Festive mood at the conclusion of Furniture & Design Isle 2023

Furniture & Design Isle 2023, which took place in mid-October, ended a success, with 159 companies from 9 countries presenting the latest features the industry has to offer. The creative atmosphere of the fair was a true celebration for its participants and guests. The guests of the fair explored a broad range of products and found design gems matching their tastes and means.
Over the three days of the event, 17,379 people came to see the fair’s many and diverse exhibits. Participants offered everything one needs to furnish or renovate a home: latest furniture, designer objects, innovative lighting and decor for residential and public spaces. The companies had also thought of the youngest guests with masterclasses at some of the participants’ booths.

There was much interest not only in Latvian producers but also in those from Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, and Poland. The guests took the chance to talk to company representatives to find out about materials, furniture care, installation, and to get answers to other questions. They could also try out a bed or mattress they liked to check if it was right for them. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Design Isle thematic hall, the impressive structure of the Expo Cafe bar was set up at the fair, offering special anniversary cocktails. Ķīpsala succeeded in creating an exciting festival with a creative atmosphere in which the guests could discover the variety of products and buy things to furnish their homes with.

Professional advice
The fair’s guests were happy to take the opportunity and consult various specialists. This year, as usual, Furniture & Design Isle visitors received advice from professional interior designers. At the booth of the Latvian Designer Association, 12 experts revealed the latest trends in home furnishing and sustainable design, offering advice to the fair’s guests: Kristiana Kazarjana, Marija Ovčeruka, Dace Zeltiņa, Varis Dzērve, Andra Rācenāja, Jeļena Ivanova, Katrīne Pētersone, Miks Pētersons, Iveta Bigele, Vīva Ieviņa, Arvīds Plokšta, and Līga Kausniece. In order to find out what to pay attention to when buying furniture, people visited the booth of the Latvian Furniture Manufacturer Association.

Informative events
The fair also included seminars and presentations. The Latvian Designer Association hosted the LightUp! lighting conference in the Design Isle hall, featuring well-known professional speakers with extensive experience. The conference was moderated by Ilze Led (Ilze Leduskrasta-Buša), architectural lighting designer and Women in Lighting ambassador. The conference discussed topics associated with lighting from the viewpoints of designers, architects, lighting designers, manufacturers, distributors, as well as consumers.
The Furniture Manufacturer Association welcomed people at the seminar and discussion ‘Mēbeļu ražošana Latvijā – vakardienas grūtības, šodienas sarežģījumi, nezināmā rītdiena’ (Furniture Manufacturing in Latvia: Yesterday’s Difficulties, Today’s Complications, an Uncertain Tomorrow). In addition, at the Association’s booth, the fair’s guests could find out about Latvia’s top 100 furniture manufacturers and top 50 furniture dealers, as well as learn about the Association’s work, and even become a member of it.
The ‘Dizaina eksporta alianse’ design company association and its members presented the Design Latvia brand identity, intended as a mark of quality for Latvian design. ‘We created the brand to define uniform Latvian design codes and to enter global markets together,’ said Ieva Kalēja, the association’s chairwoman of the board.

Furniture & Design Isle 2023 also featured ‘Stikla serviss’ presentations on glass treatments, new products, and opportunities. Meanwhile, the Arka furniture salon presented the latest trends in the world of silent pods.

Exhibitions of lamps owned by celebrities
On the first day of the fair, 13 October, the festive mood in Ķīpsala began with the opening ceremony of the ‘Ko lampas tev varētu pastāstīt’ (What Lamps Could Tell You) exhibition, featuring lamps owned by celebrities. Among those present at the ceremony were entrepreneur Jūlijs Krūmiņš, actor Andris Bulis, writer Inga Grencberga, @mansremonts content creator Egita, former TV diva and personal development coach Anna Lieckalniņa, fashion designer Dace Bahmane-Krieviņa, event organiser Gundega Skudriņa, Latvian Association of Castles, Palaces, and Manors representative for Lielvircava Manor Roberts Grinbergs, chairwoman of the board of the Latvian Designer Association Barbara Freiberga, and others. Across all three days of the fair, its guests could not only see the lamps of celebrities but also discover the stories that those lamps would tell if they could talk. All the celebrity owners of the lamps received works by painter Ildze Ose as thanks.

International event for art lovers
This year’s Furniture & Design Isle featured the first Art is Life international event for art lovers, with at least 20 artists and sculptors, local and international, with 80 original works of art in different styles. Sculptures, paintings, and beautiful icons were available for guests to see and buy. Art is Life is held by the organisers of the ‘Rīgas spārni’ project.

The next Furniture & Design Isle will take place at Ķīpsala International Exhibition Centre on 11–13 October 2024.

Furniture & Design Isle is organised by the international exhibition company BT 1.

Find out more at: www.mebelesundizains.lv

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