Craft Focus - Apr/May (Issue 72)

43 PROFILE and Dubai. This year, we also have plans to attend events in Portugal, Lithuania and Poland. What sets you apart from your competitors? We pride ourselves on our service. Our team is experienced and knowledgeable about all our products. We have a good level of stock support in the UK and no minimum order quantities, offering flexibility for our customers. We also provide fast shipping, usually processing each order the same day for next-day delivery. What trends have you noticed recently? As many people try to move away from fast fashion for environmental and ethical reasons, sustainability has become more widely discussed. We have seen an increase in the number of individuals developing an interest in making or repairing their own clothes. We have also noticed key trends across fabrics, with customers moving towards 100 per cent viscose and Cupro linings, which are luxurious yet durable. What’s your take on the British craft industry – would you say the sector is thriving? The craft sector is thriving in the sense that there is more access to inspiration thanks to online blogs and social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram. Crafting has endless possibilities and people sharing their projects provides others with considerable resources when it comes to sourcing and making. However, the internet has also made the world a smaller place, and it is easier than ever to find cheaper products from overseas. With people more likely to purchase from big online retailers offering large quantities and cheaper prices, smaller independent businesses on the high street may suffer. Despite this, we strongly believe quality will always win in the end, and this is reflected across many British industries. What’s coming up next for the company? In these uncertain times for the UK, our priority is to maintain the high quality of our products and good stock levels. We also look forward to meeting existing and potential new customers as we exhibit at trade shows over the coming year. “The craft sector is thriving in the sense that there is more access to inspiration thanks to online blogs and social media sites like P interest and Instagram. Crafting has end less possibilities and people sharing their pr ojects pr ovides others with considerable resources when it comes to sourcing and making.” Berstein & Banleys T: +44 (0)1702 523 315 W: theliningcompany.co.uk