Market Report — New York
By Maria Weiskott, Caroline Kennedy, Bessie Nestoras, Meredith Schwartz -- Gifts and Dec, 8/13/2007 2:23:00 PM
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| Buyers lined up to getinto the show |
August 13, 2007 — The New York International Gift Fair got off to a good start on the weekend, with the sun shining and buyers out in force. While vendors were still setting up at the Javits Center, over at the Piers, manufacturers were already busy writing orders. Most seemed pleased with Saturday’s opening day. “We got our first day back, so it’s good,” said Jen Dolan of Vellum, referring to the fact that last market one of the Piers didn’t open until Sunday. Kim Smith of Smith & Co. agreed, saying, “It was a busy morning.”
Handmade GemsThe handmade section of the show is always a font of creativity. And the Handmade section at Javits Galleria area did not disappoint. Many of these exhibitors previously were located in the North Pavilion, which has now been disassembled to make way for the expansion of Javits Center; they were moved up to the Galleria for the first time last January. Needless to say, exhibitors are thrilled with the new location, especially those in the River Pavilion section which is bright and airy with natural light and a view of the Hudson River.
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| Amy Peters fortune cookieand message in a bottle |
Amy Peters Studio inspirational jewelry line has new additions that are drawing rave reviews. Amy is known for her dainty disk charms and other small trinkets with words and messages. New design concepts in the line include Fortune Cookies and Messages in a Bottle. The Fortune Cookie pieces feature a tiny, gold-plated fortune cookie charm accompanied by a fortune message that floats through the cookie. The fortune cookie necklaces and braclets come packaged in a takeout container. The Message in a Bottle line has a tiny gold-plated bottle charm along with its personalized message. They come packaged in a corked bottle.
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| Julio Pagliani jewelry |
Going a bit more upscale at the request of clients, Julio Pagliani added 14-kt. gold clasps and findings to its line of handcrafted, beaded necklaces and bracelets. Jody Olcott reports that the line’s customer base is growing internationally as well, with customers placing orders from as far away as Australia. New to the line is a necklace design with graduated beads for dimensional interest.
Ruth Mikos’ line of photographic glass jewelry is eye-catching and different, with many fun, retro images in the mix. There are also larger images reproduced on glass tiles that can be hung on the wall. Ruth was one of many artists reporting successful shows prior to coming to New York; she previously exhibited at the San Francisco International Gift Fair.
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| Ruth Mikos photographic art charms |
Shari Dixon’s natural florals and botanicals preserved in resin are now offered on a wooden backing. And the delicate flowers really pop on the darker background.
Tabletop Motifs
Among the introductions at the show were Vellum’s new candelabras and exaggerated stemware with very long stems. The company also turned to leather for a new collection of frames, as well accessories that are croc-embossed. The new Berkshire collection of serveware is perfect for winter holidays, according to Jen Dolan, and white ceramic pieces feature pheasant accents that will be a nice addition to a Thanksgiving table.
Over at Laurent Trade & Design Co., we were drawn to the limoges tabletop collection by Sophie Villepigue. The pieces feature gold rims and handles, some shaped like butterflies. The Moustiers Faience collection was also doing quite well according to Barbara Laurent; the collection features historical motifs and pieces made the same way they were in the 17th century.
Lighting and Accessories
Mi Alma’s booth also caught our attention. The dark, rich colors and beaded lamps, chandeliers and furniture, make you feel as if you’d stumbled into a lady’s boudoir. The company also introduced a pillow collection made from silks that are French beaded and embroidered.
Bobo Intriguing Objects often turns to reclaimed materials, including a side table with a made from the inside of a vintage cast iron oven. The company also uses reclaimed wood for many of its mirrors, chandeliers and tables.
Lighting manufacturer Rosie, best known for its crystal chandeliers, turns to porcelain this market. The company’s new chandeliers come in a variety of soft hues, including pink, turquoise and mushroom, and feature delicate flowers, giving them a light, feminine touch.
Twisted Vine lamps from Jamie Young have a modern, earthy feel, as do the new Low Country line that made of mango wood. The designer also introduced a new lamp fabric this market — cork. “We love the natural patterns that come off of it,” said the company’s representative. Young’s husband, David, who is already involved in the business, designed the new Wood Veneer collection for this market. The lamps take on a 1940s feel and are made of Macassar Ebony, Rosewood and Birds Eye Cedar veneer.
Opulent accessories were seen throughout the Gift Fair. Luna Bella’s booth was buzzing with so many buyers we couldn’t find anyone to talk to us. But we stayed and took a gander at the elegant designs; many pieces featured blown glass mixed with metal. The company offers a wide selection of clocks, lamps and chandeliers, as well as accent furniture in an elegant, yet classic design. The Budha Belli clock is a large hanging piece that doubles as a work of art and will be at home in a contemporary or traditional setting.
