Hot on the heels of MIFF's extravagant buyers night, I take a quick flight to Singapore for its annual furniture show, IFFS. It's been a few years since I was last here, and while the event is a good deal smaller, it hasn't lost its ability to excite.
This year's IFFS (incorporating the ASEAN Furniture Show and a new handicrafts area, Nook Asia), opened on 9th March, welcoming visitors to Singapore Expo to explore four halls of design-led furniture and furnishings.
This year's show is replete with designer features, including: The White House, a museum/seminar space curated by design luminary Nathan Yong; The Italian Hospitality, a sourcing platform for Italian handicrafts from designer Giulio Cappellini; and the 2017 Design Stars showcase, which celebrates new creators.
Awards, seminars and numerous special product areas lend weight to an impressive exhibitor line-up, which features many of the region's heavyweights - Singaporean businesses Koda, d-Bodhi and Nathan Yong Design stand proud alongside the likes of Halo, Asiades and Resource Decor.
The region boasts no better opportunity to source from such a strong array of upper-end purveyors, whether one is looking for domestic or contract solutions. Almost 400 exhibitors from 35 countries - including pavilions from India and Taiwan, and a large networking platform, EU Business Avenues in South East Asia - represent a uniquely diverse and engaging mix under one roof.
Meanwhile, the offsite SingaPlural exhibition and assorted installations and events that comprise Singapore Design Week ensure that inspiration can be found around every corner.
Look to an upcoming issue of Furniture News for a full review of IFFS, which, for now, remains the nexus of the region's design-rich furniture industry.
The show runs until 12th March.
