A new curated trade fair focused on furniture and home décor will debut in New York this May during NYC Design Week. The three-day event, called Shelter by Afternoon Light, will feature over 100 brands, including Carl Hansen & Son, BD Barcelona, Tom Dixon, and Yamazaki Home. It will be open to both industry professionals and the public.
The show is the creation of Deirdre Maloney and Minya Quirk, who previously co-founded the apparel trade show Capsule and later launched Shoppe Object with Jesse James of Aesthetic Movement. They also introduced Afternoon Light, an e-commerce platform, in 2022. The event is being produced in partnership with Andmore, which operates major trade shows such as Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market.
Organisers describe the fair as being inspired by 'the spirit of trade shows and art fairs, markets and collectible design showcases' and intend for it to be a key feature of NYC Design Week. Maloney stated, 'We jumped headfirst into home, furniture and e-commerce after building our careers in fashion,' adding that they are now focused on 'orchestrating industry-changing events that serve as beacons for business, community and new ideas.'
Quirk highlighted the need for a "large, experiential showcase" that appeals to both seasoned professionals and emerging designers. She also emphasised the value of face-to-face networking and the opportunity for direct consumer engagement.
The event will take place from 17 to 19 May at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Manhattan, which also hosted Shoppe Object in February. Andmore, which owns Shoppe Object, continues to expand its presence in the design and furnishings sector with biannual events in New York and editions in High Point.
Source: www.furnituretoday.com