDOOR?

As indoor and outdoor living seamlessly merge, CDW highlights adaptable designs that bridge the gap between both environments. Ethimo on Old Street will debut Patio by Studio Zanellato/Bortotto, an outdoor furniture line distinguished by its unique weaving techniques and teak craftsmanship.

Grythyttan Stålmöbler, a 130-year-old Swedish garden furniture brand, will bring its iconic A2 armchair by Artur Lindqvist – in a new green colourway – to the Church of Design at St Bartholomew the Great. Returning to Groupwork, Case will launch Campus, an outdoor chair by Matthew Hilton. Featuring a punched seat and backrest, Campus features a galvanised, powder-coated steel frame, ensuring durability against the elements, while its solid weight keeps it grounded even in windy conditions. Also on display will be the Narin folding chair by David Irwin, now available in an outdoor version.

SPAIN TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT

For the first time, CDW introduces the Spanish Collection, hosted at The Charterhouse, celebrating the country’s excellence in design by blending tradition and innovation across multiple categories. A standout feature of the Collection is its focus on fabrics. Antonio Ferre, a leader in high-end décor and furnishing textiles for over 110 years, brings a fresh perspective on luxury fabrics for both home and contract markets. Meanwhile, in line with its commitment to sustainability, Naturtex will showcase a rich selection of natural fabrics through its colourful mood boards, featuring intricate weaves and soft tones.

Known for its outdoor furniture and parasols since 1935, Ezpeleta will debut its latest Trena chairs by Yonoh Studio, drawing inspiration from traditional wood and bulrush-woven seating. Another heritage brand, Gandia Blasco, synonymous with outdoor luxury, will present its Arena collection by Søren Rose – the second collaboration between the two. Inspired by the fluid movement of sand dunes, the collection subtly nods to traditional pith furniture and the craftsmanship of basket weaving.

DESIGNED AND MADE IN THE UK

British design and craftsmanship continue to set the standard, with several brands proudly highlighting their excellence in design and manufacturing.

Joining CDW at Platform, AH HA Project will unveil Tectonic, its first product range drawn from the natural contours of geological formations. Spanning mirrors, wall art, side tables and desk accessories, each piece is crafted from Valchromat – a high-density wood fibre panel made from recycled pine wood and mill waste, coloured throughout with organic dyes and bonded with non-toxic resin. These pieces are machine-carved and hand-finished in the UK by the studio’s founders.

Bath-based Divine Savages, founded by husbands Jamie Watkins and Tom Kennedy in 2017, creates eclectic and opulent wallpapers and fabrics. Making its CDW debut, the brand will exhibit its Deco Martini and Safari Soirée collections at Detail. Also new to the festival, family-run business Summit 1977 will launch its LUCA soft seating range at Clerkenwell Green. Made at the company's Wiltshire HQ, LUCA combines bold curves and comfortable lines, offering a cohesive range with versatility and a unified aesthetic.

The British Collection – which features brands including Another Country, Benchmark, Deadgood, Very Good & Proper, Goldfinger and Hitch Mylius – will see Morgan introduce its first collaboration with Liverpool-based SmithMatthias. Entirely foam-free, Bruton is an adaptable modular furniture system designed for evolving workplace and hospitality environments.

REDUCE AND RECYCLE

This year, CDW will highlight brands pioneering sustainable design – from textile recycling to carbon-negative materials – shaping a greener future. Camira is taking a bold stance on the global textile waste crisis with an art installation at its Brewhouse Yard showroom. It will also showcase Lucia T2T – a reimagination of its first post-consumer recycled polyester fabric, Lucia – now made entirely from 100% textile-to-textile recycled waste sourced from the apparel industry.

Similarly, Universal Fibers (at Design Fields) will present Thrive® matter, the world’s first carbon-negative nylon fibre, designed to remove carbon from the atmosphere throughout its production process. Since launching it in 2021, the company has gained C2C certification for the product and reduced its organic carbon footprint. This May, the company welcomes five new partners exhibiting at the festival, releasing products made with Thrive® matter yarns.

Mater’s Ocean furniture – originally designed by Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel – celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Available in black and sand – crafted from upcycled fishing nets and ocean plastic waste – the series also includes a green version made from upcycled Carlsberg DraughtMaster beer kegs, developed in collaboration with a:gain, specialists in upcycled building materials. During CDW, Mater’s St John Street showroom will highlight the waste streams used in the production of the Ocean chairs.

Meanwhile, Kasthall will unveil its Fasad collection by David Chipperfield Design at Old Sessions House. A world-first in rug design, Fasad incorporates recycled post-consumer wool, repurposed from discarded mattresses. Inspired by the brick façade of Kasthall’s historic factory in Kinna, Sweden, the collection explores depth, structure and height in textile form.

KEY EVENTS: FROM SOUND TO NEURODIVERSITY

Making its festival debut, Acoufelt will host two insightful daily sessions at its Old Street showroom – one led by renowned acoustician Ben Claridge on effective acoustic strategies for modern spaces, and another discussing the latest innovations in soundscaping for commercial interiors.

At Tarkett Atelier on St John Street, Tarkett’s Let’s Talk programme will foster conversations on sustainability, inclusivity and design. The extensive lineup includes creative workshops led by Yodomo, a research and innovation lab focused on textile reuse (21 May, 11:00 and 14:00); a speed sketching workshop with Trevor Flynn, Director of Drawing At Work, demonstrating how sketching can be used to express ideas through simple techniques (22 May, 13:00); and a Q&A session with Patrick Grant, judge on BBC One’s The Great British Sewing Bee, discussing design and sustainability (22 May, 16:00).

On Bastwick Street, Sixteen3 partners with Crown Paints to transform its showroom into an interactive space exploring neuroscience, accessibility and inclusivity in interior design. Visitors can engage with sensory experiences, from a visual impairment area to a colour perception challenge and sensory moodboarding. On 21 May (13:30), award-winning author and Chartered Clinical Psychologist Dr. Stephanie Fitzgerald will delve into the neuroscience behind our response to spaces, looking at how colour, texture, acoustics and layout impact wellbeing, productivity and perception.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 takes place across EC1, London, from 20 – 22 May. For more information, please visit clerkenwelldesignweek.com – registration is now open.
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PRESS CONTACT
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For press enquiries, please contact Belinda Fisher and Jeffrey Cheung at Friends & Co: cdw@friendsandco.co.uk. Press registration: please click here.
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NOTES TO EDITORS ​
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Clerkenwell Design Week, 20 – 22 May 2025
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​Website: clerkenwelldesignweek.com | Instagram: @clerkenwelldesignweek
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​X: @cdwfestival | Facebook: @clerkenwell.design.week | Hashtag: #CDW2025
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VISITING INFORMATION
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