One of Ireland’s largest international trade shows returns to Dublin from 21 – 23 January 2024 and celebrates responsible retail.
4 September 2023: Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), today announced the return of Showcase – Ireland’s Creative Expo® to the RDS Dublin from Sunday, 21 January to Tuesday, 23 January 2024. One of Ireland’s largest international trade shows, Showcase offers manufacturers, designers and craft makers the opportunity to exhibit their new collections. It celebrates their highly crafted and creative products that have become synonymous with Irish design and makes Showcase such an important destination for buyers.
Showcase 2024 sees a further emphasis on sustainability and the retailers, often independent, that support Irish makers and designers and responsible retail. One such champion of this is Ruth Ní Loinsigh of Om Diva on Drury Street, Dublin, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Under the umbrella of its Atelier 27 and Maker’s Market strands, it is an incubation lab and sales showroom for over 75 Irish designers, makers and craftspeople, ranging from new graduates to established artists.
In keeping with this, Showcase 24 will broaden its sector development through themed days and talks on training, development and trends by domestic and international speakers including partners from the DCCI Academy which was launched at Showcase 23. It will also host buyer events including a state reception to mark the significance of Showcase in Dublin Castle on Monday the 22January
Showcase was founded in 1976 by DCCI and is the largest inter-agency tradeshow of the year for the craft and design sector, presented by DCCI, Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices and supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. For further details on the event or to pre-register to attend, please visit www.showcaseireland.com.
At Showcase 2023, exhibitors met with up to 4,000 Irish and international buyers. The opening day launched with The Dancehall – a dynamic performance which fused the fashion and design of Showcase makers with music and dance. The event focused on the theme of storytelling and tradition that is intrinsic to Showcase, reflecting the stories and provenance behind the makers and products at the show. Also launched was the Design & Crafts Council Ireland Academy (DCCIA), a new education programme designed to support the growth of design and craft businesses in Ireland. With this new academy, DCCI is taking the knowledge and skills from the past 52 years and marrying it with emerging technologies to deliver and serve the design and craft communities of the future.
The digital marketplace, Showcase Connect, which features all exhibitors, proved an invaluable companion tool to buyers before, during and after the tradeshow and will see further enhancement for Showcase 24.
Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Neale Richmond TD said: “I am delighted to be here today announcing the return of Showcase to the RDS in January 2024. Showcase not only highlights the impact of the Irish craft and design industry on our cultural landscape but the huge impact the sector has on our economy. Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices, delivers an excellent expo each year and I’m looking forward to visiting again in January. The expo is a hugely important moment for showcasing Irish talent to an international audience here in Dublin.”
Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland commented: “We are thrilled to announce the much-anticipated return of Showcase – Ireland’s Creative Expo® hosted again at the RDS. Showcase remains an important event in the design and business sector, uniting Irish craftsmanship and design heritage with national and international buyers. Showcase will continue to foster new global connections this year, all while proudly spotlighting the best in Irish design and craftsmanship with a particular focus on our retailers who support this creativity and entrepreneurship.”
Teri Smith, Retail Consumer & Online Manager, Enterprise Ireland spokesperson said:
“Showcase provides an important and unique platform for Irish designers, manufacturers and craftspeople to unveil their new season collections to domestic and international buyers from more than 20 countries, delivering significant exposure and sales potential to the featured brands.
“Enterprise Ireland’s global market teams are seeing growing demand for innovative, sustainable and quality products from Irish companies and brands across all international markets. We are delighted to collaborate with Design & Crafts Council Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices once again to deliver further market success for Irish businesses at Showcase 2024.”
Thomas Rooney, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Offices spokesperson said: “The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) network is proud to present 105 new and diverse design and craft business across Home & Gift, Fashion and Jewellery at Showcase 2024. It is a national representation of emerging designers and craft makers from across the country The growth in the establishment of new craft and design businesses reflects the continued support and commitment that LEO have for the sector which is growing from strength to strength each year.”
Showcase is organised by DCCI, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally through their network of offices overseas, and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide. This investment in growing buyer participation is supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Showcase 2024 is for trade attendance only and will take place from Sunday, 21 January to Tuesday, 23 January 2024 in the RDS Dublin.
For further details on the event or to pre-register to attend, please visit www.showcaseireland.com.
ENDS
For more information, please contact Eimear Harding, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, DCCI, 083 023 8743 or email [email protected]
For further press information please contact Claire Feely or Emma Kelly at Elevate PR, 01 662 5652 or email [email protected] / [email protected]
About Showcase
Showcase – Ireland’s Creative Expo® is one of the country’s largest international trade shows. The annual event is attended by thousands of buyers from across the world, including Ireland, the UK, USA, Mainland Europe, Asia and Africa generating millions of euros of sales orders during the show. Showcase is presented on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally through their network of offices overseas, and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide. More than 350 Irish brands are exhibited at the fair, including emerging Irish businesses supported by their Local Enterprise Offices. Showcase is for trade attendance only.
www.showcaseireland.com / @showcase_ireland
About Design & Crafts Council Ireland
Design & Crafts Council Ireland is the national agency for craft and design in Ireland, we support designers and makers to develop their businesses in a sustainable way, and advocate for the societal benefits of craft and design. DCCI’s activities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment via Enterprise Ireland. DCCI currently has 64 member organisations and over 3,500 registered clients.
