British icons unite at Material Matters during London Design Festival 2024

Material Matters brings together over 40 world-leading brands, designers, makers, and manufacturers. Bisley and MARK have been invited as part of the Room 12 exhibit, curated by designers, TP Bennett, in celebration of the importance of material intelligence in architecture and design. Their installation focuses on the social aspect of the circular economy – how good jobs and skills, along with building strong manufacturing and creative communities are essential for a sustainable future.

As part of their collaborative exhibit, MARK will showcase Flow, their innovative foam-free modular seating range and Bisley will present Outline, our popular zoning range, using the steel frame structure to aid in material storytelling. The exhibit will delve into the rich tapestry of skills and craftsmanship that are so deeply rooted in the Cornish and South Wales communities, where these products are created, demonstrating social and economic value of true British manufacturing.

Hosted at Bargehouse, a raw, post-industrial space adjacent to the iconic Oxo Tower building on Southbank, Material Matters will span 5 floors with MARK x Bisley located on floor 3. They will be in the company of other curated material-led design brands. Leaning into the emphasis on materials, the exhibit will feature an in-depth exploration of the plant-based alternatives to synthetic foams that MARK now use in their soft seating designs.

Kieran Keohane, Compliance and Sustainability Officer at Bisley expressed; “We are thrilled to be part of this year’s Material Matters event, giving us an excellent platform to communicate Bisley’s commitment to sustainability, and our new relationship with MARK, who not only share many of our core values regarding people and the community, but also our belief in the importance of collaboration when looking to create a more sustainable future.”

Anna Hart, Designer and Co-founder of MARK said; "There are so many parallels between MARK and Bisley, particularly in our commitment to British manufacturing and the importance in both working and social relationships with our local community — a legacy that Bisley has upheld for decades. We wanted to celebrate this and demonstrate that sustainability is about people and places as well as the materials we use.”

In the lead-up to the show, MARK and Bisley will share the stories behind their brands on social channels, offering behind-the-scenes insights into the manufacturing of each product, as well as their manufacturing and social values.

Visit Bisley and MARK Product at Material Matters at the Oxo Tower Wharf from Wednesday, September 18th to Saturday, September 21st, open daily from 10am to 6pm, for an inspiring journey into the future of sustainable design and manufacturing.