Lina Kanafani takes part in Origin Selection Panel

Hello mint bloggers,

It’s been a while since we’ve posted stories on our blog but we’re getting back on track, slowly but surely!

Our new space is scheduled to open on July 14th at 2 North Terrace, SW3 2BA, with many many surprises, so stay tuned to find out what we have planned for D-Day!

In the mean time, here’s a little update on what has been happening behind the scenes…

Last April, Lina Kanafani, mint’s founder & owner, was asked to take part in the Selection Panel for Origin 2009.

Origin: The London Craft Fair, was launched in 2006, replacing the Chelsea Crafts Fair as the UK’s principal selling event for individual designer-makers. In 2007 there were more than 20,000 visits to Origin and the event attracted 316 exhibitors across two weeks.
Origin is a presentation of the very best of craft talent, be it ceramics, glass, metal, jewellery, furniture, textiles, paper and wood. Exhibitors are a mixture of national and international designermakers, established names and emerging talent and each stand at the event exhibits work of a consistently high standard and demonstrates creativity and technical skill. 
Origin is housed in a purpose built pavilion designed by Ben Kelly and is erected in the Edward J. Safra Courtyard of Somerset House. The pavilion is designed to complement its content with transparent panels which fill the space with light.

The selection process took place over 2 days to select over 300 exhibitors for this year’s fair. The selection panel inclued:

Corinne Julius – trained as a designer before pursuing a career in journalism. She writes regularly on design and contemporary craft for the Evening Standard, as well as broadcasting on Front Row. She is a reporter on BBC Radio’s Woman’s Hour and has twice won the Garden Writer’s Guild Radio Broadcast of the Year.

CJ Lim – has over 20 years experience in the design of the built environment and is listed in Debrett’s People of Today and international Who’s Who for his architecture and academic contributions. In 2004, The Guardian and The Independent newspapers listed him as one of the New British Talents in Architecture  and the lakov Chemikhov Foundation in Moscow included CJ in their top ten young international architects 2007 list. 

Grant Gibson – editor of Crafts Magazine, the first project-based magazine  dedicated to the renaissance that is occurring within the world of crafts. Published on alternate months, Crafts is lavishly illustrated to a high standard.

Lina Kanafani –  Founder and Director of interior design shop mint since 1998. Lina is known for introducing new talents in the Uk and promoting recent graduates. Among her discoveries are the world renown Maarten Baas, Maxim Velcovky, Kiki Van Eijk and Joost Van Bleiswijk.

We’ll be back very soon for more news.

If you need to contact us, you can email us at info@mintshop.co.uk or alternatively, you can call us on 07880 837 548.

The mint team.