HOMI SPECIAL EDITION REPORTS SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS HOMI Special Edition, the trade fair for furnishings and home accessories for contemporary living, ended on a positive note, hosting 352 brands, 40 percent from 27 different foreign countries. Alongside the variety of products offered throughout the exhibition, there was an events programme packed with in-depth discussions, workshops and talks focusing on the main themes of interest to the HOMI community, organised in collaboration with institutions and industry experts. The themes were diverse, ranging from the retail experience to living spaces and trade as well as materials for an all-round reflection on the home experience and new perspectives on stores. Ideas and insights that received excellent feedback, ensuring not only added value for the event but also an excellent opportunity for discussion among visitors and professionals. In terms of trends for 2022, sharing the spotlight with creativity are craftsmanship, ‘Made-in’ and colour: from bright, happy tones evocative of summer vibes, to shades inspired by nature, characterised by the chromatic sobriety of the earth. Noteworthy examples of this are kitchenware collections designed by Raffaello Galiotto for Blimplus, the pastel-coloured cookware by Cookut that combines steel and wood, the desk accessories by Toscana Carte Pregiate and the latest textile and linen products for the home in neutral colours presented by Chez-Moi. Colour and ceramics were another common theme of the exhibition: from reinterpretations by Rebith, to products from the Portuguese artisans of Casafina and the handicrafts by MV% Ceramics Design, to name but a few. The focus on sustainability is clearer than ever before with intriguing uses of recycled materials and great commitment to solidarity, without losing sight of smart ideas such as AiT Smart Products from a project by Maurizio Orrico. Ecosistema’s products also demonstrate the focus on quality and the use of sustainable materials, from pots and pans in steel alloy that guarantee energy saving to fully biodegradable lamps. The dutiful awareness of sustainability is exemplified by the first edition of the Ki-Life Sustainable Award 2022. The new prize created and promoted by Kiki Lab, in collaboration with HOMI Fiera Milano, was featured in a large space inside Pavilion 9 reserved for Italian and international companies that have developed products or projects with a view to Sustainable Development, Environmental Respect and Social Responsibility. Excellent results were achieved “both in terms of the number of applications received and the quality of the projects, largely from Italy but also from other countries including Spain, Germany and Finland,” as underlined by Fabrizio Valente, Founder and Manager of Kiki Lab. Valente awarded the winners: Jute&Co in Environment, Elena Scarlata in Local Area, Frolla for Social and Grestel - Costa Nova for all-round Sustainability. A HOMI Special Edition centred on product customisation and the search for an exclusive, branded project, with spaces that are increasingly fluid and adaptable to demand. Next edition: fieramilano (Rho) from 16 to 19 September 2022. www.homimilano.com Suppliers and visitors celebrate being back at Scotland’s Trade Fair In hot sunshine, rather than Glasgow’s usual inclement January weather, Scotland’s Trade Fair returned to the SEC in Glasgow with a fantastic range of suppliers and products. Buyers were delighted with the quality of products, the huge number of new suppliers and the general level of innovation and originality of products. And being back at an in-person Show was widely welcomed by visitors as they could see and touch the products and connect with the suppliers in person. Yvonne Carr, Visit Scotland Buyer said: “This Show is so important for us to source and support Scottish producers and we have loved seeing so many new companies. The Show is just not long enough for us to complete all our buying!” Visitor attendance was down on previous years, primarily due to the high rate of Covid infection in Scotland, the postponement of the show from January to March, and the clash with Mother’s Day. However, the mood at the Show was upbeat with most exhibitors glad about the quality of the buyers and enjoying the chance to re-connect with fellow suppliers and see old and new customers in person. Archie Macdonald from The Highland Soap Company said: “The Show has been good for us with many orders but most of all we have enjoyed seeing many customers whom we have not seen for two years. If we hadn’t been here we would have missed many great opportunities.” The Best Product Awards, sponsored by The Giftware Association, were judged on the opening morning of the Show by retail experts Linda Birkbeck from House of Bruar, Catherine McGurk from Glasgow Museums and Sarah Ward, Chief Exec of the Giftware Association. They were impressed with the quality of many of the entries, especially from newer younger companies. Linda Birkbeck said: “The winners naturally stood out from the rest with quality, desirable products that retailers would want to stock. Many showed real innovation in what they were producing which is so good to see.” Show Director Mark Saunders said: “Despite numerous challenges we were delighted to be able to host Scotland’s Trade Fair once again. A lower attendance was expected but we were pleased that the buyers who attended were all ordering confidently for the year ahead even if the economic outlook remains challenging.” www.scotlandstradefairs.com 21 NEWS & EVENTS
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