Autumn Fair to Champion British and Sustainable Brands
Autumn Fair, the UK’s seasonal showcase for Home, Gift & Fashion will offer an exciting showcase of British and sustainable brands at the next show with handy Made in Britain and Sustainability trails to guide visitors as they navigate the show.
From 1st – 4th September, the NEC in Birmingham will come to life with over 800 brands presenting their latest collections for retailers to add an injection of seasonal newness during retail’s peak buying period. Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director at Autumn Fair says, “The desire for British-made and sustainably produced products continues to grow and are especially popular for the festive gifting season. We’re delighted to see so many brands making a difference and look forward to presenting them to you in September.”
Sustainable products and British creativity abound in the Gift destination, with the trend towards growing or making your own kits continuing. Driven by a mission to lead a global movement toward sustainability and self-sufficiency, Urban Farm-It aspires to positively disrupt the current food production culture. Showing for the first time, visit their stand to discover the wonderful and alternative world of urban farming through accessible education and top quality resources. Established in 2019, the goal has been to simplify “grow your own” practices for consumers by incorporating aquaponics, hydroponics, fungi culture, and permaculture into daily life. Their Mushroom Grow Kits look set to become a top gifting product. Their system is unlike any other mushroom kit on the market and guarantees freshness, quality and high yield.
Also first timers at Autumn Fair, Craft Your Own will showcase their alcohol themed craft kits with tasting samples on offer. Co-founder Nigel Ferrier says, “Autumn Fair this year for us is a huge milestone as it will the first time our new brand – Craft Your Own will be seen at this show. It will also be the first outing of our new range. For years we had produced variations of gin making kits and now we have rum, whisky and vodka joining the family. We believe in tasting is believing. So, on our stand you will be able to taste the results of using our kits. People are always surprised how good the end results are.
“The environment is really important to us. Across the range we have worked hard to ensure we do the minimum damage to the environment. We source all our components including our packaging from UK based companies. All of our literature is printed on FSC approved material using water base inks. We are pleased to say there is no single-use plastic in our kits and we even use compostable bags and glassine envelopes, which is why we were voted the ‘Most Environmental kit on the Market’ by BBC Good Food Magazine.”
For ethically sourced spice kits blended in small batches in the UK, look no further than Spice Kitchen, a family-run spice company founded in 2012 by mother and son duo Shashi and Sanjay Aggarwal. Visit the show to discover all their spice blends including the Gift Of The Year award winning Indian Spice Tin with Silk Sari Wrap – their very first product which comes with a recipe booklet of their favourite curries and Indian dishes, and can be wrapped in a beautiful sari gift-wrap for that extra special touch. Plus, a meal is donated to a child who needs it for every tin bought.
Tilnar Art has been at the forefront of an influx of innovative products that are not only fair trade and handmade but also recyclable, reflecting the growing consumer demand for ethical and sustainable goods. Tilnar Art has been ahead of this curve for nearly 20 years with each product being meticulously handmade, ensuring uniqueness and high quality, while supporting fair wages and safe working conditions for the artisans.
Additionally, their recyclable nature means they can be repurposed or returned to the earth, making them an excellent choice for environmentally conscious consumers. This blend of ethical production and environmental sustainability represents a significant step forward in the creation of products that respect both people and the planet.
Widdop & Co has launched its Now or Never Studios offering personalised products for your business which are all finished in the UK. Select one of over 300 different blank products, then choose the artwork from their partnered talented artists Julia Seaton, Julia Gash, Anderson Design Group, own brands and licenses, or alternatively upload your own artwork. They will also showcase their sustainable Bambino wooden toys.
An exciting mix of men’s grooming brands join the line-up this Autumn including Manley & Moosh. Founded by TV personality Cliff Parisi, Manley & Moosh is launching its innovative men’s skincare range at the show which aims to redefine men’s skincare with high-quality, eco-friendly products for every man who values both his appearance and the planet.
Eco Chic will present its Christmas organic cotton socks at the Autumn Fair. Made from 100% organic cotton, these socks are not only soft and comfortable but also environmentally friendly. Featuring charming holiday patterns such as snowflakes, reindeer, and Santa designs, they add a festive touch to any outfit. For more socks, visit Soctopus, a family owned and operated sock business with a simple mission – to spread joy with every pair you wear or gift with sock styles of every possibility – animals, food and drink, sports, hobbies, flowers, even a licensed range! Their latest venture, the Bamboo Range, is a part of their continued efforts towards sustainability – the socks are made from FSC Certified bamboo and are durable and eco-friendly. The business is also plastic-free, using cardboard and thread for sock hang cards and paper packaging for online orders.
For products that make people smile, visit Pikkii. A friendly bunch of designers and creatives, since 2016 Pikkii have been working their socks off designing and making things that bring people closer together – meaningful gifts and fun games that bring joy and laughter and create special memories. Pikki are introducing some brand-new products at the Autumn Fair, including a new addition to its Gift of the Year Winning Self Care Planter range. Everything you will discover at Pikkii has been invented, designed and made by its brilliantly creative team in their London studio. Products are fun, but always built to last. Everything created is driven by sustainability, from material selection and focus on quality, to avoiding plastic wherever possible.
Home County Co will be launching a host of new products including a brand-new English Heritage home fragrance and toiletries range. Oliver Goundry says, “Winning the licence earlier this year was a very proud moment for the team and working with English Heritage certainly enhances our reputation as a British manufacturer. Our design team have worked closely with EH in order to make sure the products fit a specific brief, ensuring we capture not only the audience of EH but also a much wider market – the products look beautiful and we can’t wait for retailers to interact with them at Autumn Fair.”
