Exhibition guide

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January Furniture Show will return to the NEC

Established as the largest and most popular furniture and interiors event in the UK calendar, January Furniture Show will return to the NEC in Birmingham from 23-26 January.

As the show’s first return to a live event after more than a year, it promises to reconnect the industry and provide a major buying opportunity. Organiser Clarion Events says it is more excited than ever to return to the NEC to bring the industry’s buyers and suppliers under one roof once again.

The 2022 show promises thousands of new launches, catering to every style and budget. Some key names already confirmed include Duresta, Parker Knoll, Whitemeadow, Westbridge, Forte, Baker, Tetrad, Kettle Interiors, At the Helm, Collins & Hayes, Buoyant, Lebus, Sealy, Sherborne, Silentnight, Hydeline, Carlton, G-Plan Upholstery, Italia Living, Rauch, SITS, Deep Sleep, MLILY, La-Z-Boy, ALF, Alpha Designs, Egoitaliano, Gallery Direct and Pacific Lifestyle.

‘Our main focus is to unite buyers and brands, and we cannot wait to be back at the NEC in January to do just that. We’re working hard behind the scenes to bring the best version of January Furniture Show to date,’ says Russell Rule, January Furniture Show director.

With an exhibitor list of more than 500 UK and international exhibitors, supplying upholstery, cabinet, beds, flooring and interior accessories, January Furniture Show is a one-stop shop for all the latest collections.

‘Not only bringing the whole UK furniture and interiors industry together, the show also gives buyers an unequalled opportunity to see the incoming furnishing trends and select the best of the new. Introducing some exciting new things for 2022 we’re giving attendees access to the latest trend insights and expert advice, with some practical business advice for small businesses from a host of keynote presentations, masterclasses, panel discussions and case-study presentations in our new seminar programme launching in January,’ says Rule. Visit: www.januaryfurnitureshow.com

PHOTO: FLORIAN GRILL

Comeback

imm cologne is returning

Clockwise from above left: Emma, Kare Design, Jan Kath and Wiemann are confirmed for the 2022 show

‘imm cologne is returning in January 2022. It’s time for an exchange, and that’s why we, together with the interior design industry, want people to be able to experience our joint business and lifestyle platform – imm cologne – again,’ says Claire Steinbrück, imm cologne director.

‘As we look ahead to January, we are already excited about discovering sensational innovations first hand, doing business face to face, and finally experiencing all the new launches with all our senses again.’

The desire for an international industry gathering is reflected in the registrations for the show to date. With bookings currently standing at more than 70%, prestigious brands and manufacturers have already made a clear commitment to imm cologne’s restart. With a large proportion of foreign companies among the exhibitors and strong participation from Europe, imm cologne remains the marketplace for international exhibitors.

‘The current level of registrations gives me reason to be optimistic about the future, but there is still some way to go,’ says Matthias Pollmann, Koelnmesse vice president trade fair management. ‘For us and the entire industry, I would like to see even more companies give a clear signal in favour of a strong interior design platform in Europe’s most lucrative market by participating.

‘The new coronavirus regulations and hence the removal of the incidence rate as a yardstick, rising vaccination rates in Germany, Europe and the world, and sophisticated hygiene and safety concepts are all reasons to be hopeful. We feel people’s strong desire for face-toface meetings and conversations.’ Confirmed exhibitors already include: COR, Schramm, Bielefelder Werkstätten, Kettnaker, Flexform, Minotti, Edra, Prostoria, Brühl, Leolux, interlübke, Classicon, Lema, Girsberger, TEAM 7, Janua, FreiFrau, Papadatos, Artisan, Tribu, Thonet, Antonio Lupi, MDF Italia, EMU, LaPalma, Schönbuch, Fermob, Jan Kath, Gloster, Eva Solo, JAB Anstoetz, Montis, Zieta, Calligaris, Decker, Voglauer, Paidi, Kare Design, Möbel Rudolf, Anrei, Polipol, Koinor, Ponsel, Hartmann, Hjort Knudsen, Ekornes, Gwinner, Venjakob, Mobliberica, Theca, Arsenale, Albrecht Jung, Geberit, Hera, Project Floors, Dallmer, Biffar, Basalte, Kesseböhmer, Auping, Dormiente, Emma, Metzeler Schaum, Schlaraffia, Actona, Gautier, Hasena, Maja Möbel, Wiemann, Aquinos and Furninova. The show takes place on 17-23 January. Visit: www.imm-cologne.com

Welcome back

The show is returning after 2020’s interruption

The show is ready to open its doors again

‘After a year without a trade fair, we’re finally looking forward to throwing open our doors again to visitors and exhibitors from our neighbouring countries and the rest of Europe. Over the past two years, it’s become clear that the digital realm can replace many things, but physical trade fairs are still a core part of trade – especially for furniture. Looking, touching and testing out are all so much easier in real life,’ says Lieven Van den Heede, Brussels Furniture Fair general manager.

