The Look is Ireland Virtual Showcase brings specialist Celtic brands together with retailer buyers in this exclusive digital exhibition
The long-standing love affair between North America and the Celtic motherlands has only got stronger during lockdown and the market for transatlantic trade is booming as The Look is Ireland virtual showcase brings the best of authentic Celtic brands to market.
Running from April 25-27, this state-of-the-art digital showcase will feature around 100 designer-makers and other suppliers offering traditional Celtic products across a wide range of categories, including:
• Handmade clothing, woven textiles, fashion accessories and knitwear;
• Handcrafted ceramics and beautifully painted pottery;
• Handmade decorative and functional glassware;
• Beautiful traditional and heraldric jewellery and talismans;
• Authentic Celtic themed gifts and tableware from historic local makers;
• Handcrafted leather goods; captivating fragrances and skincare;
• Traditional pewter fit for both historic palaces and domestic home use
• …and so much more from the enchanting Celtic lands.
Usually running annually in North America, The Look is Ireland is a truly unique event which caters to a large but very exacting audience with a passion for all things Celtic. Exhibitors hail from either side of the Atlantic, from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, English Celtic Heartlands, Canada and the United States of America, with buyers coming together from across the same regions.
For makers in this category there is no better place to showcase your wares, at least until global lockdown is finally eased and physical exhibitions are once again fully viable. For buyers the show offers a golden opportunity to source from meticulously source authentic Celtic products from best-in-class designers and much-loved brands you can rely on.
Organiser, Sarah Loughran says: “This virtual event is a wonderful opportunity not to be missed. Our show has been running for the past 25 years now and so, like so many, we have had to adapt to a new way of trading.
“We understand that virtual events are not the same as meeting in person but our digital event is a great stepping stone until we can return to New York next Spring. We want The Look is Ireland Virtual Show to be successful and enjoyable for all involved and have an excellent digital platform which has already been tried and tested on other very successful online events.
“We are delighted that the North American Celtic Trade Association (NACTA), with whom we have an association stretching back several years, is supporting our virtual show as they have done at our physical exhibition every year for the past 20 years.
“Through our Virtual Show we have been able to open our digital doors to many new and well-established exhibitors and buyers who are keen to participate in this unrivalled showcase. Without a doubt there is some very strong transatlantic trading waiting to be done at the end of April! All Irish exhibitors and buyers are welcome to attend our show with the hopes that ‘Click and Collect’ will be permitted in the coming weeks and anyone keen to find out more should sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media”.
The virtual event will be held over three days – April 25-27 – running on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT/ GMT-4) from an incredibly user-friendly platform which will offer great opportunity for social interaction between exhibitors and buyers, along with the super professional product showcase and contact functionality you would expect from an established trade event.
Show organiser, Baldonnell Ltd, was taken over in early 2021 by Sarah Loughran and her father Dominic from Peter Collins of Mullingar Pewter, Mullingar, Co Westmeath and John Branigan of Branigan Weavers, Co Louth. The physical exhibition, formerly known as ‘The Ireland Show’ (Celtic Shows) has run for the past 20 years in the Embassy Suites, Secaucus, NJ, USA. Dominic Loughran has worked with Peter and John for the setup of the show since its inception and for 2021 he and Sarah are running it as a virtual event with a view to returning to America next year when upheaval caused by the pandemic has ended.
There is still time for brands to participate as setting up an online profile – for more information email: celticshowcaseusa@gmail.com
Buyers keen to source from the Celtic category are warmly invited to register via the link (attendance is free, trade only).
Exhibitor images from top to bottom: Hanna Hats, Irish Handmade Glass Company, Anu Celtic Jewellery, Grange Craft, Jerpoint, Erin Knitwear, Mullingar Pewter, Celtic and Co, Fragrances of Ireland, Meab Enamel, Bill Baber Knitwear, Nature’s Craft, Thomas Joseph, Solvar, Studio Donegal, Royal Tara Giftware, Latchfords of Ireland, Traditional Craft, Creative Clay, Ogham Wishes, GM Belt Supplies, LochCarron of Scotland, O’Brien Celtic Gifts, Mucross Weavers, Saol Knitwear, Woods Celtic Jewellery, Barrhead Leather.
