EAST LONDON DESIGN SHOW 2005

The East London Design Show is well known for being the place to discover the next big thing when it comes to designing. Exhibitors choose the ELDS to launch brand new pieces that may just become next season’s must-have item for the style pundit. The show exhibits the best, old and new, talents in product, fashion and interior design.

With such promise we found ourselves perusing the stalls in Shoreditch Town Hall on the weekend of 2nd December, in a bid to pick up the choicest pieces of anything ranging from art, furniture, textiles, ceramics to jewellery, fashion and accessories. This presented a fantastic opportunity to add some originality to the ol’ Christmas shopping list.

Exhibitors we took a particular liking to included:
Scabetti, sculptural ceramics by Staffordshire designer Dominic Bromley. All items are finished by hand, made out of earthenware and fine bone china. Amongst our favourites were the Amoeba Candlestick and Amoeba Tall Vase as well as Drawn To The Light, a ceiling light comprised of a cluster of 36 fine bone china pieces.

denisonboston, who with their Renaissance ‘Dandy’ cufflink proclaim to be launching the ultimate cufflink of the season.

Leonard Pfeifer, with his funky furniture and accessories that combine form and functionality. On display was an item for the chic household, the Sushi Board that has four distinct configurations. It can be used as a serving tray or a setting for two. Clever.


Anna Lewis Jewellery, her collections draw inspiration from concepts of memory and superstition. The newest collection features her distinct and delicate feather jewellery with hand printed leather and wearable art pieces.
Stabo, their collection of wool/cashmere printed scarves are all made by themselves. A plus point is that they are happy to make up their scarves according to the individual specification should there not be one available and their leather bags are made to order as well as having individually fitted womenswear.

SuckUK, with their range of gift items is the brilliant for quirky presents. Cool points must be given to the Neon Mirror where you can choose from the words ‘Sexy’ or ‘Girls’ or have your own lettering customised and the award winning Key Bottle Opener.

As if the exhibitors’ stalls weren’t enough, there were other features at the ELDS to keep us fully entertained. Among those was the Enchanted Forest play area for the kiddies and the Earth Designs Garden Clinic where we got concept plans for our dream garden design to take away with us.


Hardly a soul who went into Shoreditch Town Hall for the ELDS came out empty-handed which was good news for designers as it presented the perfect platform to get noticed. This was Christmas shopping with a twist but without the pain.

Shakila Rajendra