‘A trade fair brings together all the collections for the coming furniture year in one place, which makes it easy for buyers to make their selection. From the enthusiasm shown by manufacturers and the furniture trade, it’s already clear how much the Brussels Furniture Fair is appreciated and how sorely the fair was missed. Naturally that’s great to hear.

‘So, after a difficult period, we’re finally bringing the furniture trade and

manufacturers back together again. What’s more, the fair will be pleasingly well attended, with a great selection to choose from. Due to its shorter lead time, the fair is a little smaller than usual, but it’s still very much worth a visit. In fact, alongside the familiar exhibitors, there are a striking number of newcomers this year,’ adds Van den Heede.

In order to simplify visitors’ finding their way around – and ensure that the manufacturers meet the right clientele – as always the exhibitors are grouped into distinct segments. Are you looking for contemporary furniture? Then City in Halls 3, 4 and 5 is the place to start. The market leaders of the Belgian furniture industry are proudly on display in Hall 5, and you’ll find strong international manufacturers in Halls 3 and 4.

Looking for something slightly sleeker? Then you’ll find affordable design in Hall 3 in Square. Perhaps the country or industrial styles are more your thing? Then be sure to take a look at Fusion, in Hall 8. In Holland à la Carte in the Patio both styles come together. The common thread here is the Dutch manufacturer.

For sleep specialists there is one-stopshopping in Hall 6. Brussels by Night showcases a variety of Belgian and international manufacturers with both technical innovations and stylish sleep concepts. And finally, for budget-friendly furniture you can visit Mozaïek in Hall 9.

A full list of exhibitors is online and this can be sorted by segment, hall and nationality; there's also the option to create a plan of exhibitors to visit.

‘Armed with your list, you don’t need to miss anything at the fair itself. Shortly before the fair, a clickable floorplan will also be made available online. But it would be a shame to base your visit on your pre-selections alone. Feel free to walk into a stand that you’re not familiar with and allow yourself to be surprised: there are certain to be plenty of new things to discover! And yes, even if you don’t buy, you’re still welcome,’ says Van den Heede.

‘The convivial welcome you’ll receive at the Brussels Furniture Fair will feel reassuringly familiar this year. A range of bars will welcome you with a drink and a snack, offered free of charge. So treat yourself to a delicious cup of coffee or a glass of Belgian beer. A fresh croissant will fill any remaining gap you might have in the morning, and at lunchtime you can enjoy soup, a filled baguette or one of the original small dishes on offer.

‘A visit to Brussels Furniture Fair often goes hand in hand with an overnight stay in our capital city. Belgians love quality food and drink. So it will come as no surprise that on a culinary level, Brussels has a great deal to offer. Not entirely sure where to go? On the Brussels Furniture Fair website you’ll find a selection of our favourite restaurants and bars in all price categories. That’s part and parcel of an enjoyable trade fair visit too.

‘In the passages between the halls, we’d normally be showcasing the style trends. But the pandemic has shaken everything up. We’ve become aware that sustainability is important. So this year, instead of short-term trends, we will be showcasing products that focus on the long-term. These might be designs that use eco-friendly materials, a timeless idea or a circular business model. So get inspired by our exhibitors’ creations as you wander from one hall to another.

‘On Tuesday evening, 9 November, we’ll once again be handing out the Balthazars. These awards are designed to put unusual innovations, original designs or inspiring collections in the spotlight. At our festive ceremony, the winners will each receive a giant bottle of champagne. The champagne will also be flowing freely at this ideal networking opportunity for exhibitors and visitors alike.’ Visit: www.furniturefairbrussels.be

PRACTICALITIES

Where: Brussels Expo

When: 7-10 November 2021, 9am-7pm (on Wednesday till 6 pm)

Transport: Metro Line 6 (Roi Baudouin), get off at Heysel; bus 84 or 88 to Heysel (end of line); tram 7 or 51 to Heysel (end of line); train from Brussels Midi station and Metro 6 (Roi Baudouin), get off at Heysel

Safety: Visitors should pre-register and print their entrance ticket. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination, a recent negative PCR test or approved pharmacy-administered antigen test, or recently recovery from coronavirus, must be provided. Whilea face masks are no longer obligatory, they are still recommended.

