* The following article is an excerpt from Design in/from Spain magazine for smartphones and tablets.
IMM Cologne
The first big show of 2016 was Imm Cologne, which this year had 1,185 exhibitors from 50 countries and an impressive 80,000 visitors from 128 countries. On average the daily percentage of foreign, i.e. non German, visitors was 46 per cent. Trends identified for the coming years include continued demand for mid-century modern style furniture, and for products made from natural, sustainable materials over plastics – so wood, wool and stone.
Maison & Objet
Overlapping with Imm Cologne, Maison & Objet took place in Paris at the end of January. While organisers were expecting lower than usual visitor numbers because of the terrorist attacks in the city in November, in fact figures were down only slightly at 76,417. Those visitors came from 143 countries while exhibitor numbers reached 2,978 from 59 countries.
Habitat Valencia
Taking place in the first week of February, Habitat Valencia is part of a trio of fairs that run concurrently, the other two being ceramics show Cevisama and Fimma Maderalia, a showcase for the latest tools and machinery for joinery and cabinetmaking.
Habitat Valencia itself had nearly 300 exhibitors, both contemporary and classical interiors companies, the majority of which are from Spain. However, the 25,000 plus trade visitors were from all over the world and in total the three shows attracted more than 65,000 visitors.
Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair
And the last big winter fair requires everyone to fly north to Stockholm for the city's design extravaganza which takes place in mid-February. Interest in this fair has grown hugely in recent years, in part because of the seeming mania for mid-century furniture, which has focused attention on Scandinavia's rich modern design heritage.
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