WHITE PLAINS, NY, January 9, 2015…The winter 2015 edition of NY NOW®, the Market for Home + Lifestyle, will deliver unparalleled resources to buyers looking for global handmade products – both through Artisan Resource®, co-located with NY NOW, and HANDMADE® Global Design, part of NY NOW’s curated HANDMADE Collection. Both Artisan Resource and HANDMADE Global Design emphasize good design and cultural preservation.
A dynamic mix of new, returning and charter exhibitors will be part of the winter 2015 edition of Artisan Resource®, a first-of-its-kind market offering U.S.-based volume importers, direct import retailers, wholesalers and designers the opportunity to meet with international artisanal producers from around the world. Artisan Resource, which is co-located with NY NOW®, the Market for Home +Lifestyle, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Center, will be held February 1- February 4.
A renewed focus on global import resources emphasizing good design, traditional craftsmanship and community building also will highlight HANDMADE® Global Design. Presented as part of NY NOW’s HANDMADE Collection, Global Design, which screens applicants for a developed line of authentic and quality work handmade by global artisans, and for the potential of U.S. distribution and wholesale pricing capabilities, will welcome 22 new participants to the winter 2015 edition of NY NOW. HANDMADE Global Design will be held January 31-February 3.
“NY NOW’s strong tradition of delivering international resources continues this winter with our excellent lineup of exhibitors both in HANDMADE Global Design and Artisan Resource,” said Allison Garafalo, sales director for Artisan Resource and NY NOW’s HANDMADE Collection. “The strong mix of new, returning and charter exhibitors points to buyers’ sustained interest in handmade design and related global resources.”
The following companies/pavilions are new to Artisan Resource for winter 2015: Aisra LLC and Sheetals (India), ArTika and Colombiart.co (Colombia), Gone Rural (South Africa), Havilak Company LTD (Ghana, member of WFTO), Living Blue (Bangladesh), Puro Utz Pin Pin (Guatemala), The Galleria (Afghanistan), The Leakey Collection – Zulugrass (Kenya, new to Artisan Resource). Exhibitors returning to Artisan Resource following an absence from the New York Market include: Au Lac (Vietnam), Cape Craft (South Africa), Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya A.C. (Mexico), Lorenza Filati (Guatemala) and Samman Trade for Export & Import (Egypt).
New exhibitors also will be part of Artisan Resource’s popular Market Incubator Program, through which ByHand Consulting helps emerging artisan enterprises with show preparation, buyer outreach and onsite show assistance for three consecutive shows. New entrants to stage 1 this winter include: Art Brasilis (Brazil), Bulu Mango (Uganda), Cooperative Djiguiyaso (Mali), Inzuki (Rwanda), GKonomics (Philippines), TITIGUIUIFO – MAKI (Peru), Maya Traditions (Guatemala), Pais Textil (Peru), Setesik (Guatemala) and Sidai Designs (Tanzania). Moving on to stage 2 are: ABAN (A Ban Against Neglect) (Ghana), Fait La Force (Haiti) and Tuareg Fine Jewelry (Niger). Stage 3 participants include Awamaki (Peru) and Entoto Beth Artisans (Ethiopia).
