May 18, 2012

Exclusive Group of Newcomers Join Summer 2012 Accent on Design

An exclusive group of designers – showcasing products ranging from high-tech to soft-touch – have been selected to join the summer 2012 edition of Accent on Design® at New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®). This juried collection of nearly 200 contemporary design suppliers, representing all home, gift and lifestyle categories, runs Sunday, August 19, through Wednesday, August 22, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

“Since 1984, Accent on Design has showcased leading contemporary design resources, and has welcomed an influx of new design ideas and innovations at each edition,” said Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF director and GLM vice president. “This summer, we welcome newcomers from Europe and Asia, as well as the southern and northeastern United States.”

Among companies accepted by the Accent on Design Selection Committee this summer include: Arcade (textiles); CW&T and Studio Neat (pens, iPhone and iPad accessories); flotsam+jetsam (decorative pillows and panels, digital textiles); Fruitshop International Co., Ltd. (gadgets and accessories); Mark’s Inc. (fashion, interior and desktop accessories); Poketo (journals, planners, wallets, backpacks, laptop cases); Stuf (plush art objects); Uchino Co. (towels, robes, baby items); and Urbanista AB (mobile phone accessories, bags).

In addition to these newcomers, several leading contemporary design resources are returning to the summer market following a hiatus from the New York market. This includes: Alessi (housewares, tabletop, home and personal accessories); Carga Bags (bags); Donna Wilson (home textiles and accessories); Thelermont Hupton (home accessories); and Urban Butik (housewares).

Other highlights of the summer 2012 market include, A+™: The Young Designers’ Platform at Accent on Design, a juried “design incubator” showcase, as well as continued participation by two design collectives, JOIN Design Seattle and the American Design Club (AmDC), showcasing emerging and innovation designers. This summer, the 2nd annual Gourmet Housewares Show at NYIGF, also will be located alongside Accent on Design, with several leading suppliers of contemporary housewares – ASA Selection, Blomus, Eva Solo, MYdrap and Umbra – concentrated on a common aisle adjoining the two.

Accent on Design Selection Committee members for the summer 2012 selection committee are: David Alhadeff of The Future Perfect; Ilene Shaw of Shaw + Co! Productions; Kathy Thornton-Bias of MoMA; Laura Young of Areaware; and Miguel Calvo of Calvo.co. In addition to jurying applicants for Accent on Design, this group also selects participants in A+™: The Young Designers’ Platform at Accent on Design.

For more than 25 years, Accent on Design has been the industry’s leading source of design-driven gift, home and lifestyle merchandise. Its dynamic, juried collection of contemporary and innovative products is presented semi-annually as a division of the New York International Gift Fair®.

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. The summer market takes place Saturday, August 18, through Wednesday, August 22, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.