NEW YORK -- The growing and eclectic ICFF show opens May 14 and runs through May 17 with an extended footprint and plans for significant expansion, both at the Jacob K. Javits Center and in new American venues, Miami and Los Angeles.
More than 750 exhibitors from all points of the globe will display contemporary furniture, seating, carpet and flooring, lighting, outdoor furniture, materials, wall coverings, accessories, textiles, and kitchen and bath for residential and commercial interiors.
"This remarkable throng of exhibitors creates an unparalleled opportunity to view a broad yet highly focused selection of the world's finest, most innovative, and original avant-garde home and contract products side-by-side under one roof," Kevin O'Keefe, senior vice president, ICFF and Design Group Business Development for the show's parent company, Emerald Expositions.
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"Buyers attending the show are eager to see "what's best, and what's next" in rug designs, and have the ability to purchase those innovative designs as soon as they debut." -- Kevin O'Keefe, ICFF show director |
Although rug companies represent a small fraction of this year's total roster, the category has added 17 new rug exhibitors to an equal number returning for the 2016 event, and in an exclusive Q&A interview, show director O'Keefe tells RugNews.com why.
What differentiates ICFF from the many other shows that rug vendors have to choose from?
KO: ICFF is dedicated to being the global design platform for North America. To this end, the event continues to bring what's best and what's next to the Fair from all over the world. The exhibition has doubled in size over the past three editions, and is expected to continue to expand to a full-facility event at the Jacob K. Javits Center.
In 2014, the Fair maxed out the level 1 hall, and in 2015, the fair went to two levels. This year we occupy a much larger footprint on the second level, and next year the event will move upstairs to occupy the entire main level, or nearly 200,000 net feet.
In addition, there are important design hubs that ICFF will address with smaller edited satellite fairs -- like Miami and Los Angeles. The first ICFF Miami takes place October 5-6 of this year.
How has the rug category at ICFF changed in the past few years?
KO: We've seen the rug category expand in tandem with designers' interests in focusing their disciplines specifically on textiles and weaving. We've seen an increase in independent rug designers creating hand-knotted pieces, and in larger furniture designers branching out into the textiles and weaving market by creating limited edition designs and by collaborating with emerging and well-known design talents.
Who are your longest running rug exhibitors?
KO: Jan Kath, M&M Design International and Warp & Weft.
Longtime exhibitor Warp & Weft will display new contemporary collections, shown above, as well as updated classics. M&M Designs returns to ICFF with striking hand-knotted designs, below.
It looks like more and more rug vendors are showing in the Luxe Pavilion. How is that area different from the main floor?
KO: Last year we introduced Luxe Interiors + Design as an expanded exhibition space to feature new categories and design offerings from a mix of transitional and classic contemporary design brands. The success of the pavilion prompted us to not only continue the feature, but double it for 2016. By increasing the square footage, we are bringing in more than 100 exhibitors, including new rug houses such as Bokara Rug Company, KLASP, and Samad Brothers.
Has ICFF specifically targeted the rug industry as a market opportunity or is the growth something more organic?
KO: While we have not targeted specific categories to exhibit at ICFF, we are certainly glad that the number of rug exhibitors has increased over the past few years. And we expect the number to continue to grow.
What price point in rugs appeals to ICFF buyers?
KO: Buyers attending the show are eager to see "what's best, and what's next" in rug designs, and have the ability to purchase those innovative designs as soon as they debut. For buyers, it's not the price point that matters, but the design.
Do rug manufacturers that exhibit need to sell cross-category to be successful at ICFF?
KO: We have seen many a designer whose focus or niche lies in a particular category find success at ICFF. For example, Jan Kath has been one of our longest exhibiting rug designers at the show and focuses his work on sustainably produced and fairly traded hand-knotted carpets. He has focused his brand on this category, becoming sought after by interior designers and homeowners alike.
Jan Kath, another long-running ICFF exhibitor is a must-see for designers and consumers looking for high style and sustainably produced rugs. Shown is Tabriz Canal Aerial from the Erased Heritage collection.
Who are the buyers that attend ICFF?
KO: Throughout the four days of the show, we welcome more than 33,000 interior designers, architects, retailers, representatives, distributors, facility managers, developers, manufacturers, store designers, and visual merchandisers. And on Tuesday, May 17, we will open our doors to the general public, as well.
How does ICFF dovetail with NYCxDesign and the debuting NYCxDeign Awards?
KO: ICFF is the foundation of the citywide celebration of design, NYCxDesign. A personal goal of mine is to work to make New York Design Week (NYCxDesign), the global design celebration of the world. At its core will always be ICFF.
This year, Interior Design magazine and ICFF present the first annual NYCxDesign Awards, a global design competition celebrating outstanding achievement across major areas of design -- from architecture to interiors, from products to collectibles, from craft to technology.
We've created this open and inclusive awards program to serve as a connector that rewards excellence in design achievement from the over 500 events that comprise New York City's showcase of global design. We expect to see finalists appear from across design disciplines and categories.
What's new this year for your 28th edition of ICFF?
KO: Not-to-miss highlights at this year's show include the Ho.MI Lifestyles Pavilion featuring top Italian designers and brands; The Milk Stand by Design Milk, featuring American and Canadian designers and makers selling everything from modern jewelry and watches to wallets to home decor; the Luxe Interiors + Design Pavilion showcasing the top brands in contemporary and classic designs; ICFF Studio, which features the prototypes of undiscovered designers selected through a juried competition; and of course, ICFF Schools, displaying today's top innovations by tomorrow's design leaders.
We will also welcome contingents from the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Brazilian Furniture, British European Design Group (BEDG), Ceramics of Italy, Design Philippines, Furniture New York, The Furniture Society (U.S.), Inside Norway, Interiors from Spain and Portugal Brands.