Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - Page number 64 - September/October 2021

64 Head to HOMI HOMI - the Lifestyle Trade Fair that takes place in Milan this September - boasts a renewed format and strong focus on Italian design The event dedicated to the home universe is heading back to a physical event at Fieramilano (Rho) for a new edition that will be held simultaneously with the “Supersalone.” The home is increasingly becoming the core of people’s daily lives. This has been shown by both the growing focus and spending capacity in all its satellite sectors, with creativity being more and more centered on the development of human-scale models, the production of sustainable products, and projects on how to integrate different environments, as all this has become a need more than a priority. This is the starting point of the new edition of HOMI – The Lifestyle Trade Fair, scheduled to take place at Fieramilano (Rho) from 5 th to 8 th September with a dynamic and renewed format. New trends will be explored, ranging from design objects to Italian and international crafts, from fragrances to textiles, from furnishing decorations to complements and accessories for the table and kitchen, to gifting. The show will take place as a physical event and will be held simultaneously with the Supersalone – the special event of 2021 that will include the Salone del Mobile and the Milano Design Week. A much-awaited event that many international buyers of the sector have decided to attend due to the opportunities to meet and build long-term partnerships, the extensive selection of goods on display, as well as being a place where trends and new products can be discovered. The international vocation of the event is also supported and promoted by ICE, the agency that promotes Italian companies abroad. The program intends to provide significant opportunities for participants – the most important buyers of the sector – and highlights once again the leading role of the Italian market, one of the most active and growing in the industry. In this versatile scenario, the format of HOMI, The Lifestyle Fair, has been specifically designed to accompany the different types of visitors in the exploration and experience of the many special projects created to enhance the exhibition. It all starts with the two business districts around which the event was organised, Home Boutique&Design and Retail Inspiration. Home Boutique&Design is the area dedicated to quality manufacturing, characterised by the strong identity of brands and their products, which are presented to meet the innovation and originality requirements of department stores and research shops, as well as to offer new inspiration to designers and home hospitality operators. Home Boutique&Design includes the Creazioni Italiane project, dedicated to Made in Italy craftsmanship and design, and the World Designers area, where a selection of products made by the best international designers is on show. The second district is targeted to a more specialised public, that of manufacturers and distributors, and has two identity areas: Fragrance Inspiration and Textile Inspiration. The intention is to combine their products to create a carefully selected offer for the specialised stores and home and gift shops. A new feature of this edition, designed with the aim of providing visitors with the most comprehensive service possible, will be eight themed itineraries created within two main areas, one relating to Christmas, with new products and design trends to celebrate this important part of the year, and the other called Think Local – a project dedicated to the European businesses that, in addition to presenting their own lines, develop products under the distributor’s brand or for other brands. A specific space called Promotional will be devoted to loyalty campaign and prize competition products, while Home Hospitality will focus on the home hospitality segment, involving boutique hotels, B&B’s, bistros and homes. Meanwhile Green Home will display the design and sustainability of home décor, furnishings and gifts. Designers, architects and interior designers will be able to meet in the area dedicated to Interior Design, where the renovation industry at large will be the focus of attention. Innovative start- ups and SMEs will have their dedicated container in Homi Next and PED will explore the world of small electrical appliances, from luxury items to products designed ad hoc for promotional activities. A further business synergy will be created thanks to the possibility for HOMI to host the special edition of PTE- PromotionTrade Exhibition (Fieramilano, 7 th and 8 th September). The event, dedicated to manufacturers, importers and distributors in the promotional world, and to printing and personalisation professionals, presents a complementary product offer, particularly as regards the HOMI areas dedicated to the world of promotional products. HOMI will therefore confirm its role as a meeting place and opportunity for industry professionals, and as a space for experimentation and creativity for those who wish to understand the evolution of habits and lifestyles in Italy and worldwide, identifying home-living trends in advance. This edition will include a calendar of talks dedicated to architects and professionals of the sector, organised in collaboration with the prestigious magazine Platform Architecture and Design, to promote discussion and exchanges on the most important current issues for the industry. The meeting program, accredited by the Ordine degli Architetti of Milan, will allow participants to receive training credits. Finally, sharing the exhibition project with the most important trade associations will ensure that its contents and ideas are in line with the needs of businesses and operators. HOMI is taking place in the maximum safety conditions – exhibitors and visitors will be welcomed according to a strict safebusiness protocol, developed with a team of experts, aimed to ensure the smoothest and most correct implementation of all the necessary health protection measures. IN BRIEF: When: 5 th -8 th September, 2021 Where: Fieramilano, Milan Who: www.homimilano.com