- 318 Irish designers, manufacturers, and craftspeople from all over Ireland unveiled their latest collections
- Damien English T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment officially closed Showcase 2022
- Three key themes identified at Showcase 2022 include a new wave of female founders; puppy love, and locally made products were a big hit with national and international buyers
- One of Ireland’s largest international trade shows welcomed visitors from Ireland and overseas including the UK, USA, Mainland Europe and Asia.
Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Damien English T.D. officially closed Showcase – Ireland’s International Creative Expo® at the RDS, Dublin today, after a four-day event.
One of the country’s largest international trade fairs, Showcase 2022 celebrated the return of face-to-face meetings by welcoming buyers from Ireland and overseas including the UK, USA, Mainland Europe and Asia over the four days of the show.
Damien English T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment said: “It is incredibly encouraging and exciting to see the return of Showcase as an in-person international trade event in the RDS. Showcase is a crucial event to letting global buyers know that Ireland’s Design and Craft sector very much open for business and we are driving economic recovery through the dynamism of these brave, talented and creative makers from across the country.
There is a tangible air of excitement as buyers and sellers get to connect face-to-face and get down to business together. I would like to congratulate the exhibitors and thank the trade buyers who have come to Showcase from far and wide, both in person and via Showcase’s digital marketplace Showcase Connect. Delighted also to meet the five female founders from Meath participating with the support of their Local Enterprise Office. The continuing support of Irish businesses helps to drive enterprise, growing the sector and strengthening the Irish economy.”
Showcase was founded in 1976 by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and is delivered with support from Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. After a break to the physical show in 2021 due to the pandemic, the new hybrid trade-only show (both an in person and digital event) was an enthralling reflection of the changed design and craft landscape in Ireland and internationally. The show was officially opened by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar T.D. on Sunday 27th February.
For 2022, Showcase introduced the Makers’ Studio, which saw demonstrations from craftspeople across a range of disciplines – highlighting to buyers the creativity and craftsmanship in their work and inspiring in-store Meet the Makers events. Participants in this year’s Makers’ Studio included multi-award-winning leather brand Úna Burke as well as Clarkes of Dublin, Shock of Grey and Wendy Louise Designs.
Annelise Duffy of The Linen Shirt Company said “Showcase is the best opportunity you have to connect with retailers both domestically and internationally. The quality of business being done at the 2022 show is exceptional. Buyers in general are eager to support sustainability and locally made products that have provenance and stories behind them.”
Patti Shields, Enterprise Ireland Pathfinder for the North American market said “People should come to Showcase as it is a unique destination for buyers to find differentiated products across many categories and lifestyles to satisfy their customer segments. Sustainability is something that Ireland is clearly doing really well. It’s tied to the vast natural resources available: the wool, linen, seaweed, botanicals, that have always been at the core of Irish brands and product manufacturing. Traditional skills remain at the core of Irish craft and design yet there has been a distinct evolution outside the expected where the end products are constantly innovating and contemporary.”
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