Scottish textile companies and designers fly the flag in New York

TEN Scottish textiles companies and designers will be building on Scotland’s reputation as a leading producer of luxurious textiles in exciting and innovative designs for contemporary living when they exhibit at the prestigious 21st Annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) being held in New York from 16-19 May.


The fair is a showcase for international modern design and the world’s leading designers and manufacturers to show their latest wares to an international market for today’s living. The fair is expected to attract over 26,000 visitors which are made up of architects, interior designers, retailers, manufacturers and developers. With international attendance expected to increase by 7% on 2008 figures, attendees will include visitors from as far as field as the Caribbean, Canada and America, as well as Central America and South America.

Scottish Enterprise and Scotland Development International (SDI) is organising the Scottish Pavilion within the fair, and will showcase work from designers and manufacturers, many working in collaboration. They include Timorous Beasties, Glasgow School of Art - Centre for Advanced Textiles, The Plan, Begg Scotland, Green Grove Weavers, Morton Young and Borland, Johnstons of Elgin, Alexanders of Scotland and The Isle Mill. Building on this, SDI have arranged for additional press and buyers to attend the show to meet the Scottish companies directly.


And in addition to the fair, a Globalscot dinner will be held on 18 May, when textiles, media and hotel chain Globalscots will come together to network and discuss the textile industry.

Scottish Enterprise chief operating officer and Scottish Development International chief executive Lena Wilson said: “It is Scottish Enterprise’s role to help companies internationalise and access global markets. The ICFF presents Scottish designers and manufacturers with a unique opportunity to exhibit and showcase their latest products building on Scotland’s highly acclaimed reputation for producing the best quality textiles internationally. The fair will allow buyers to meet the designers and manufacturers face to face to discuss any requirements and developments and to network.”


Amongst the firms attending id Ayr-based Begg Scotland. Begg Scotland offer luxury accessories for lifestyle and the home. Dating back to 1869, they have been making woven accessories blending vintage and modern to create a stunning new collection of throws using only the finest natural fibres. Their new collection uses the finest yarns of 100% cashmere, soft lamb’s wool and angora and is offered in a wide variety of plain shades, stunning checks, traditional tartans, geometric jacquards and floral prints.

About Scottish Enterprise

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s main enterprise, innovation and investment agency. Working in partnership with industry, academia and the public sector, SE aims to help make Scotland a place where business can thrive and key industries can be competitive. Its focus is to help businesses grow, encourage greater innovation and create the right conditions for companies to access property, markets and finance to increase productivity and increase Scotland’s ability to compete internationally.

LINKS:

International Contemporary Furniture Fair

Scottish Enterprise

Scottish Development International

Begg Scotland

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Start of new flat racing season beckons at Ayr Racecourse

THE curtain comes up on an exciting flat season at Ayr Racecourse on Thursday 28 May with a seven race card marking the first of 16 fixtures which will run through until 31 October at the Craigie track.

With William Hill sponsoring this year’s William Hill (Ayr) Gold Cup festival for the first time there is plenty to look forward to and the 28 May meeting will also be sponsored by the bookmaking giant.


[Pictured: Regal Parade winning last year’s Gold Cup at Ayr Racecourse.]

The William Hill Raceday comes under orders at 2.20pm with a two year-old maiden race over six furlongs while there are two very competitive looking handicaps each carrying £9000 in prize money - a one mile two furlong race and a six furlong sprint.

The final race on the card is at 5.20pm - the Turnberry Holiday Park Handicap over five furlongs for three year-olds.

Paul Hanagan and Jim Goldie will be defending their respective titles as top jockey and trainer and both are certain to be among the winners again.


Looking ahead to the new season Ayr Racecourse chairman Alan Macdonald (pictured above) said: “After the huge success of our Coral Scottish Grand National meeting, we are all looking forward to the start of the flat season.

“It’s great to have long standing sponsors like Giles Insurance, totesport, Laundry Cottage Stud, Wallaces Express, the Scottish Sun and John Smith’s on board again, and it’s also gratifying to welcome William Hill on board for what I’m sure will be a fruitful association with the Ayr Gold Cup.

“Our second Saints and Sinners Night promises to be even more successful than our first one last year, and we have Ladies Night and Ladies Day to look forward to as well. We had great crowds in 2008, and I’m sure we will emulate those this year.”

The William Hill (Ayr) Gold Cup Festival is held from Thursday 17 September until Saturday 19 September.

For more information on race days at Ayr or to book advance tickets call 0870-8505666 or go online at www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk

There are discount available for tickets booked seven or more days in advance.

LINKS:

allmediascotland Elite Ayrshire Business Circle PR-GB ClickPress UKPRWire OpenPress PressBox Fame Publicity

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There are currently 512 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

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Who needs coal, gas, oil, bio-mass?

* The energy arriving on the earth from the sun in a single year is 500,000,000,000,000,000 kWh, - which is half a million trillion kWh in current American jargon.

* That is equivalent to 1,000 times our entire world consumption - enough energy arrives from the sun in 8 hours of 1 day to provide all the energy we use in 1 year.

Renewable energy is one of the topics that will be covered by John Quinton and Ken Wales, directors of William Skinner & Son at the next meeting of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

This takes place at 8am (buffet breakfast served) on Thursday 21 May 2009 in the boardroom of the Clydesdale Bank Financial Solutions Centre, Alloway Street in Ayr.

William Skinner & Son are building contractors with their head office in Ayr and a southern division near Cambridge, England.

As part of a programme of diversification and development which builds on and extends their long established range of skills, William Skinner have entered the renewable energy market with emphasis on the design and installation of solar hot water and climate refuge systems. They have good knowledge of the whole renewable energy market and can advise on other systems such as wind generation of electricity. Quite often a combination of systems is advantageous and Skinners can join forces with other specialists to provide a composite solution.


But Skinners' more traditional skills and work will not be neglected.

Operating throughout the UK, much of William Skinner’s work is in the retail sector where they work for a broad range of prestigious clients. They also operate in the commercial, leisure, industrial and public sectors.

Skinners have also made a very successful entrance into the bespoke and custom built tree house market.

www.williamskinner.co.uk

This promises to be an interesting, informative and entertaining presentation, and there will be the usual ample time for informal networking before and after. A buffet breakfast will be served.

Guests will be made most welcome.

For catering purposes, please e-mail FamePublicity@aol.com to confirm attendance, or contact:

Murdoch MacDonald
Elite Ayrshire Business Circle
Registered Office
Dalblair House
46 Dalblair Road
Ayr KA7 1UQ
Ayrshire, Scotland

Telephone: 01292 281498
Mobile: 07833 667322
Web: www.EliteAyrshire.com

LINK:

allmediascotland

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