The Future of Flooring on Full Display

Each year, Clerkenwell Design Week transforms a small corner of central London into a thriving hub for the architecture and design community. Celebrating its 16th edition this year, the event once again drew thousands of forward-thinking architects, interior designers, developers and specifiers, all gathering in the heart of Clerkenwell, one of the most creative districts in the world, to explore the latest ideas shaping our built environments.

Among the standout brands and innovations presented this year, Karta was proud to exhibit our groundbreaking range of sustainable floors – our Recycled Leather Series.

The three-day event provided a powerful platform for Karta to connect with professionals who, like us, are committed to designing spaces that not only look beautiful, but actively reduce environmental impact. From the overwhelmingly positive feedback to the in-depth conversations about circular design and material innovation, it’s clear that the future of flooring is not just sustainable, it’s already here.

What is Clerkenwell Design Week?

Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) is one of the UK’s leading independent design festivals, taking place annually in London’s Clerkenwell district, an area home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than anywhere else in the world. For three days each May, the streets, showrooms, historic buildings and pop-up venues of Clerkenwell host a curated programme of exhibitions, product launches, workshops, talks, and installations.

It’s where design meets discovery, and where brands with something to say about the future come to be seen.

This year’s CDW ran from May 20th to May 22nd, and welcomed a record number of visitors. Karta was thrilled to be part of the action, surrounded by like-minded innovators from across the built environment sector.

Showcasing Innovation: The Karta Recycled Leather Series

Karta’s debut at Clerkenwell Design Week shone a spotlight on our Recycled Leather Series, a revolutionary flooring innovation made from discarded leather offcuts sourced from the shoe industry. These reclaimed materials are just one part of a multi-layered product design that’s as environmentally progressive as it is visually compelling.

Each board in the Recycled Leather Series contains:

  • A top layer of water-resistant, ultra-durable Karta Plated® coating (AC5 rated) created from aluminium oxide.
  • A hyper-realistic digital print of genuine timber floors from Ted Todd and Woodworks, using biodegradable inks…
  • … printed directly onto a layer of recycled leather material mixed with natural resins. The leather is reclaimed from the textiles industry, which sends 4 billion pounds of waste to landfill each year – diverted by us and crafted into Karta floors.
  • A wood fibre layer for stability, sourced from offcuts from the timber industry such as wood shavings and otherwise unusable branches.
  • A cork backing for improved underfoot comfort, replacing the need for underlay.

The result is a tactile, photo-realistic flooring solution that replicates the texture and appearance of real, natural timber, from aged French oak to rustic English brown, while staying completely free of SVOCs, low in VOCs, and engineered for circularity.

Our click-lock system also means Karta floors are fast to install and require no adhesives or underlay, making them an ideal solution for commercial interiors, hospitality environments, and residential builds alike.

Visiting designers were especially impressed by the lack of pattern repeat across up to 20 boards, creating a floor that not only performs like a premium surface, but looks and feels like one too, all without compromising on eco-credentials or affordability.

An Overwhelmingly Positive Response

From the moment the doors opened on Tuesday morning, the Karta stand was buzzing with visitors. Architects, specifiers, and commercial interior designers came to explore our sample displays, quiz our team on our sourcing methods, and learn how Karta fits into a new generation of eco-conscious materials.

Throughout the week, there was a clear appetite for change, not just in terms of material selection, but in broader conversations about moving beyond the limitations of plastic, embracing circular systems, and building spaces that support both people and planet.

We were proud to speak with practices who are already seeking to integrate Karta into upcoming projects from hospitality interiors to urban residential schemes, and many more who left with our free sample boxes in hand, eager to introduce the Series to their teams and clients.

Sustainability Without Compromise

What really set Karta apart at Clerkenwell was our ability to marry design integrity with sustainable production. Too often, recycled or “green” flooring options feel like a compromise on style, durability, or budget. Karta proves that no such compromise is needed.

From the high-definition realism of our printed grain patterns, to the versatility of our 18 serviceable tones, everything about Karta is designed to meet the creative and commercial demands of today’s projects while actively minimising waste and maximising material reuse.

Our floors are also fully 100% recyclable, allowing them to be reused or repurposed at the end of their lifespan rather than heading to landfill. By working within the principles of a circular economy, Karta is part of a larger shift in how products are manufactured, specified, and ultimately returned to the supply chain.

Looking Ahead

As the final day of CDW came to a close, it was clear that this year’s event had struck a chord. Sustainability is no longer a niche consideration but fast becoming the baseline expectation for any product entering the interior design conversation.

Karta is proud to be leading the charge by creating products that reflect our environmental responsibilities and offering tangible solutions for a market in transition.

Whether you’re looking to specify for a high-footfall commercial project, a contemporary residential build, or a sustainable refurbishment, Karta provides a future-facing solution without aesthetic or functional compromise.

Want to Know More?

If you met us at CDW, thank you! It was a pleasure to speak with so many committed, creative, and sustainability-minded professionals.

If you didn’t make it to the event, it’s not too late to experience Karta. You can: