Contemporary nesting tables by Jason Phillips Design

The Treforma collection from Jason Phillips Design is inspired by objects and the way they reflect and transmit light. The color of objects is determined by the parts of the spectrum of light that are reflected without being absorbed. Secondary attributes like glossy, sheen, and translucency are made clear by the directional distribution of the reflected or transmitted light.

Treforma is a study of diffusion and scattering; where surfaces can change in many directions, without the change in inherent nature of the components. Three tables, formed by bending tinted glass, nest together to form a single unit. Dimensions range from 24 inches by 32 inches by 14 inches tall (small) to 54 inches by 32 inches by 18 inches tall (large).

NY gift show adds "On Trend" section

press release

WHITE PLAINS, NY. The General Gift division at the summer 2011 New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) will increase its offerings for buyers with changes to two product neighborhoods – the new “On Trend” neighborhood will debut a collection of trend-driven, fashion-forward resources across a range of product categories and the existing “Stationery & Publishing” neighborhood will expand to include a greater number of suppliers of specialty paper, note cards, journals, writing instruments and publishing.

“With 750 exhibitors, General Gift is NYIGF’s largest division. Through creation and expansion of these product-specific neighborhoods, within the division, we can facilitate shopping and sourcing for buyers,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “These two areas are a wonderful complement to General Gift’s two existing neighborhoods - The Museum Source and Floral & Garden Accessories.”


The new On Trend neighborhood will group nearly 20 companies, showing trend-driven personal and home accessories, tableware, toys, apparel and more, at the entrance to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center ’s Hall 3E. Charter On Trend exhibitors include: Badge Bomb (art on buttons and magnets); Décor-Craft (contemporary lifestyle accessories); D.L. & Co (candles, objects and curiosities); Flair 360 (personalized rhinestone accessories); Fred & Friends (tabletop, kitchen gadgets and barware); GAMA-GO (whimsical kitchen and home accessories); Luvali (convertible/reversible purses, hats and personal accessories); Momiji (message dolls); Oré (organizational, pet and juvenile lifestyle products); Paper Media (paper wallets); Present Time (modern gifts, lifestyle and home accessories); Really Good (stationery and gifts); Skanz (web-enabled, “socialprint” accessories); Tokidoki (designer toys and gifts); and Wild & Wolf (licensed and in-house designed gift collections).

The Stationery & Publishing neighborhood, which debuted at the summer 2010 NYIGF, features some 40 companies in and near the 7500 aisle on Level One of the Javits Center. Newcomers for summer 2011 are: Deuxglass Productions (contemporary greeting cards printed with soy-based inks); Filofax (personal organizers and day planners); Madison Park Greetings (specialty stationery, gifts and accessories), Vigo (design led stationery); and Zagat (consumer based leisure publications).

These companies join leading social stationery suppliers and book publishers already in the neighborhood: Abrams, Anne Taintor, Chronicle Books, Found Image, Harper Collins, Ingram, Ink Media, International Arrivals, Knock Knock, Michael Roger Press, Mudlark, Nelson Line, Notes & Queries, Papaya, Pomegranate Communications, Random House, Rizzoli and Sterling Publishing.

NYIGF runs Saturday, August 13, through Thursday, August 18, at New York City’s Javits Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800+ exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.

Saturday special: European trends at 2012 imm cologne

(The following information was taken from a press release submitted by imm cologne.)

LivingInteriors will open its doors in Cologne for the first time in 2012. Together with the imm cologne, LivingInteriors will show a comprehensive and innovatively staged picture of the entire world of interiors. LivingInteriors will occupy the same spaces used by LivingKitchen and will alternate with the kitchen event, taking place in even years. The new LivingInteriors event stands for holistic living and interior design concepts and will feature national and international exhibitors from the bathroom, flooring, wall and lighting sectors.

LivingInteriors will be showing perfectly staged interior worlds consisting of furniture, bathrooms, floors, walls and lighting for the first time. It is aimed at trade visitors and consumers alike.

“The new concept is a consistent further development in the imm cologne’s evolution as an interior design fair. With LivingInteriors we will achieve a new dimension in the combination of business and event,” says Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse.

The LivingInteriors concept is based on three pillars. The first of them stands for bathrooms, floors, walls and lighting, with the aim of providing sales momentum, generating business and developing new sales channels. The second pillar is the public relevance of the event, which leads directly to the third and final pillar: the creation of a broad-based and sustained media presence.


An extensive supporting program with lectures and project reports will round off the LivingInteriors agenda. Experts from the various product categories will shed light on the latest trends and innovations in interior architecture and present some stimulating ideas for architects and designers.


imm cologne + LivingInteriors
16 – 22 January 2012.
Public Days: 20 – 22 January 2012

Give the gift of barware for Father's Day

OGGI Corp. has a new striped barware collection. The nine SKU stainless steel collection is available in either Red or Black strip. The  four-piece mini cocktail shaker set is in mixed colors. The cocktail shaker set includes two red  and two black 8.5 oz. mini-shakers. The Red Stripe cocktail shaker (also available in black) has a 0.75-liter (26 ounce) capacity.
A Black Stripe jumbo shaker holds 1.75 liters (60 ounces). The collection also includes an ice bucket and wine cooler. The company will exhibit at gift shows in Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Minneapolis.

OGGI Corp. serves the housewares, gourmet, gift, specialty, hospitality and direct market industries. Categories of expertise include Thermal Carafes and Beverage-ware, Stainless Steel Sport Bottles, Canisters/Food Storage as well as Melamine and Stainless Barware. The company specializes in custom resourcing and private label products.

College students win "The Paper Runway" at Stationery Show

press release

NATIONAL STATIONERY SHOW AND KATE’S PAPERIE

NAME ‘THE PAPER RUNWAY’ WINNER AT NSS 2011

- Design to be Featured in Kate’s Paperie During Fashion Week -

WHITE PLAINS, NY, May 19, 2011…The National Stationery Show® (NSS) and Kate’s Paperie have named LIM College students Alexis Michaelides and Margaret Carroll as winners in ‘The Paper Runway’ competition, for “Feather Fantasy”. The paper fashion contest and exhibit was a feature of NSS 2011, offering some 11,000 attendees a unique demonstration of the paper-fashion relationship. The students will receive a $1,000 cash prize and window display at Kate’s Paperie during Fashion Week.

Runners up were “Orange Burst” by LIM College student Alexis Michaelides and “Golden Warrior” by LIM College student Gina Mercatili. Also participating in the exhibit was Kate’s Paperie, with several paper fashions from cutting-edge designers, as well as NSS exhibitor DCWV, Inc. and LIM College Associate Chair of Visual Merchandising Marjorie Lee Woo.

“We were thrilled to collaborate with the National Stationery Show and Kate’s Paperie on this innovative project,” said Elizabeth S. Marcuse, president of LIM College. “It provided a wonderful opportunity for our Visual Merchandising students to get hands-on experience that will strengthen their resumes – which is one of the cornerstones of an LIM College education.”

The 66th annual National Stationery Show, the comprehensive source for greeting cards, social stationery and related lifestyle products, will run Sunday, May 20, through Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Show features nearly 900 exhibiting companies and attracts some 11,000 buyers worldwide. The Show also presents excellent educational programming, product demonstrations, engaging events, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities throughout the market week.

The National Stationery Show is owned and managed by GLM. For exhibitor information, contact Kelly P. Bristol, sales manager, at GLM, 1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY 10604. Telephone (914) 421-3228. Fax (914) 948-2918. E-mail kbristol@glmshows.com. Attendee information is available by contacting GLM’s Customer Relations Department, at (800) 272-SHOW or (212) 204-1060, or by email, at customer_relations@glmshows.com. Additional information and registration is available online, at www.nationalstationeryshow.com.

About LIM College

LIM College is the nation’s only college focused exclusively on the study of business and fashion, offering a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree program with concentrations in Fashion Management and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees in Fashion Merchandising, Visual Merchandising, Marketing and Management, as well as Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in Fashion Merchandising, and Professional Certificates. Housed in four buildings in midtown Manhattan, LIM College provides a well-rounded education through the combination of in-class instruction and required fashion industry internships. LIM College was founded in 1939 and has been witness to every significant change in the retail and fashion industry for more than seven decades. Alumni have gone on to excel at top companies, including Coach, Jones Apparel, Kenneth Cole Productions, Liz Claiborne, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. www.limcollege.edu

Transitional sofas, chairs with classic details

Casali sofa from Taylor

“Essence of Elegance” is a collection of architecturally inspired, moderately scaled upholstery silhouettes from Taylor King.  The collection is represented with the Casali sofa. The vendor states, "the extreme front-to-back convergence of the graceful arms, adorned with pewter nails, allow this sofa to make a style statement when shown as a pair in a room. An ultra femme feeling is created by the use of lush, graphic beautifully appointed textiles."
The Tresor chair (left) is available with a dressmaker skirt.

“Urban Archeology,” an urban mystique that focuses on a casual approach to elemental beauty, is featured with the Smythson sofa. Intricate American craftsmanship is featured with the sophistication of the diamond tufted treatment on the outsides of the sofa.

Smythson sofa

U.S. furniture made from reclaimed trees

Robin Wade Furniture rescues trees from the local landfill and turns them into hand-crafted furniture. The U.S. company exhibited in IHFC’s Interhall during the furniture market in High Point in April.