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Next horizons

Heimtextil’s trends team has developed four for 2022/2023 Visit: www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

EMPOWERED IDENTITY

Enabling artisanship to sustain culture

Empowered Identity is about creating sustainable cultural connections, renewing artisan sources of inspiration in a collaborative way. Empowering Identity encourages forming new links between past cultures and future generations. Recycled and heritage textiles combined with textile craft techniques such as tufting, embroidered appliqué and cross-stitch are the focus here. Primary colours resemble their colour pigment origins to support the expression of the theme. Sparks of coral and a greyed lilac accompany these primary tones. Multi-coloured usage is key. 1 Reclaiming old Scandinavian textile crafts (klokkestrege) as a contemporary art piece.

Made by Christina Engsig after Asger Jorn. 2 Experimental hand-woven and ikat-dyed kitchen towel and woollen tape pillow by

Wiesi Will 3 Foldable and rollable beeswax baskets by

Wiesi Will. Pillow by Kjellerup Vaeveri and patchwork blanket by Christina Engsig. 4 Scraps of textiles on metal cylinders creating a multi-coloured pattern 5 Exploring the work of Denmark’s textile artisans: Fano scarfs are timeless pieces characterised by historic colours and checks

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Image: Simon Edelberg

7 HYPER NATURE

Reconnect with nature via technology

A digital facilitator of nature’s blueprint, fusing technology and nature for a protopia state and creating a better tomorrow step by step. Responsive materials, technical fibres, fluid patterns and microscopic structure describe materials and textiles for this theme. Bioscience brings inspiration to colours, both the bright and lucid and blurred nuances of green and grey. Reflections and artificial light create new perceptions of natural colours. Coral, salmon and light raspberry are highlights.

1 Sailcloth textile from Middle of Nowhere by Busk A Agesen. Glow textile design by

VIA University College, Research and

Development Centre for Creative Industries and Professionals 2 Microfibrillated cellulose fibres from

Spinnova. Textile design by Maria Hojrup,

VIA University College, VIA Design and

Business 3 Reflective textile design by VIA University

College, Research and Development Centre, as above 4 Textile flower by Julie Bakker of ArtEZ

Hogeschool voor de Kunsten 5 Textile design made with leftover samples and raffia palm ribbon by Christina Engsig 6 Textile design by VIA University College,

Research and Development Centre, as above.

Blue sailcloth textile from Middle of Nowhere by Busk A Agesen.

Beyond Identity addresses the future with messages of hope and soft yet powerful defiance of existing norms, leaving identity in flux. For the world of home interiors and textiles Beyond Identity works with recycled synthetics, vintage silk and satin, natural colours and new cellulose-based fabrics. The latter are formed via an uncontrolled coloration process representing constant flux. The colourscale features a range of pastels, complemented with familiar grey and pale khaki as muted transferral colours.

1 ‘We are all different yet the same’ 2 VIA University College, VIA Design and

Business is researching the scalability of natural dyes. These textiles have been dyed with onion peel and avocado stones and will undergo commercial testing for durability. 3 Raw material from microfibrillated cellulose pulp, used to make Spinnova textiles 4 Natural dyed garments by design student

Emma Norgaard Poulsen, VIA University

College, VIA Design 5 Digital assets are on the rise and a new market for interiors. They can be used in immersive online worlds and traded via non-fungible tokens (NFTs). 6 Flowing and untamed colours as a visualisation of Beyond Identity for interiors 7 Accidental natural colours where the process creates the result

BEYOND IDENTITY

Values more than physical attributes

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DEEP NATURE

Rebalance by relearning

Deep Nature explores our ecosystem’s strategies: it’s our legacy and future all at once. We need to relearn and give in to untamed texture, slow process, natural structures and living colours. Deep Nature is a long-term transformation and relearning process that gives us the ability to rebalance the natural world for a regenerative future. The colour scale for Deep Nature takes the form of a harmonious and soft expression used for untamed patternmaking. Fungal and herbal tones and delicate shades of blue and rouge create a calm, earthy approach.

1 Spinnova wood cellulose-based and cottonblend white textile, hemp stems from

Vittenbjerggard, hemp fibres by VIA University

College, Research and Development Centre for Creative Industries and Professionals 2 Hemp stems from Vittenbjerggard, sailcloth from Middle of Nowhere by Busk A Agesen 3 CGI animation design by Simon Edelberg 4 Textile design using various methods of natural dyeing, stamping and digital printing by Maria Hojrup, VIA University College, VIA

Design and Business 5 Textile design using natural dyes, eco print, sun print and digital printing by VIA University

College, VIA Design and Business 6 Jute fibre cube by Atelier LVDW. Textile design by Floran Plolano of ArtEZ Hogeschool voor de

Kunsten and Spinnova wood cellulose-based and lyocell-blend white textile. 7 Textile design made from leftover samples and raffia palm ribbon by Christina Engsig

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