Clerkenwell Design Week Showcases Contract Flooring Design Excellence

Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) 2025, held from May 20th–22nd in London’s EC1 district, presented a significant opportunity for the contract flooring industry. The event showcased an extensive array of flooring content, with numerous contract flooring industry companies and organisations prominently featured.

The CFA’s leadership was actively present, with CEO Richard Catt and council members including President Alan McEwan and Treasurer Louise Walters in attendance. Additionally, the United Kingdom Sustainable Flooring Alliance (formerly Carpet Recycling UK) was present, with CEO Cathie Clarke speaking at a panel discussion hosted by Shaw Contract titled ‘Closing the Loop in Real Life’. This session brought together industry experts to explore practical strategies for achieving circularity in commercial flooring and interior design. Other panelists included Nicola Pichel-Juan, Sustainability Manager at SATRA Technology Centre, and Ren DeCherney, Director – Built Environment at Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

The contract flooring industry was well represented at the Slaughtered Lamb, a place for great beer, cocktails, live gigs and good vibes. Familiar brands for the contract flooring industry at Clerkenwell Design Week included CFA members Altro, Bjelin, Burmatex, Forbo, Interface, Junckers, Karndean, Mapei, and Shaw Contract. These manufacturers demonstrated the innovation of their ranges and are a testament to how the contract flooring industry enables forward-thinking flooring design.

The participation of key industry professionals and brands underscores how CDW is becoming an ever increasingly important event for the contract flooring sector, bringing flooring industry colleagues and specifiers together to celebrate innovative design. Comprising a total of 20 exhibition venues presenting more than 300 design brands and makers – as well as a network of over 200 local showrooms hosting a range of product launches, workshops and talks, the award-winning show has firmly established itself as the UK’s leading design festival. Visitors also explored thousands of products, installations, brand activations, topical talks and more. 

Marking its 14th year, the 2025 edition of Clerkenwell Design Week was the largest yet, introducing three new venues in London’s EC1 area: the Charterhouse, a historic medieval site; St Bartholomew the Great, London’s oldest parish church; and Studio Smithfield, a Grade II listed building above Smithfield Market. These additions created a vibrant new district for the festival, offering a blend of contemporary design and historic settings.

Clerkenwell Design Week is set to return for next year on 19th–21st May 2026. As a result of its growing success, it’s certain to be a key date for the contract flooring industry’s annual calendar.

For more information about Clerkenwell Design Week, visit: www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com