Top Drawer Exhibition, London

So! TOP DRAWER  is the UK's leading event for design-led gifts, lifestyle and fashion accessories held in London twice a year. The Exhibition was great! I really enjoyed it! There were so many lovely, quirky, sweet, stylish and inspiring things, I didn't know where to look!

I have decided to separate my findings into two posts. One - devoted to greeting cards, as this was my main point of interest, and another - all other products that I really liked!

Let's start with the cards! Frankly speaking, I thought the choice would be a bit bigger, but I suppose the lack of cards was compensated by the huge amount of everything else.   

 My favourites were LOVEHEART.

The designs are a combination of two distinctive creative styles of husband & wife, Simon & Theresa Hart. Actually I have been following their BLOG even before meeting them at the exhibition.  It was a great pleasure to stumble across their stand and meet them in person! I have recognised  their work straight away!

I love their cards for their simplicity and very well thought through design. Their cards are a perfect combination of colour, composition and idea.  Apparently, they are using a proper old letterpress for their typography, rather than Photoshop fonts, which I thought was a great idea which adds a bit more warmth and personality to the cards.

The second company that really impressed me was LIZ AND PIP.

Also, a lovely collection of sweet, warm, funny, well designed cards. I thought they did a great job! I am all for simplicity and I do believe that less is more, and I think that their funky uncluttered artwork works great! And! It puts a smile on your face! What else can one ask for?

Then there was ART HOUSE MEATH! These guys were really amazing! This is a Social Enterprise celebrating the artistic talents of adults living with learning difficulties and severe Epilepsy. All the artwork is done by them!!! And I thought it was fantastic! It was very true, funny, compelling, brilliantly put together and VERY marketable!!! They produce not only greeting cards, but lots of other stationary, t-shirts, mugs and even cufflinks! 100% of their profits go to Meath Epilepsy Trust. Check them out!

And a little bit of high tech stuff...  CUTTURE London - they produce laser cut greeting cards and stationary for weddings and events.

Loved them! Again, very simple, stylish, sophisticated and tactile!!! I couldn't stop touching their business card... It is just sooo pleasant to touch!!! (sorry, I am not weird, I just love good design that much!)

Of course, there were more stands with cards, but most of them were quite similar in style and approach. So, I have mentioned the ones that stuck in my memory. I hope I didn't bore you to death :)

I have to warn you that the next post will be about all the rest of the products, and I am afraid it will be much more lengthy...