Stylish, classic furniture designs for the first home

“We designed Square 1 specifically for first-time, serious furniture buyers who are ready to invest in quality pieces they plan to keep for a long time,” says Jeff Scheffer, president and CEO of Universal Furniture International Inc. “Square 1 is fresh and current, and as distinctly relevant today as it will be 30 years from now.”

Mahogany veneers in a Java finish are slightly distressed to create a natural feel and texture. Crisp ebonized walnut inlay, geometric square motifs and metal accents that blend seamlessly with the brown Java finish add modern appeal. Simple bronze knob hardware, also finished to blend with the mahogany, features just a hint of copper rub-through.

The company showed its new designs in High Point in April.

Hand-knotted rugs from around the world

Zaki Oriental Rugs is a source of high-quality hand-knotted rugs from around the world. The company has 14,000 rugs on display at 600 South Main St., High Point, N.C. All sizes, as large as 17 feet by 28 feet, are in stock. A recent addition of 4000 Oushak, Zigler, Kazak and contemporary rugs has made the collection even more diverse. Rugs are shipped (insured) to trade accounts any where in the world.

Value-priced furniture designed for Gen Y's budget

Tamarind dining table set

Tamarind

The Gen Y generation is drawn to the stylish, less expensive furniture collections named Lincoln Park (below) and Tamarind (above), says aspenhome, which revealed these new lines at the April furniture market in High Point. The company says the "scaled-down sophistication [fits] into their starter homes but with the extra features to meet their 'high-tech' lifestyles."

The company also designs furniture for the tastes of Baby Boomers. To further help retailers tell the story to their Baby Boomer and Gen Y customers, aspenhome has a complete POP package along with floor plans.

Lincoln Park dining set

Lincoln Park bed with drawers in the footboard

Retailer turns wholesaler with antiques-inspired line

White x White was founded in 2010 by owner/designer Kristen White, who has owned a 10,000 sq. ft. retail store in Topeka, Kan., since 1987. Kristen has been traveling to Europe since l990 and her product designs are inspired by the homes, gardens and antique shops she sees on her antique hunting excursions. She launched a wholesale line at the winter gift show in Atlanta, and she will be exhibiting next month at the Dallas gift show.

In addition to being a product designer, Kristen is an artist and interior designer who saw the need for affordable home décor made of sustainable and natural materials such as willow, reclaimed wood, glass, iron and terracotta. The White x White mantra is “repurpose, reclaim, restyle.”

“We’ll offer buyers our entire line of home décor at the Dallas show, including furniture, lamps, baskets, statuary, lanterns, trays and mirrors, all with a hip vintage vibe”, said Kristen White, owner and designer, White x White.  “Our line was very well received at our first show in January and we’re excited to announce that White x White will have twice as many SKUs available to order at the summer markets.” 

The White x White space will feature a backdrop of brown kraft paper with aluminum grommets hung with heavy weight jute.  “Our booth in Atlanta was the talk of the temps.  We had so many positive comments about our booth including, not only the backdrop, but our cutting edge products as well.  Order response was tremendous,” White said.  
“I’ve been in retail for 24 years.  I know what other vendors offer, including their price points, and I have a good feel for what’s missing in the marketplace.  White x White is the start of some-thing huge and I’m so excited it’s finally off the ground”, said White.  “I’ve been a buyer at the Dallas Market Center for almost 25 years.  It’s a fantastic market and now I’m proud to be on the other side, as a vendor.”

Designers only: discount on linens and home accessories

Nancy Koltes fine linens has been providing luxurious linens and decorative home accessories since 1984. The company is known for classical colors, rich woven jacquards and timeless patterns in textiles including European down comforters and pillows. Its custom workroom allows interior designers to create custom linens and down products for their clients.

Hand-crafted Christmas ornaments

G. DeBrekht Artistic Studios has added to its various collections of Santa Claus ornaments in limited editions. Many pieces are hand-carved and free-hand painted. It takes months to complete a single ornament in the Masterpiece collection. It is carved in one Eastern European art village, then travels from village to village to complete the face, the expressive eyes, the highly detailed scenes and the elegant decorative trims. Items come in satin-lined presentation boxes.

Up, Up and Away, from the Masterpiece collection

Open Road Santa, Derevo collection

Santa on Owl ornament

Father Frost ornament

Tree giver Santa

Nativity manger ornament

Sharing Secrets ornament

Kevin O'Brien Studio nautical pillows

Kevin O'Brien Studio has released a new line of nautical-inspired pillows. Material options include linen, silk appliques and rayon. Each design is available in several colors and sizes.