Views from Formex

We just returned from Stockholm’s Formex Gift show, and what a whirlwind trip is was! Just a few days to see all the new items offered for Spring, as well as meeting some of our vendors and making new connections too.

The theme for this years Formex show was Creative Flow, and according to designer Jan Rundgren, who created the main exhibition”Creative Spaces”, is summed up by: “Studio trends are precisely with the times, the individualistic style feels like one of the most powerful things at the moment. We’re looking for something unique in both objects and expressions. The spaces are bohemian, spontaneously decorated and show that a creative process is taking place” Jan’s exhibition space uses both space and light, and the catch phrase is “functional beauty”.

On display at the Formex show as well, was the exhibition “Handmade Crafts selcted by Formex and K.H.V.C- Konsthantverscentrum”. There were several vignette’s which had wonderful displays of handmade items. This all points to a movement all over Europe and the U.S. for a return back to what’s natural and handmade. We love this idea that you can take something “traditional” turn it on it’s head and make something new and unique that is unprocessed, natural, simple and handmade.

The exhibition focuses on handicraft products unique to the Nordic region. The design items conveyed a bit of their own history as well as a glimpse of the future. “The exhibition is based on things that have been made by hand. The focus is on the power of the hand, the physical and the beautiful. But it’s not just about beautiful things, there is also humor, folklore and colorfulness, such as crocheted messages and embroidered stories. The craftmanship embordies both pleasure and attitude”, say Synnöve Mork, the exhibition curator.