BIG+BIH 2010 trends: Euro, green influences

Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair (BIG+BIH), Southeast Asia's largest gift and houseware biannual tradeshow, opens to professionals on October 19 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC).

The focus for 2010 is "Soul and Style of the Orient," but Supat Sriwannavit, the president of the Thai Lifestyle Product Federation, told Relaxnews on October 11 the big trends permeating this year's show are green and European influences.

"Right now in terms of design trends we are following Europe's lead," namely "France as the trendsetter" and "Italy for design," added Sriwannavit.

Sarnit Karunyavanji, the business development director of BITEC, highlighted the fact that this year's design objects are eco-friendly using "organic raw green materials and recyclables" according to international standards. "For example the stationery products are all in accordance with REACH."

"Also, you will not find any lead in the toys we export...our products are not mass-produced and quality is paramount," said Sriwannavit.

And while the event organizers have ambitious plans to expand the event by 2012 - when the number of booths is to exceed 2,600 - he emphasized that this growth will not change the business of BIG+BIH, assuring that "our items will remain of the highest quality selected on the basis of design."

Sriwannavit has spent a good part of 2010 meeting with ASEAN counterparts as well as key people in India, Japan, China and Korea to promote BIG+BIH's growth and increase the region's presence at upcoming shows beyond 25 percent.

"Right now we are only a mid-size event and can't compete yet with the likes of Paris' Maison+Objet and Frankfurt's international gift show or even Guangzhou's housewares show," noted Sriwannavit.

He continued to explain that 200 booths will be added to the BIG+BIH 2011 event, plus Bangkok's delayed project to link the airport with a BTS stop at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) will be complete, allowing easier access for international participants.

Annually BIG+BIH welcomes over 6,000 international buyers to see the latest collection of Thai and Southeast Asian made-for-export-only goods including toys, office supplies, housewares, furniture, crafts, décor elements and gifts. The event is free and open to the public October 23-24.

http://www.thaitradefair.com/big_oct/home.aspx