Danke, Frankfurt!

You know you're not at an American trade fair when attendees feel free to smoke in the building. Still, American attendees at the February 10–14 Ambiente Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, may have been thrown off by all the English that could be heard up and down the show aisles.

Ambiente welcomed 1,371 U.S. buyers on its second day, according to Andreas Burkhart of Messe Frankfurt. That represents a 17 percent increase over last year's American attendance. Among the American buyers at Ambiente: Sur la Table, Bloomingdale's and Marshall Fields.

In addition, plenty of American exhibitors could be seen at the show, including Potting Shed Creations, Over and Back, and Chilewich, which is exhibiting at Ambiente for the second time. In all, this year's fair featured some 4,600 exhibitors from 87 countries, and welcomed approximately 140,000 visitors from around the world.

“I'm having a great show. I can't complain,” said Burkhart.

And that positive attitude was felt throughout. “It's amazing how my product has been accepted globally,” said Sandy Chilewich of Chilewich. “People from Turkey, Greece and Denmark are ordering the same thing.”

“It's been busy,” said Simon Willis of Royal Crown Derby.

One theme at Ambiente was Baroque motifs, found on everything from lamps to mugs, such as Royal Worcester's 12-piece set by designer Llewelyn Bowen.

In other merchandise, the lush look was updated with pop de-signs including bold motifs in chandeliers and candleholders. Bright colors were on display throughout the show, with red, black and white a popular color combination in tabletop and decorative accessories.

The nautical theme, very popular this season on the American side of the pond, was also chock-a-block here in Frankfurt.

At the Rosenthal showroom, copper shone bright in giftware, and was featured in the company's Versace collection as well as in its Tectonics collection, which had started in white and platinum.

Kitschy items were on display throughout the Young & Trendy section of the show; Kare Design was filled with buyers looking at brightly colored Buddha heads, ornate chandeliers in eccentric colors like blue and pink, as well as a collection of funky disco balls. And the mod look, which has been a hit in the States for some time, took the floor at Ambiente as well.

Several booths were also showcasing pet accessories. While this trend has been booming in the States, it remains to be seen what will happen here in Europe. We'll keep an eye on it!

In a sometimes stale market, Ambiente provides young designers the opportunity to showcase their most innovative designs. And this year's fair was no exception.

Said Hansjerg Maier-Aichen, professor for product design at the Karlsruhe Design Academy and guide on the Design Tour at Ambiente: “Given the host of often short-lived trends and increasingly similar products on offer in a global market, our aim is to concentrate on the outstanding examples of innovative design concepts, developed by up-and-coming young designers and compare these designs with long-term icons or design classics.”

With the World Cup coming to Germany this June and July, there were plenty of souvenirs for buyers to stock up on. In fact, an entire booth was dedicated to the event—and the game. Titled Goal!issimo, it was a display of all things soccer (or football, as they call it in Europe). From mugs to ornate chip 'n' dips, shoppers had plenty to choose from.