Uncover the exceptional with founder Karen Radley at this summer’s Scoop

The spring/summer 24 edition of Scoop on 16-18 July at Olympia West in Kensington marks the womenswear trade show’s 12th anniversary.

With the aim of returning to its roots, this season’s focus is on bringing together almost 250 emerging and established international contemporary womenswear designers and brands that will offer both UK and overseas buyers something new, and give their product offerings a point of difference.

“I’ve always championed the new and given innovators a platform to reach the right people,” says Scoop’s founder and managing director, Karen Radley. “This season’s theme of ‘uncover the exceptional’ isn’t just a marketing ploy: it captures the spirit of Scoop and what drives us each season, which is to curate the best selection of designers for our visitors.

“It also marks our move to west Kensington in London, into an even more exciting space. I can’t wait for you to see what we have in store this season.”

New names of note at this summer’s exhibition include The Seated Queen, East Heritage, Michino Paris, TreBarraBi, Louise Misha, Loom London, Queens of Archive and Nice Things.

Taking place alongside Pure London at the Olympia complex in the west of the city, both events promise to deliver a wealth of business opportunities.

Drapers meets Scoop’s founder and managing director Karen Radley to find out more about the show, and to get the insider’s view on everything you need to know about the new season.

This season Scoop celebrates its 12th anniversary. What can visitors expect from this summer’s edition?

We’ve really gone back to our roots, and we’re offering a beautifully curated show but with the fun, quirky element people love us for. It’s a celebration of the eclectic Scoop ethos but with even more incredible brands from across the globe.

What are you particularly excited about?

Something I’m excited about this season is our focus on resortwear. It’s an increasingly important buy for a lot of our clients and retailers, particularly for the international market, such as Asia-Pacific and the US.

How do you select brands for Scoop?

We’re always looking for a strong point of difference when it comes to potential exhibitors. Is it something a buyer won’t have been exposed to before? Will it add something unusual to the mix? A fresh perspective is always welcome.

What new brands are you looking forward to welcoming this season?

Marchesa Rosa, Michino, Pernille Corydon, Mei Meij and Mes Demoiselles.

What trends are you anticipating?

We’re continuing to see a return to ultra-feminine shapes, colours and prints – a celebration of prettiness and softness.

The theme of this season’s event is “uncover the exceptional”. What does this mean to you?

Uncover the exceptional really encapsulates everything Scoop stands for: offering a curated selection of unusual, forward-thinking designers and lifestyle brands that may not be as well known yet.

Scoop launched more than a decade ago. What are the biggest changes you have seen in the industry since then?

By far the biggest change is in the retail landscape. We’ve seen the rise of the smaller independents that hold their own against some of the more established retailers. It’s also shifted the way people shop. We no longer expect to find everything in one place ­– we enjoy the hunt for unique items across multiple stores.

Why should people visit Scoop this season?

I’ll quote a Spanish exhibitor who said to me recently, “Because it’s Scoop!” I love this sentiment.