Also championing British locally made produce, The Yorkshire Candle Company began developing candles and other home scented products in October 2014. The goal was to create a product which was produced locally, by hand where possible, to use responsibly sourced materials and to take inspiration from the Yorkshire landscape. There are over 130 products in its stock range and they are able to take on small and large scale private label and bespoke production work. Handmade in Stoke-on-Trent, Botanical + Bloom Candle Co curate natural scented home fragrance using carefully selected essential oils, designed to boost moods and provide aromatherapy benefits through the power of botanicals.
In honour of British heritage and sustainability, Selbrae House from Fife in Scotland is proud to introduce its latest collection of framed oak serving boards, handcrafted with locally sourced oak. Each piece is a testament to British craftsmanship and pays homage to three iconic animals of Britain: the majestic stag, the rugged highland cow, and the elegant pheasant. Elevate your culinary experience with Selbrae House and infuse your kitchen with a touch of luxury that resonates with your dedication to a sustainable lifestyle.
Toasted Crumpet offers British-made fine bone China mugs, eye-catching range of beautifully designed stationery and giftware, and luxury greetings cards inspired by the glory of British nature. Amica design and distribute unique handmade and Fairtrade 100% wool felt products specialising in Christmas, Easter & Halloween decorations plus toys and gifts.
Make a beeline for Greeting Cards, Stationery & Wrapping for a vibrant and unique collection of beautifully crafted British and sustainably made greetings and stationery products.
Natural Partners is an established family-run publishing business which specialises in reproducing original artworks as high-quality blank greeting cards. They are currently working with 65 talented artists and photographers, giving a huge portfolio of more than 1,800 card designs, with a vast array of subjects and styles to suit every taste. The company’s Managing Director, Joe Cole, spent more than 25 years working in wildlife conservation, so sustainability is important to him. All their cards are printed in England on carbon neutral presses using FSC certified board produced from sustainably managed forests and they are supplied with envelopes made from recycled materials.
Natural Partners will be displaying all their new cards for 2024, including new ranges by Anne Bardsley, Geoff Beckett, Antonia Dennis and Christopher McColl, along with lots of best-sellers by Nikki Monaghan, Kate Green, Lesley Anne Ivory, Peter M. Hicks, Claire West and many more.
Championing its new sustainable products, The Art File are proud to state that all their greeting cards are printed in the UK, and all of the cards, gift bag and gift wrap board is sustainably sourced, plastic-free and recyclable. They have introduced a number of sustainable alternatives to their products, such as woven paper handles on gift bags, and glassine band options for cards. Their new products always have a sustainable focus, such as using recycled cotton with their tote bag collection and their desk calendars being completely plastic-free.
The 2024 Art File collection contains over 300 brilliant new designs, alongside showcasing their bestselling collections. Two standout card ranges from this year include adorable kid’s card collection Zig Zag Zoo and a photographic The Bigger Picture collection highlighting the importance of fighting climate change and protecting our planet. 10% of the revenue from the sale of this card range will be donated to Cool Earth Action (Cool Earth) which gives cash direct to rainforest communities to fund projects that create choice, tackle the root causes of deforestation, and protect vital carbon sinks.
Designed in the UK and using paper sourced from FSC-certified suppliers, Lola Design will launch its latest note card packs as well as a new peacock stationery collection and peacock wallpaper. Embark on a magical journey with the enchanting Wildlife Botanical Collections. Discover four new collections inspired by Lola’s interior wallpapers which complement existing bee and hummingbird collections, promising a harmonious blend of beauty and nature.
Kids, Toys & Play brands have been edited into the Gift destination and feature a host of British and sustainable brands. Consciously crafted from eco-friendly wood and silicone, Bigjigs Toys’ 2024 collection is a cut above the rest. Rooted in sustainable play, the latest lineup joins the brand’s award-winning Simply Scandi collection and features one-of-a-kind stacking toys, shape-sorting puzzles, sensory activities, educational toys, and pretend play sets.
Liz Ireland, Founder & Managing Director of Bigjigs Toys, said: “A lot of thought and detail has gone into the design and craftsmanship of these new lines. Our talented Product Designers have spent months developing each item from the root idea to a product we know children will love – and Autumn Fair is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the ranges to new and existing customers.”
Look out for Orange Tree Toys, the home of bright and stimulating FSC® – certified (FSC® C167936) wood toys for young children. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2025, is run by two sisters, Anuja Wilson and Lamani Simons. The toys are made from FSC® – certified (FSC® C167936) wood, with no plastic and recyclable packaging.
The Home destination brims full of the most desirable decorative accessories, furniture, textiles made ethically and sustainably. Working with artisans in India to produce pieces using traditional skills and natural materials that nurture traditional ways of life, Indra Importer will present their beautifully handcrafted soft furnishings made using natural recycled materials using only sustainable methods of production.
House of Bhava will showcase their sustainable and ethical homeware including cushion covers made using recycled cotton, natural dyes and ethical labour practices by our block print manufacturer. All pyjamas and throws are made in small batch production, by hand, by artisans to reduce the need for mass production and ensure sustainable and ethical practices are adhered to in every sense of the word.
Bringing recycling to fashion, look out for Gold Trip’s rediscovered vintage range GT Vintage in Moda. A rediscovered treasure trove of new vintage pieces, never worn and taken out of storage and available now for purchase and their first wear. The range was crafted in England in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s and features pieces plated in silver, 18ct and 22ct gold and some designs even feature enamel or vintage Swarovski stone detailing. GT Vintage jewellery also offers the chance to own a piece of jewellery history, with designs that sit easily alongside other vintage or other contemporary designs.
Hailing from St. Ives, look out for the beach-inspired jewellery and accessories from The Sea Shed including their new Aqua Beach bracelets made in the UK from 100% recycled plastic. Established in 2018, the beach inspired collections capture that coastal feeling using locally sourced components where possible, with minimal impact to the environment.