www.dcci.ie / @dccireland
About Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. We work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate, and win export sales in global markets. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth, regional development, and secure employment.
http://www.enterprise-ireland.com / @enterprise_ireland
Local Enterprise Offices
The 31 Local Enterprise Offices located in the local authorities and funded through Enterprise Ireland support thousands of small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide. Since their establishment in 2014 they have been for the first stop shop for entrepreneurs and small businesses and providing a range of supports including financial, mentoring, training, and sector specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development. For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices go to: www.LocalEnterprise.ie / @local_enterprise_offices
Exhibitors and retailers included in the photocall:
About Aran Woollen Mills (exhibitor):
Aran Woollen Mills was founded in Westport, Co Mayo, in 1965 by local couple Máire and Padraig Hughes, and has grown to become Ireland’s largest home-based Aran knitwear manufacturer. Máire and Padraig established the business to follow Máire’s passion for Irish craft and heritage and to provide employment locally in the West of Ireland, a legacy which continues today as Aran Woollen Mills continues to design and manufacture in Co Mayo. The company’s first major customers were craft shops on the West and South coasts of Ireland and in Dublin before developing the export side. Today Aran Woollen Mills remains a family business with family values. Many employees have been with company for over 30 or 40 years, and have, alongside Hughes family members, worked tirelessly to start and build the business. Their legacy lives on in Aran Woollen Mills and the family, led by Máire and Padraig’s son and current owner, Vincent Hughes, are committed to the future success of the business, maintaining, and growing skilled jobs in the west of Ireland while keeping the heritage of Aran knitting well and truly at the forefront of Irish retail exports. In 2022 Aran Woollen Mills opened a new manufacturing facility in Belmullet Co. Mayo. This facility will be joined by a second by the end of 2023. Combined, these two facilities will see up to 50 new jobs created in the area by 2023 in addition to the 100 staff already employed by the company. aranwoollenmills.com
About Forager (exhibitor):
Heal, feel & connect with nature. Introducing Forager Skincare, harnessing the healing powers of wild Irish herbs. A collection of small batch, hand poured balms made with foraged native Irish wild herbs and 100% natural ingredients by Feebee Foran in Dublin, Ireland. “Mother nature was very clever to put our medicine at our feet” this is the ethos and belief system at the heart of Forager owner and Herbalist Feebee Foran. Born out of a love and complete trust in nature, Feebee has created a range of skin-loving balms that nourish and care for your skin with a respectful nod to long-lost Irish remedies. Feebee Foran is a herbalist and owner of Forager, a 100% natural skincare brand that harnesses the natural medicine of wild Irish weeds. Feebee’s love language is “nature” and her entire ethos is based in helping people to heal and feel through the beauty of the native plants that grow around us in abundance. www.forager.ie/ | @forager.ie
About Silvia Ortega (exhibitor):
As a Spanish designer based in Ireland, Silvia expertly fuses the vibrant culture of her homeland with the unique charm of her adopted country. Her brand aims to create aesthetically timeless and versatile women’s clothes suitable for any occasion. Operating from her studio in Wicklow Town, Silvia works within a sustainable and slow fashion framework, designing and crafting small, on-demand collections to minimise fabric waste. Silvia’s garments are made from natural fabrics such as silk, bamboo, cotton, cupro, wool, and linen, reflecting her dedication to sustainability. Each collection showcases a rich variety of textures, as Silvia loves experimenting with different materials and traditional techniques like weaving, smocking, and quilting. Her designs are further enhanced with bold elements such as vibrant silk linings, chunky zips, large buttons, draped pieces, sheer fabrics, flounces, and crochet.
About Om Diva (retailer):
Om Diva is a four storey Fashion Hub in the heart of Dublin’s Creative Quarter, showcasing our own Contemporary, Vintage and Accessories collections as well as being home to many of Ireland’s brightest and best design talent. In 2023 we are excited to be celebrating our twenty fifth year as an independent Irish business! Under the umbrella of our Atelier 27 and Maker’s Market strands, we are an incubation lab and showroom for over 75 Irish designers, makers and craftspeople, ranging from new graduates to established artists. Our current stable of makers includes clothing designers, jewellers, ceramicists, glassmakers, visual artists and many more. At Om Diva we are passionate about new design, and pride ourselves on providing more than just a showroom from which to sell. The creatives with whom we work have access to a nurturing space where they can receive mentoring support and real world commercial advice and experience, as well as access to an extensive range of industry contacts that are essential for independent designers looking to build and extend their commercial and artistic profile.
https://www.omdivaboutique.com
About Article (retailer):
Article is a unique homewares shopping experience, our shop is located in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre – a boutique shopping centre in the heart of Dublin City. Opened in 2010, Article is located in Lord Powerscourt’s former dressing room with its spectacular original plasterwork ceiling dating from 1780. It’s the perfect backdrop to showcase the beautifully edited selection of items for the home. The shelves are filled with quirky yet functional pieces sourced from around the world. We are also proud to stock the work of many talented, contemporary Irish designers.
