A step up

Pulse London product fair has announced that this year’s event will play host to an improved Launchpad section for burgeoning young designers, having promoted the area to take up a third of this year’s show.

Launchpad aims to provide young designers with a platform on which to sell their work, and this year, the lovely people of Liberty department store are helping make this all the more likely by selecting Launchpad’s Best Exhibitor Award, with the winner given the chance to have their designs stocked in store.

Michelle Alger, buying manager for home and gift at Liberty, says, ‘Here at Liberty, young designers and little brands fascinate us as we are always on the look out for the right mix of commercial appeal and edginess. Pulse is becoming more and more relevant as it offers us the unique opportunity to see so much new design in one place.’

Many former Launchpadders cite Liberty as having picked up on their designs from previous shows. Michelle Mason, says,  ‘I’ve had orders from Liberty and Bentall, and commissions from Transport for London and The World Heritage Project as a result of being at Pulse.’

Thornbac & Peel add, ‘Pulse has helped us build relationships with many of the key buyers, Liberty in particular.’

Highlights of this year’s Launchpad include exhibitors Wingate, Original Little Bird, Laura Felicity, Kiss Her by Bianca Hall, Gwendolen and Showpony.

Pulse will also host talks from James Bidwell, former managing director of Anthropologie Europe, and former Board Marketing director at Selfridges; and other seminars and lectures.

Pulse runs from 5 – 7 June at Earls Court, London