Gift Focus - Jul/Aug 2018 (Issue 108)

Formex started in 1960 and is held twice a year, at the beginning of January and at the end of August. The show has about 850 exhibitors per fair, with products within interior design, fashion and accessories and more. The fair brings together national and international buyers, agents, designers, producers and media from all over the interior design and gifts industry. Each fair has about 23,000 visitors and about 650 media representatives. Besides the opportunity to do business, the fair gives visitors information about trends, inspiration and knowledge in the form of exhibitions and lectures. At Formex this autumn, the show is presenting a guest creator: Abigail Ahern. Ahern, a formidable name on the UK interior design scene, will create a themed exhibition in the entrance hall. Internationally acclaimed for her interior design style, Ahern combines dark inky hues, odd shapes, the new and the old, plants and faux botanicals. The title of guest creator is a new initiative from Formex in response to growing international interest in the fair. “We are noticing more international interest in Formex with each passing year, which is fantastic because it fits with our internationalization strategy and confirms that we’re moving in the right direction”, says Christina Olsson, project leader at Formex. Ahern’s inspiring exhibition at the entrance hall will greet the fair’s visitors on their way inside. “It will be highly rewarding to be a part of Formex and do an exhibition in Sweden, which is a first for me,” she says. “I look forward to creating the exhibition hand- in-hand with the seasonal theme, where inside interiors Visit Formex in Stockholm this autumn for leading Nordic design In brief Show Formex Organiser Stockholm International Fairs Where Stockholmsmässan, Sweden When 21 st – 24 th August 2018 Website formex.se Twitter @formex unexpected gatherings form a creative synthesis.” Ahern is one of the hottest names in interiors and design. With her unique combination of deep colors and playful proportions, she has redefined standards in home design, light years away from our conventional expectations of “bright and fresh.” She is admired for her ability to break boundaries and take on darker palettes with a masculine touch, crafting a style that adds magic and mystery to any space. “We truly look forward to our collaboration with Abigail Ahern, who, with her personal sense of style and feel for colour and shape, will create something totally unique for Formex in August,” says Kajsa Falck, operative event manager at Formex. “Visitors will be able to experience British design style, which is more colorful and more daring than its Scandinavian counterpart and pairs well with the autumn theme of Unexpected Gatherings.” During 21 st – 24 th August, there will be the opportunity for visitors to experience a unique collaboration between Sveriges Hantverksråd and Hemslöjden. There will be six masters and journeymen showcasing their exceptional knowledge within crafts. Firewood ceramics, tulle embroidery, linseed oiled oak and much more will be presented with the possibility to try it yourself. Visit Formex this August to experience the crafts and workmanship of the industry’s best sculptors, hand weavers, pottery makers and portrait photographers. 126 giftfocus