Orders of more than €20m expected at design and craft Showcase 2012

ORDERS of more than €20 million are expected to be placed during Showcase 2012, a trade event featuring 350 of the country’s leading designers, manufacturers and craftspeople.

Showcase — which takes place in the RDS (Main Hall) from January 22 to 25 2012 — is expected to attract more than 5,500 retail buyers from Ireland and over 17 countries around the world including Britain, North America, continental Europe and Japan, all seeking out the best of Irish creativity. Online bookings are already up over 70% compared with last year.

A new addition will be Showcase Fashion 2012, a bold presentation of the best of Irish fashion with a heritage slant from Irish designer-makers and manufacturers. A dramatic runway show in the RDS will unveil selected work from the latest collections by Ireland’s leading and up-and-coming fashion creatives.