From 40 applicants, HANDMADE® Global Design, thus far has accepted 22 companies — based upon unique and quality craftsmanship, a manufacturing process that employs global artisan workshops and an ability to distribute and sell wholesale through channels in the United States. Acceptances to HANDMADE® Global Design include: 100 Design LLC / Nikki-B (Chile; jewelry), Akola Project (Uganda; jewelry and bags), All Across Africa (baskets, jewelry, bags, home décor, kitchen accessories), A Lost Art (Southeast Asia – Thailand, Indonesia; hand-carved wooden sculptures, organic wood formations and handicrafts), BlocArt (South Africa; handmade art from recycled wood which originated in Hout Bay, South Africa), Creations by Lily (Tibet; handbags), Culture Shock (Tibetan refugees in India; handcrafted ethnic jewelry, belts, gift items and handbags), Dsenyo (Malawi, Zambia, Brazil; fair-trade gifts and ethical fashion items), Esmeralda Lambert LLC (Dominican Republic; handwoven jewelry inspired with Latin and Caribbean influences), Guira (Colombia; jewelry made with totuma shells and silk cocoons), Hamro Village (Bhutan; textiles), Ibikéyé (Benin, Niger and Nigeria; handmade jewelry and clothing), Kamibashi (Thailand; String Doll Gang dolls), Nomi Network (Cambodia and India; handbags, totes, pillows, t-shirts), OM Gallery (Asia; home décor), Parcel & Journey (Indonesia, Africa, Nepal, Haiti and Guatemala; curated collection of cultured fashion and home design), Pema (Tibet; woolen hand-knit accessories), Revy Fair Trade Products (El Salvador; women’s accessories), Tangerine Temple (Indonesia, Thailand, some from China; fashion jewelry, hair accessories, sarongs, scarves and bags), The Village Experience (Thailand, India, Kenya; handbags, jewelry, scarves), Tula Hats (Mexico; hats) and Tumar Art Group (Kyrgyzstan; modern, functional craft products).
The strong mix of exhibitors will be complemented by extensive programming focusing on global resources and handmade design. These include pre-show webinars discussing pricing, distribution channels and other exhibitor success strategies for Artisan Resource exhibitors. During market week, free “Importing 101: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Importing But Were Afraid To Ask” seminars will be presented daily (February 1-3), from 9am – 10:30am, for Artisan Resource attendees. Presenters Phil Hobson of Phoenix International and experienced importer and artisan business advisor Carol McNulty, will outline the nuts and bolts of direct import practices.
In addition, a series of special seminars devoted to global handmade and design trends will be presented at the Javits Center for all New York Market participants. On Design Council Day (Sunday, February 1), trend forecaster and HAND/EYE magazine founder Keith Recker and ByHand Consulting Co-founder Karen Gibbs, will lead “Handmade Futures: 2016 Design and Color Trends in Global Handmade Products”; and Pratt University professor Frank Millero and veteran merchant and designer Alex Bates will present “Concept to Reality: Turning Ideas Into Handmade Product.” HANDMADE Business Day, on Sunday, February 2, will include a “HANDMADE in the Market Today” presentation by Karen Gibbs and Colvin English, co-founders of ByHand Consulting; and a panel discussion, titled “Why Does Handmade Matter to Retailers?”, about what buyers are looking for in artisan suppliers and why artisan and handmade products resonate with consumers. Artisan Resource educational programming concludes on Tuesday, February 3, with “Getting The Word Out: How To Tell Your Handmade Story, and Identify and Pitch Prospective Media Outlets.”
Artisan Resource is a semi-annual tradeshow which runs concurrently with NY NOW, offering a production-sourcing venue for overseas artisan enterprises to showcase their products and production capabilities – at export terms – from their country of origin. The semi-annual tradeshow is managed by Emerald Expositions and organized with the assistance of ByHand Consulting. Additional information and registration is available online at www.artisanresourceny.com.
NY NOW’s comprehensive collections – HOME, LIFESTYLE and HANDMADE, as well as NEW! exhibitors – will encompass 100,000 products in 400+ product categories. Attendees from all 50 U.S. states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration are available online at www.nynow.com.
The winter 2015 edition of NY NOW®, the Market for Home +Lifestyle, will run Saturday, January 31, through Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. HANDMADE will run Saturday, January 31, through Tuesday, February 3; and Artisan Resource will run Sunday, February 1, through Wednesday, February 4. Market hours are 9am – 6pm, daily, except Tuesday, February 3, when HANDMADE closes at 5pm; and Wednesday, February 4, when HOME, LIFESTYLE and Artisan Resource close at 2pm.