Talent old and new will be on show at this summer’s Manchester Furniture Show (15-17 July, Manchester Central).   For the second year running students from Burnley College will show the breadth of their newly learned skills.   Established skills will be on display in the new launches from the main exhibitors in upholstery, cabinet, beds and accessories. 

Running several courses in furniture design and production, Burnley College students can study for a HND in furniture design, diplomas in furniture making and apprenticeships in upholstery and furniture production.  Their stand in the Main Hall will feature examples of the students work including desks, chairs, occasional pieces, screens and dining tables. 

The students come from wide raging backgrounds and include young adults straight from school, young mum’s and young people wanting to develop a new career and retired people looking for a new challenge.  

The ingenuity and diversity of the student’s work proved popular with visitors in 2017 and they received much praise for their flair and imaginative use of materials.  The examples of the student’s work this year are also set to attention grab and inspire with the items on show using mixed materials, funky fabrics and clever techniques.

Established design and production talent will be on display in the form of major new launches from many of the 100+ exhibitors, proving that there is plenty of talent and fresh ideas in the furniture industry.  A quick sample includes Ashley Manor, who will reveal their tightly guarded brand new upholstery collection.  Vogue Beds who will launch 9 new models to add to their collection of UK made beds and bedsteads.  New exhibitor Chelsom, widely renowned for its design credentials, will launch new pieces in their occasional furniture collection.  Westbridge have a dedicated design team and a huge talent for continually developing and perfecting their styles.  They have 3 new models to launch.  International talent will be on display too, with Venjakob launching 3 new living and dining collections at Manchester and Gala Collezione showing the span of its upholstery design and production skills with new fabric and leather models on display.