Over at the Shine booth, we were greeted with an array of elegant accessories, including ottomans featured gold studs giving them a fun twist. The company also turned to gold to accent many of its pieces, from vases to lamps.
Monica Willard Designs offers a collection of hand-painted crystal accessories and tabletop items. These delicate pieces feature floral accents with old-world charm. The Garden votives look like flowers and the D’Artagnan canister with brass lid could easily be displayed in a luxurious Parisian apartment.
Johanna Duval’s sachet pillows created quite a stir. The booth was crowded with buyers placing orders for the little pillows made from silks, taffetas and other fabrics. Each is tied with a ribbon and accented with a precious stone or crystal.
Speaking of Eco
Eco products were very much in evidence in the handcrafted jewelry area, as artists and artisans are among the first to see the potential of materials that might otherwise be considered waste. Melissa Kolbusz, owner/designer of (Wired) presents edgy pieces with an appeal to the young urban sophisticate. Her media are rubber washers, wire and other industrial elements. One eye-catching bracelet is constructed out of aquarium tubing.
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| Junko Ngai and Vasilios Kinerisof Zinc Details investigating theSustainability Displays |
And speaking of eco… First thing Sunday morning, just as the main part of the show was opening at Javits Center, we caught Retailer Excellence Award finalists Vasilios Kineris and Junko Ngai, of Zinc Details, San Francisco, checking out the Sustainability product display in the North Concourse before going onto the show floor.
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| Retailer Bud Johnson of Bud Johnson Designs selecting products at EcoSstyle |
On the show floor, we encountered a longtime friend and former contributor to Gifts & Decorative Accessories, retailer Bud Johnson of Bud Johnson Designs, Palm Desert, CA. He was placing an order in the EcoStyle Designs by Inmar Group booth. This tabletop and home accessories line is handmade with recycled and natural materials including coconut shell, natural plants, horn and calabash shell. The line includes serveware, lazy susans, placemats and bath accessories.
Traffic Stoppers
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| Opus assymmetric porcelaindinnerware from Kahla |
Kahla, a German tabletop company, is debuting a most unusual asymmetric set of porcelain dinnerware. The shapes are inspired by architecture, with crisp, angled edges that are a challenge to maintain in the firing process (because the clay expands and contracts). The line, called Opus, is offered in plain white, a brown floral edge pattern or a green or copper mesh pattern.
R. Nichols has grown its offerings beyond just stationery and notecards. The company is growing and expanding into homewares and debuted a group of reusable grocery totes and ceramic mugs. Of course, both the mugs and the totes stylishly feature the Nichol’s playful silhouette artwork, and the eco-friendly totes are made of recycled cotton.
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| Reusable grocery totes and coffee mugs by R. Nichols |
In the Gift Menagerie…
Black and white isn't just for home decor anymore: the popular color combo made the jump to high design Germany fashion accents from Filz Und Kunz, and whimsical plush by Kanemasu + two simmons studio.
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| Wooly Hoodwinks |
Elsewhere in the gift menagerie, iDesign brings colorful leather rabbit-shaped book ends all the way from Israel, equally at home in a playful adult's room or a sophisticated child's. Woolly Hoodwinks are charming little characters made from (what else?) wool that are little more that squares with ears and a surprising amount of personality. The creators of the brand new line were making a splash with a booth set up as a "get your photo taken with the Woolly Hoodwinks" display, plus a preview of the character's forthcoming cartoon.
Meanwhile, white and off-white porcelain in organic shapes can be found throughout the Piers and Handmade, making the perfect accent for the "warm natural" trend in urban home decor. We saw everything from coral to ginko leaves (Tilson Design Works) to hatching eggs, as well as less literal interpretations whose gently irregular shapes still suggest natural forms.
Another notable debut… The first step is admitting you have a problem: The Habit Patch addresses common issues such as procrastination, too much spending, workaholism etc. with a touch of humor.
Long a major presence in Handmade, jewelry was even more dominant this year, filling the Galleria River Pavilion, but also scattered generously throughout the Global Handmade area. One standout: German gold necklaces made from super-large links.
Also distributed through the Global Handmade area are an increasing number of vendors offering sustainable and Fair Trade products (or emphasizing the sustainable and Fair Trade aspects of products they'd already offered.) "People are much more aware, they are coming to ask for it," said J. Marc Dreyfors, president of The Forest Foundation. And we saw proof: while at the booth of another Fair Trade Federation member, Creative Women, we saw a customer approach and explain that she'd visited the company's website and become interested in fair trade. “It’s a feel good thing,” she said. For more on Fair Trade and environmentally sustainable products, see the September issue of Gifts & Dec.
Featured Company
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Wright Labels
Bill and Tom Wright founded Wright of Thomasville in 1961 on the idea that printing was a creative medium and the belief that "a promise made is a promise kept." The Wright brothers focused their attention on providing exceptional printing for the... more
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