London is always buzzing, there is always something new to do, something new to see, something new to taste, but every year early autumn has a slightly more delicious flavour to it as the allure of the new is so prominent in arts, crafts and design.
Scouring the streets of London with the excitement of exploring what is current and what brands are communicating is not only exciting but also deeply inspiring.
When it comes to gaining insight from the new design trends, London Design Festival and Decorex are our main go-to’s. We direct our antennae towards new products for interiors and soak up the look and feel of 2025. We then of course sprinkle in a good measure of other enticing elements such as talks, exhibitions at art galleries and antiques related showcases…
Last year we took part in both LDF and Decorex as part of collaborations, but this year we took a break and had the luxury of immersing ourselves in what others wanted us to experience.
LDF was bursting at the seams as usual with over 300 events, installations and exhibitions spanning across 10 design districts plus further afield, making it a real challenge to whittle the list down to an achievable series of experiences.
From what we saw this year, LDF excited us for, more intensely championing emerging talent, pushing the boundaries of sustainable design, connecting us with historical hidden spaces in the city, emphasising the link between traditional craftsmanship & durability, and reminding us about the importance of how a space feels.
Traipsing from Shoreditch Design Triangle, to Material Matters, to Brompton Design District, to Design Centre Chelsea Harbour and lastly to Park Royal Design District we feel that we did get a well balanced round up of London Design Festival 2025!
And then, just as we got our breath back, Decorex arrived with its take on lush luxury for interiors. This year Decorex felt stronger and bolder, there was lots of layering, lots of texture, lots of deep colours, and lots of tactility. It had a deep hold on us!
Similar themes to LDF were also present at Decorex; their Making Spaces section not only beautifully presented the artisanal, but it also supported smaller scale talent, collaborations in key sections like the bar, the VIP Lounge, & the entrance highlighted the design ingenuity of brands, and the various talks added vibrancy to the show. All in all it really did ‘pack a punch’!
So now we are back to the factory to digest all we have taken in, and to see how all of this will translate into ideas at Parla in the coming year…
