To ensure maximum retailer interest, innovations are generally launched with great pomp and circumstance. Besides wide-ranging and sophisticated social-media campaigns, there is hardly a more efficient tool for this than exhibiting at trade fairs. As the world’s leading trade fair for consumer goods, Ambiente presents the complete international spectrum of products for the tableware, furnishing and giving sectors. “With significantly over 50 percent of visitors coming from outside Germany, exhibitors at Ambiente can be sure of reaching multiple target groups from different parts of the world. This makes it the ideal platform for launching products or even whole product series onto the market”, says Nicolette Naumann, Vice President Ambiente, emphasizing the importance of the fair.

Dining

The exhibitors of the Dining section of Ambiente 2017 will include a prominent newcomer: Driade, a design laboratory that has developed into an Italian institution. Now, Driade has signed up to present its tableware product lines in Frankfurt. In addition to familiar eye-catchers, the label’s assortment includes The White Snow Kingyo, a multi-layered, colourful and highly aquatic dinner service. Plates of different sizes and colour are decorated by fantail goldfish – sometimes alone, sometimes in a shoal. The fish design is the work of Vittorio Iocatelli. The plates were designed by Antonia Astori (Hall 4.0, A21).

Another newcomer at Ambiente is Manufaktur Hering Berlin, a specialist for exquisite porcelain and avant-garde glass. In addition to delicate services, Hering will also show its current range of hand-blown water and wine glasses whereby the new interpretation of the ‘Römer’ wine glass in the style of Germany’s princely houses is outstanding in all respects. Narrowing towards the top, the anthracite stem is topped by a lightly rounded bowl with a form and appearance that underscore not only the sensory qualities of Burgundy or sweet wines but also support the style of powerful Bordeaux wines. The glass is called Domain and was designed by Stefanie Hering (Hall 4.1, C81).

Giving

The Israeli label Kisim plans to present handbags, rucksacks and purses for the first time at the coming Ambiente. Kisim couples unadorned shapes with extraordinary materials to create tomorrow’s classics. Moreover, the label offers bags for different requirements – not only young and future-oriented but also classic and trendy. Thus, the range includes the Uno rucksack in bright red. A raised diamond pattern gives Uno additional depth in detail. The attractive bag is not only capable of shouldering a great deal, it is also water-proof and one hundred percent vegan (Hall 9.2, C02).

Denmark is the homeland of the Pilgrim jewellery designers. At Ambiente for the first time, the company will show the complete spectrum of Scandinavian jewellery design – from subliminal elegance to aggressive clarity. Plain, geometric structures for the neck and throat are becoming a parallel trend to opulent, statement chains and sparkling stones. In the case of the Spire necklace, however, this certainly does not mean restrained. Plated with fine gold, the design is reminiscent of a simplified bird gliding through the air on outstretched wings. The gem is held in position by a fine link chain (Hall 9.2, F20).

Living

Designers Katharina Brand and Tzuri Gottlieb share a love of nature, and create light and design using tangible and, preferably, natural materials. Product-design studio Vayehi specialises in the design and masterful production of articles made using wood veneer. The products tell a personal story that emphasises the human dimension in the production process, as in the case of the ‘Wind’ luminaire. The arrangement of the veneer stripes of the lampshade creates the impression of a field of wheat leaning over in a light breeze. The gaps produce wonderful, warm colours when illuminated (Hall 11.0, F28).

Denmark’s renowned Lene Bjerre design studio is a classic example of entrepreneurial development. It all began in the accessories segment in the seventies. Since then, the Jutland-based company has conquered its customers’ hearts with a large variety of Scandinavian designs, especially home textiles, curtains and pillows, as well as supra-collection table cloths and runners. An example of classic Scandinavian colourways is the attractive, warm, moss-green Abiana throw, the ideal accessory for a warm summer evening on the veranda or for snuggling up on cool winter days (Hall 8.0, D30).