The NY NOW trade fair is one of the biggest biannual shows in the gift and homeware industry. For the 2016 Summer edition, taking place from August 20-24, the show will once again highlight innovative and sustainable design ideas as well as emerging trends.
NY NOW
The biannual trade fair attracts around 25,000 visitors and 2,400 exhibitors over a period of five days. Product categories are organized into three Key Collections: Home (1000 exhibitors), Lifestyle (1000 exhibitors) and Handmade (550 exhibitors).
The show is known as a hub for the upcoming season’s biggest trends, and also features a variety of seminars on color and design trends, sustainability, and digital media and retail strategies.
Handmade and sustainability
One of the “trends” for 2017 is an emphasis on handmade and sustainable design. The fair will spotlight gift and home industry suppliers whose products and/or production methods are eco-friendly.
As part of this focus, the Handmade® Global Design programme will present over 150 resources focusing on “good design, traditional craftsmanship, and community building through global artisan workshops.” Ten exhibitors and six retailers will be showcasing their work during the event.
The “SustainAbility: design for a better world®” project is back at the NY NOW trade fair for Summer 2016 to showcase “environmentally-conscious and socially-responsible products and producers from around the world.” The project, running since 2010, features a curated exhibit of eco-friendly, socially responsible, philanthropic and fair trade-oriented businesses, as well as an educational program that showcases “green” business practices.
Design for the future: innovation and trends
As well as a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly design, the trade show promotes innovation and trends for the upcoming season.
The “Destination: new” programme features over 120 exhibitors selected for their innovative designs in a range of sectors, from WGK Glass Art and Absolute Tote Bags to Louvelle Luxury Showerwear.
This year, the show has posted a list of four predicted trends: “Global Adornment”, with fabrics featuring tassels, embroidery and cords; “Colorful is the New Timeless” with Pantone recommending dusky shades of blue, pink and purple; “Nordic Splendor”, where natural textiles such as fur and leather are contrasted against stone and polished metal; and “We Are Feeling Blue” which, according to Jill Campbell, vice president of NY NOW and NSS, “can be bold and bright while also being well-worn and welcoming”.
The NY NOW Summer 2016 show is being held from August 20-24 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre in New York, USA.
