Published on : Wednesday, April 5, 2017
The International Furniture Fair Singapore concluded with resounding success after an eventful four-day run from March 9 to 12, 2017 at the Singapore EXPO. Along with co-located shows – the 34th ASEAN Furniture Show and the inaugural NOOK Asia – the highly-anticipated international trade event attracted 21,966 trade professionals from the furniture, interior design, and furnishing industries – including 87 buying delegations from 92 countries.
The 2017 edition featured a diverse international portfolio of 428 exhibiting companies from 35 countries. Together, the participating companies put up an impressive showcase of creative and design-rich pieces that received widespread recognition from industry buyers. The slew of positive sentiments received on the show floor is a testament to visitors’ satisfaction over the quality content presented and their overall show experience, emphasising the event’s increasing importance in the eyes of industry professionals.
Mr Ernie Koh, Chairman of IFFS Pte Ltd., shared, “From a business point of view, IFFS has to redefine itself in order to remain relevant and sustainable, and to continue serving the international furniture ecosystem as a premier sourcing platform. The quality content was condensed into four power-packed halls this year, and we invigorated the show with more feature areas, design-centric displays, and knowledge-sharing seminars. Through these initiatives, we successfully delivered a content-driven show that focuses on the quality of brands and overall experience, one that offers a more conducive and seamless environment for visitors.”
Business aside, visitors were treated to a visual extravaganza as they strolled across the packed fairgrounds in search of show-stopping creations. True to its promise of delivering a content-rich show that inspires and sparks conversations, IFFS 2017 provided the industry with a feast for the senses with a variety of immersive, engaging, and high-quality showcases that featured well-designed furniture.
Popular feature areas like The White House, conceptualised by award-winning Singaporean designer, Nathan Yong, and The Italian Hospitality, curated by Italian design master, Giulio Cappellini, easily captured visitors’ attention with their stylish and sleek presentations.
For visitors looking to complement their furniture-sourcing needs with lifestyle furnishing and design-centric decorative pieces, IFFS offered a ‘one-stop solution’ with NOOK Asia, the newly-introduced co-located show that focuses on artisanal crafts from around the world.
Other noteworthy attractions included the EU Business Avenues in South East Asia Pavilion, 12 Country Pavilions, Virtual Reality Zone, Upholstery Pavilion, The Outdoor Boulevard, as well as a series of 12 complimentary Design x Business Seminars.
While the industry stalwarts drew in the crowds, up-and-coming designers were also given the valuable opportunity to showcase their works to a global audience and gain greater exposure at IFFS. Of special mention was the Design STARS Showcase, a collective display of works presented by 10 design talents from around the globe.
Another design showcase that garnered much attention was the Furniture Design Award (FDA) Showcase that consists of competition entries submitted by the 11 finalists of FDA 2017. Organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council, the FDA is a reputable platform to uncover budding design talents. The 2017 winning design is the Yokan Chair – a miniature chair inspired by a traditional Japanese dessert – by Hiroki Sakamoto.
Koh concludes, “Ultimately, we want IFFS to not just be an internationally-renowned sourcing platform, but one that ignites conversations, and forges connections between exhibitors and buyers as well. Through nurturing a vibrant network of relationships, we hope that the impact and influence of IFFS can be felt throughout the year, and not just during show days.”
Tags: Asean Furniture Show, design, exhibition, exhibitors, fair, furniture, IFFS, interior design, international furniture fair singapore, nook asia, show, showcase, visitors
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