Gift Focus - Nov/Dec 2018 (Issue 110)

The preparations for the upcoming edition of HOMI, the Fiera Milano lifestyle trade fair, are in full swing. The show will feature its usual range of lifestyle products, including tableware and kitchenware, accessories and furnishings, textiles, fabrics, home fragrance products, promotional articles, gifts and decorative office items. With an extensive and varied offering, awash with new stylistic ideas in a number of sectors, the event promises something for everyone. To promote the most creative innovations, the event will lay out dedicated pathways and spaces to enable visitors to easily find their area of interest. These include the HOMI Creazioni, an area designed to host the premium-quality design and craftsmanship proposals of Italian and international companies that have been selected for their outstanding technical and research abilities. In addition to mass-produced accessories for large-scale market distribution, the show will feature limited-edition pieces and one-of-a-kind designs, characterised by experimentation in design. This edition of HOMI sees the return of the Festivity sector, a vast space dedicated to the Christmas period and items to celebrate special occasions. This section is an integral part of the show and will open two days before the main event to enable specialised buyers to benefit from a closer, more thorough inspection of the product offer. Insights from the 2018 show include an emphasis on minimalism for this Christmas, as well as soft lights and candles. The show promises a vast choice of themed costumes, decorations, lights and dedicated holiday items. Mindful of age-old traditions and new trends, the seasonal selection promises everything necessary for getting stocked up for a year of trade, from Halloween to spring parties and themed birthdays. Returning this January, alongside the many different faces of the exhibition area, are meetings designed to offer operators an overview of new trends and provide retailers with ideas to grow their business. HOMI also offers workshops and talk shows with sector experts, journalists, entrepreneurs and trendsetters. These aim to provide important suggestions to make visits even more useful and engaging. The last HOMI exhibition drew 1,100 exhibitors from 36 countries. With the wide range of offerings and the emphasis on creativity and experimentation, the show is once again set to be one to watch. ITALIAN STYLE Endless experimentation and lifestyle gifts at HOMI this January IN BRIEF Show HOMI Organiser Fiera Milano SpA Where Fiera Milano, Milan When 25 th -28 th January, 2019 23 rd -27 th January for the Festivity sector only Website homimilano.com Twitter @homimilano For more information visit homimilano.com 80 giftfocus