Good design is the message at Messe
German creativity is simply astounding. Cases in point are masterpieces by artists from Matthias Grünewald, Albrecht Dürer, and Max Ernst, to more modern masters such as Daniel Richter, Gerhard Richter and Jonathan Meese. German art is undoubtedly idiosyncratic and oracular. German design is more restrained, but is not any less impressive. You have the Bauhaus movement and architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who reconstructed the world according to their astonishing design principles. An annual event in Frankfurt, Germany, proves that Germans (with contributions from other nationalities, including a couple of creative Filipinos) keep pushing the boundaries in terms of designs involving everything from furniture to creative jewelry and accessories, from paper products to table decorations… the list goes on.
Tendence Lifestyle fair in Frankfurt Messe is the world’s biggest consumer-goods fair for the autumn/winter season in
Just this year, there were around 3,000-plus exhibitors from all over the world. The great thing about Tendence Lifestyle is that it becomes the middle ground between the traders and customers. So one doesn’t have to go to different countries to get what he or she wants when everything is in one place.
According to professor Hansjerg Maier-Aichen, there are three elements of a good design. He explains, “One needs the trio of idea, technique and material.” Germans are heavily into designs of genius. They have a knack for igniting design into an art form. For her eponymous Designshot label, Verena Arens used felt material with Velcro and anti-skid soles to create “My Hero” slippers. As the perfect plane slippers, not only are they practical and functional but they are like decorations as well.
Anke Hennig infused a new design principle in her jewelry. She intertwines simple, flat braids and textile-based and plastic materials to produce a range of fresh colored necklaces and bracelets that are amazingly fragile to the touch.
A Berliner with Egyptian roots, Nadia El Aidy studied in goldsmiths’ school. For her a creative person must be curious and be willing to travel to do research. Nadia was able to hand-weave the silver thread and knitting machine to produce intricate jewelry that galleries found interesting.
Brigitte Adolph was an old talent last year. New windows of opportunity opened for her. Her inspiration for her pieces was from the lace of the merchant’s daughter in Rembrandt’s painting. So she was able to stick textile rings and transform them into metal for an antique-décor look, a new jewelry concept.
No wonder the Tendence Lifestyle is the perfect venue for up-and-coming designers where they use uncommon materials. They are able to showcase their works for networking purposes, where they can meet trade buyers and even potential manufacturers.
Asians aren’t that far behind when it comes to creativity. Perhaps what makes the Eastern side of the world stand out is the use of indigenous materials coupled with modern yet global designs. It is the perfect marriage of East and West, form and function, yin and yang indeed.
From the ASEAN Fusion group, expect furniture and furnishings, home accessories and gifts with a unique Asian twist. Launched at last year’s Tendence Lifestyle, the group consists of designers from
Thanks to curators Budji Layug and Tony Gonzales, the ASEAN Fusion booth stood out from other exhibitors. Both shared their years of experience and design direction. Their formula for success lies in infusing the old with the new in terms of styles, methods, materials and design philosophy as well.
“It was really Budji Layug’s idea to do the ASEAN Fusion, to make us known as a region of good source materials and products,” says Gonzales. “For the Philippine booth, I opted for a unified look in terms of design, structure and color that is very upscale.”
Dig this: everyone just had to stop by and look at the 30 Philippine exhibitors and their products. There were photo collages of the designers that resembled like Andy Warhol’s silkscreen paintings. With the strong presentation, the Philippine stand has become a must-see at the fair by high-end buyers and companies looking for new trends and inspirations.
Oh, what a sweet success. Gonzales owes a lot to European Chamber of Commerce’s Fairs & More. He explained that they helped make contacts with trade fair organizers all over
“ECCP and Fairs & More work closely with Budji and Tony as curators,” says Wilbert Novero, VP of international fairs for Fairs & More. “We are known for our presentation and we help bring exhibitors and visitors to help out our export and manufacturing industries abroad.”
For exporters, the Tendence is a good venue because it caters to volume business. Plus, it helps them look a year ahead and identify trends. With the weak dollar, the exhibitors might have lost 20 percent, but the great thing is that the Filipinos are maintaining a good presence.
After all, the benchmark is not how high the sales numbers are. The success lies in the increasing number of new clients each year, and in the constant introduction of new design ideas. And that, in a nutshell, is the grand design of this German fair like no other.
* * *
Next year, Tendence Autumn and Winter will be held from
* * *
Special thanks to Czarie Cruz and Wilbert Novero of ECCP. For information on how to be part of Frankfurt For All Seasons, call 845-1324, fax 845-1395 or visit www.fairsandmore.com.ph.
