In the Making: An exhibition with Material Matters

tp bennett and The Furniture Practice have partnered to bring a curated journey to this year’s Material Matters Fair, 18-21 September, that investigates the ever-evolving relationship between materials, geography, people and supply chains for commercial products. In The Making will be set in room 12 of Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf and will shed light for the first time on the dedication and commitment both humans and nature have given to bring these products to market.

Designed and curated by the sustainability team at tp bennett in collaboration with The Furniture Practice, guests will be guided through a series of zones featuring furniture, finishes and products, starting with an introduction to the amazing and ever-evolving world of raw materials, geography, people and supply chains and culminating with an interactive space for reflection. Narrative zones will bring about supply chain transparency by looking at components & materials, design process, heritage & social, product evolution, and makers & making.

The roster of 13 international exhibitors includes the UK-debut of Australian furniture manufacturer, Reddie, who will showcase the beauty and desirability of waste materials whilst also highlighting the expertise and craftmanship found overseas and the possibility for hyperlocal supply chains. At the heart of the room will be a central storytelling space where demonstrations, inspiration sessions and panel discussions will take place. The programme scheduled over the course of the festival includes a demonstration from UK manufacturer, Modus, of their newly redeveloped Belt stool and its design for disassembly, a talk by Spanish furniture practice, SURU, about their commitment to circular design, and more to be announced over the coming weeks.

The In the Making exhibition space will also be home to the festival bar which has been created in conjunction with Smile Plastics using pre- and post-consumer waste with the story of the products used explained alongside. It will be a space for exhibitors and festivalgoers to come together to discuss, exchange and foster new ideas over a drink.

Tp bennett and The Furniture Practice hope that by sharing the stories of these commercial products visitors to In the Making take away a greater appreciation of how these items have come to exist and how we can value them for years to come.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see, learn, and connect with suppliers, makers, and industry friends. Entry to the fair is free for trade, but advance registration is essential, find out more and register here.

Exhibitors include: Arper, Camira x SAS, Florim, Fredericia, Humanscale, Mark Product x Bisley, Modus, Normann Copenhagen, Solus Ceramics, Reddie, Smile Plastics, Suru, and Atrium.