Craftex 2025

Craftex 2025

June 2025

Craftex 2025 has just ended. It is the ideal platform for students to showcase their work in a city centre exhibition, win prizes and gain industry recognition, make industry contacts and create employment opportunities for themselves. With over 50 categories ranging from Furniture to Nail Art, there is a section for everyone. It truly is an inspiring celebration of Scotland’s next generation of makers, creators, and innovators. Organised by the Trades House of Glasgow, in partnership with Glasgow colleges, Craftex is one of the country’s most cherished platforms for showcasing student creativity and craftsmanship in all its forms.

This year, as always, the Trades Hall provided a beautiful setting for the event. The three-day event included the Craftex Awards on the Friday evening. Main Sponsors - Gold: Glencairn Crystal Ltd;  Silver: John Galvin Design Ltd, Slaters Menswear and Carntyne Transport Ltd and Bronze: Abacus Creative Resources and Macfie & Co, with some of the winning students also having their pieces displayed at the V&A in Dundee.

Other sponsors for prizes were: The Incorporation of Wrights, The Incorporation of Tailors, The Incorporation of Weavers, The Incorporation of Gardeners, The Incorporation of Masons, The Incorporation of Bakers, The Incorporation of Coopers, The Incorporation of Bonnetmakers & Dyers and the Incorporation of Cordiners.

Deacon Judy Tayler-Smith and Auld Deacon Stewart Hamiliton, who is the Wrights’ Director of Education, visited Craftex on the morning of 6th June to look at the furniture, wooden musical instruments and glass on display. Of the pieces exhibited, Deacon Judy and Auld Deacon Stewart unanimously selected seven pieces that will form the 2025 Wrights prize winners. A separate article and biographies of the winning students will follow. These prizes will be presented at the Wrights Choosing Dinner on 3rd October, where the students themselves will be present to receive their certificates and prizes, along with displaying their winning creations.

On the evening of the 6th June, Deacon Judy and Consort Simon also attended the very busy  Craftex Awards. Prizes were awarded by Deacon Convener Richard Paterson OBE, The Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren and the new Lord Dean of Guild, Tony McElroy.