Attire Accessories - Jul/Aug 2019 (Issue 77)

TOP DRAWER REVIEW 71 In advance of the UK’s leading jewellery trade event, we speak to IJL Exhibition Director Katie Morris about what to expect from this year’s show With IJL only weeks away now, how pleased are you with the way the show is shaping up? IJL 2019 is shaping up to be a fantastic show. When it returns to Olympia in London from 1 st -3 rd September, IJL will showcase jewellery, gemstones and services from over 550 UK and international jewellery manufacturers and designers. It is an unrivalled opportunity for the international jewellery trade to network and find out about the latest industry trends and market developments, which will help retailers and suppliers make the right commercial decisions. For buyers, the show is the once-in-a-year chance to shop for the widest range of gems, jewellery, packaging and services, and to find out about the most topical issues in the industry. Have you introduced any new initiatives for IJL 2019, or made any significant changes since last year’s event? IJL will continue with the expanded events programme – Inspire – that began in 2018. This year we will launch a dedicated watches feature, the IJL Watch District, which will have a great opportunity to shop for leading watch brands in a premium location right at the front of the show. There will also be a focus on retail and a bigger bridal showcase. Why is the show so important to attend for independent bridal retailers? IJL is the place to understand consumer trends that will influence purchases across the next 12 months. It is also the place to meet gemstone and jewellery suppliers under one roof. Last year there was discussion about the growth in hair jewellery for weddings, vintage pieces and dark romantic trends. There is also the chance to meet with up and coming designers through IJL’s Bright Young Gems and Kickstarter competitions, which will give bridal retailers something really unique to offer brides. The events include a focus on the retail experience and also social media, giving advice and prompting discussion for luxury retailers. This year celebrates the 10 th  anniversary of KickStart. How did this initiative first come about and how has it evolved over the past decade? Are you planning any special events to mark the occasion? KickStart, created by IJL and trade body the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), has over the past decade helped more than 85 contemporary designers launch their careers and get an all-important foot in the door. KickStart alumni have gone on to have impressive careers in the jewellery sector. We will be running a special Kickstarters event on the IJL Catwalk during the three days. Our KickStart programme is a brilliant platform for ambitious jewellery designers looking to launch their careers. The programme provides emerging designers with an invaluable experience – our mentoring initiatives and access to IJL’s trade-only audience provides insider market knowledge and can open the door to fantastic new opportunities. For the 10 th edition of KickStart, we are looking back at the winners from the past decade, and we are so proud to see how successful the KickStart alumni have become. INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY LONDON IJL P Who: International Jewellery London (IJL) jewellerylondon.com Where: Olympia, London When: 1 st -3 rd September, 2019