We started off September by visiting the annual Decorex show up at Syon Park, just outside London.

Over the years, we have seen the amount of fabric suppliers, exhibit less and less, mainly due to the majority of them having showrooms at Chelsea Harbour Design Centre. However, it’s always a great opportunity to see the new season designs and say hello to old faces.

Our new favourite from the show was from Art of the Loom and the “Harewood Collection”. Luckily our clients think the same and this week we’re using it on a rather gorgeous Victorian small bedroom tub chair.

In October, one of our fellow Dorset upholsterers brought another trade show to our attention. This one was much smaller and held in Cheltenham – Road Trip! Off we went and although we saw the same faces, we did come across new fabric suppliers which made the trip worthwhile. We can also recommend the M5 services at Gloucester.

We try to go each year as it’s an oppurtunity to see the new fabric
trends coming out in the new year and it also gives us the chance to
catch up with fabric manufacturers as well as collecting as many
goodies as possible..Pens, bags, tape measures, magazines, more pens,
more bags….

This year we noted that many manufacturers have got some fantastic
printed velvets and many upholstery chairs on show had a “raw” feel,
with the webbing and tacks being left uncovered. I’m not sure Dorset
is ready for such innovative design concepts just yet…evolution not
revolution!