From handcrafted homeware and sustainable fashion accessories to innovative gift brands and contemporary design, 60 of London’s most exciting independent businesses are preparing to represent the capital at Autumn Fair, the UK’s leading retail trade exhibition, taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 6–9 September.
Bringing together more than 20,000 buyers and over 1,250 brands, Autumn Fair provides a national platform for independent businesses to connect with retailers from across the UK and beyond. For London’s exhibitors, the event offers an opportunity to showcase the creativity, diversity and entrepreneurial spirit that continues to make the capital one of the world’s leading centres for design-led retail.
Among the London businesses exhibiting are Big Potato Games, Big Metal, Barclays, Bodyenrich, Atolia Designs, Amber Bright Creations, and Baruch Enterprises.
Award-winning gift company Bubblegum Stuff, founded in East London by The Apprentice finalist Courtney Wood, continues to push the boundaries of product innovation with its playful collection of novelty gifts, games and lifestyle accessories. It will unveil its eagerly anticipated HARIBO Squishiez range at Autumn Fair, inspired by a chance encounter outside its offices.
Courtney was collecting the post when he noticed children from a neighbouring primary school carrying two playground favourites – squishy toys and bags of HARIBO Starmix. The simple observation sparked the idea to transform HARIBO’s iconic sweets into a range of squeezable collectables. Launching at Autumn Fair, the collection features Goldbears, Happy Cherries, Fried Eggs, Cola Bottles, Friendship Rings and Love Hearts in a fun, palm-sized format. Courtney Wood said: “We’re super excited to be showcasing our ready-to-launch HARIBO Squishiez range at Autumn Fair. Squishy fans and HARIBO lovers are about to get every Starmix variety, plus the iconic Happy Cherries, in a super-squeezable, super-satisfying format.”
Based in South Wimbledon, Gift Republic has become a leader in the gift industry, dedicated to producing fun and innovative gifts that inject a bit of extraordinary into the ordinary – from a Bad Santa Stress Reliever to a Cat Chia Planter, a host of new collections will launch at Autumn Fair.
Song Art & Craft will make its Autumn Fair debut with a distinctive collection of handcrafted lampworked glass flowers, curated ceramics and decorative homeware, combining East Asian craftsmanship with playful contemporary design. Jinjin Zhang said; “Being based in East London has allowed us to grow within a diverse and highly creative community. At Autumn Fair, we’re excited to present our handmade glass flower collection, combining traditional lampworking techniques with playful contemporary design to create distinctive, long-lasting flowers for gifting, interiors and floral styling.”
Coaster House, a London-based publisher renowned for its distinctive greeting cards and stationery collections, combining striking illustration with contemporary design to create products that resonate with modern consumers.
Founded in 2017, FRUU is a design-led beauty and gifting brand creating colourful cosmetics, bath and home fragrance products powered by upcycled wonky fruits. Designed and made in London, its certified vegan and cruelty-free range combines playful storytelling, considered design and sustainable self-care for modern gifting.
Nova of London, one of the UK’s leading women’s fashion wholesalers, will also be exhibiting at Autumn Fair. Established in 1981 and based in East London, the company designs and supplies an extensive collection of trend-led women’s clothing, from dresses and knitwear to outerwear and denim. With an in-house London design team creating original, affordable collections for retailers around the world, Nova of London continues to be a go-to destination for fashion buyers seeking commercially successful, on-trend styles.
London-based jewellery brand Gold Trip, founded by Michelle Gay in 2021, will unveil an all-new collection of beaded bags and accessories, complementing its demi-fine jewellery and hair accessories inspired by Michelle’s lifelong love of jewellery, travel and design.
Eco-conscious lifestyle brand Eco Chic will be showcasing its latest range of reusable bags, travel accessories and sustainable lifestyle products. The company has built an international reputation for creating practical products that help consumers reduce single-use plastics without compromising on style.
The breadth of London businesses exhibiting reflects the capital’s position as one of the UK’s most vibrant centres for creative enterprise, with independent brands continuing to drive innovation across gifting, homeware, fashion and lifestyle.
Matthew Mein, Event Director for Autumn Fair said; “London has always been home to some of the UK’s most innovative retail businesses. What makes the city’s brands so exciting is the sheer diversity of ideas, cultures and creativity they bring to the market. From established companies exporting around the world to emerging designers launching their very first collections, London continues to produce businesses that set trends rather than follow them. Autumn Fair gives these businesses the opportunity to meet thousands of serious retail buyers over four days, helping them secure new stockists, build relationships and grow their brands nationally and internationally.”
Autumn Fair comes at a time when independent retailers are increasingly looking for products with authentic stories and distinctive design. According to the latest Voices of Retail report produced by Spring & Autumn Fair in partnership with Faire, consumers are increasingly choosing independent retailers for their personality, originality and unique product ranges, creating growing demand for innovative brands with strong identities.
For London’s exhibitors, the show provides an opportunity to meet buyers from department stores, independent retailers, garden centres, museum shops, online retailers and destination stores, many of whom attend specifically to discover new brands unavailable elsewhere.
Alongside established names, Autumn Fair also provides a platform for emerging businesses launching innovative products and sustainable collections, reinforcing London’s reputation as a hub for creative entrepreneurship.
Autumn Fair takes place at the NEC Birmingham from 6–9 September 2026, bringing together over 1,250 exhibitors, more than 500,000 products and in excess of 20,000 buyers for four days of buying, networking and industry insight.
London-based Exhibitors include:
Amber Bright Creations; Atolia Designs; BTL Diffusion UK; Barclays; Baruch Enterprises; Big Metal; Big Potato Games; Bodyenrich; Bubblegum Stuff; Comgo Crafts; Clockwork Soldier; Cosyfish; D&X; Eco Chic; Elie Beaumont; Eton Watches; FRUU; Fast Forwarding; G-7 Clothing; Gift Republic; Gini London; Gold Trip; Gracee Jewellery Limited; Hello Fresh; Henney Bear; Home Fragrance Co; Isles & Stars; Light Style London; Long & Son; Lotusfeet; Love Rocks; Luxtyle; Malini; Manhattan Portage; Miss Sparrow; Nila Parmar Designs; Nova Of London; Phiora House; Primehide; Professor Puzzle; Rex International; Song Art&Craft; Siren Silver; Tokeii; Tails.Com; Tipsy Vanilla; Troop London; Unique Home London Limited; Victorian 925 Silver; WYD; and Winning Moves.