The China International Furniture Expo in Shanghai
Where
centuries of tradition and the future meet
Shanghai is renowned as the commerce capital
of China. When people go to Shanghai, they are fascinated with the architecture,
the history, the people, the culture and the energy that combine to make
up modern Shanghai. With more than 15 million people, the city, with its
strong French and English colonization and flavorful Chinese citizenship,
is truly an international synthesis.
Over the past fifteen years, Shanghai has experienced a cultural renaissance
and has become a desired destination. This sophisticated, cosmopolitan
city attracts professionals, artists, designers and entrepreneurs from
all parts of the world to appreciate its rich past, present and future.
Its evolving scene keeps them returning for more.
The
China International Furniture Expo
The Chinese furniture market is the talk of my industry. This, and the
recent news about China’s growing economic strength, is what inspired
me to travel across the globe to get a glimpse and understanding of what
the buzz is all about. Once a year, in September, The China International
Furniture Expo in Shanghai opens its doors to the world to showcase furnishings
made in China. Buyers from all around the globe are impressed not only
by the strength and quality of China’s production, but also by the
financial advantages of buying in China.
The development of new and exciting design concepts in the furniture and
accessory marketplace, as well as the advancement of traditional and time-honored
Asian craftsmanship, have promoted the role of Chinese furniture in today’s
international furniture market. China has grown, from what was once considered
an important source, to what many consider a major force in the ever-growing
and evolving global furniture marketplace.
Today, the phrase “Made in China”
takes
on a whole new meaning.
Located in three different parts of the city, the Furniture Expo encompasses
miles of showrooms and temporary exhibits. I spent a few days satisfying
my curiosity, seeking new products and talking to vendors. There were
a few that I found particularly interesting for their uniquely different
and successful approach to our highly competitive furniture industry.
Many companies are flocking to China in an effort to increase production
at a more affordable cost. Rather than source the business out to Chinese
factories, many business owners are actually starting up their own production
facilities in Shanghai. Thomas Hooft, a third-generation furniture business
owner from Belgium, is one of many European business people that have
moved their production facilities to China. What makes his business unique
is that the company, H&L Furniture, exports solid oak from Belgium
to China to produce their classic, Old World designs. Then their products
are shipped back to Europe to be marketed. A truly synergistic connection
has developed between H&L’s age- old Flemish techniques and
modernized assembly. Although this fabrication involves using machinery,
rather than handcrafting the furniture, Hooft confirms that his skilled
artisans have perfected the process by combining mass production with
centuries-old
craftsmanship.
I noticed as I meandered through the showrooms that as much as the European
market is turning to China, Chinese designers are still very influenced
by European design. We see this European flavor emerging in traditional
and contemporary Chinese furniture design. Italian-inspired furniture
designed by Bottega’s “Mr. Jimmy”, combines classical
Italian designs with a contemporary, avant-garde flair. This style appeals
to the Chinese customer who is seeking the look of luxury and desires
western flavor. Mr. Jimmy markets his furniture as “being inspired
by Italian nobility, but available to those who enjoy the pleasures of
a picturesque and luxurious lifestyle”. Companies like Bottega are
focusing their efforts on the Chinese market for the simple fact that
China, with its growing population, is predicted to become the largest
consumer marketplace for furniture in the world.
Chinese-owned, Tengxinjie, specializes in producing high quality cane
furniture. They keep a close eye on the trends and are constantly seeking
innovative designs for new products to compete in both the domestic and
foreign markets. One of these trends is to use sustainable, raw materials.
According to Marketing Director, David Yuan, “The concept behind
this line is the merging of European and American styling with an Asian
sentiment, by returning to the natural elements and simplicity of the
Eastern principles.” The clean lines of these designs and tropical
textures attract diverse consumers from Asia to the Americas.
One of the highlights of my visit was meeting renowned interior designer,
Zhu Xiao Jie. Mr. Zhu owns a contemporary furniture line exhibiting at
the show and was one of the judges of this year’s Expo. He is also
a successful furniture designer with more than 200 employees producing
his designs. When I discovered his work, I was immediately impressed by
its sensitivity, artistry and attention to form and function. I was honored
that he took the time from judging the show to meet with me and discuss
his work. He showed me his catalog of unique and clever designs inspired
by the materials he uses. “My furniture is not merely practical,
but more importantly it is a way of life with nature goodwill and simplicity.”
states Mr. Zhu. As he shared with me his love for carpentry and design,
he also expressed a strong interest in the world of design outside of
China. He believes in globalization and a fusion between Eastern and Western
ideas in design. Like many successful Chinese designers his desire is
to create furniture that would appeal to an international market.
The New World Market Shanghai 2007
As a result of the success of the Chinese furniture industry, it is obvious
to buyers that the Shanghai furniture market is experiencing rapid growth.
But I was surprised to discover huge plans in the works for a new furniture
marketplace, that the Chinese claim will make the Shanghai furniture mart
the largest, permanent purchasing hub in the world, surpassing High Point,
Milan and Cologne. Jisheng Welborn Global Purchasing Center (JSWB) and
the Shanghai Greenland Group have formed a joint venture with plans to
build a world-class destination in the furniture industry. I met with
Zou Wenlong, president of the JSWB Global Purchasing Center. “The
concept is to create and build a permanent, self-contained furniture marketplace,
which will be opened year-round. Future plans include building a hotel,
restaurants and a museum showcasing the history and development of furniture
through the years, as well as a University,” states Mrs. Wenlong.
Located just twenty minutes from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport,
construction for the three-phase project is scheduled to commence in May
of 2006. This was big news.
Shanghai
– The New City
After this enchanting and invigorating visit to the Shanghai Furniture
Expo, I came away with a new understanding of how China has opened its
doors to the Western world. The Chinese are not only embracing their new
found position in the global market, but they are forging relationships
on all levels. Once thought of as the mass-production “copy cat,”
China is emerging in the 21st century as an international leader in innovative
design and production. I return encouraged by the new energy of Shanghai.
The city is experiencing a renaissance that is stimulating the entrepreneurial
spirit and inspiring great creativity
Until next month, keep your creativity outside the box and Inside Design.
MKira Krümm is an award-winning interior designer and COO of Kira
Krümm Interior Design, located at 6062 Taylor Road, Suite 801, in
Naples. She may be contacted by phone at (239) 593-4413, by email at Insidedesign@kirakrumm.com
or by visiting www.kirakrumm.com.
Kira Krümm Interior Designer License # ID 4752 ASID, IIDA, IFDA,
Associate AIA, NCIDQ Cert. # 018631
239 394-9333
Written
by Kira Krümm
Photography Courtesy of Patrick Wack
