From September 5 to 8, 2023, CIFF returned to Shanghai, offering access to the best design inspirations in the region. CIFF, known as the China International Furniture Fair, is the world’s largest furniture fair and has been a continuous tradition for 51 editions. Since 2015, CIFF has been held in March in Guangzhou Pazhou and in September in Shanghai Hongqiao.
After eight years of continuous evolution, including three marked by the pandemic, the 2023 edition of CIFF Shanghai placed a strong emphasis on the upscale domestic market. The event integrated the presence of industry-leading brands with the most significant distribution channels in both Chinese and international markets to promote international collaborations.
The 52nd edition of CIFF Shanghai featured exhibitions and pavilions dedicated to design and selected distribution. With a focus on innovation and original design, high-end design took center stage in two pavilions, showcasing top brands, special exhibitions, and various activities organized by CIFF for the more than 100,000 product designers, interior designers, and professionals attending the fair.
CIFF Shanghai served as an ideal platform for companies looking to establish a strong presence in the Chinese market. The event’s partners included all major sales channels in China, both offline and online, ranging from Red Star Macalline, one of China’s leading high-end distributors, to large and small stores, e-commerce sales channels, contract operators, and designers.
Furthermore, CIFF Shanghai 2023 provided exclusive services for foreign buyers and operators to ease their travel to China, enhance their presence at the fair, and develop business relationships with exhibitors. The event also invested in international promotion through partnerships with major media outlets.
Taking place at the NECC (National Exhibition & Convention Center) in Shanghai Hongqiao, the event featured more than 1,500 exhibitors covering an area of 370,000 square meters, showcasing the entire furniture supply chain. This included home, outdoor, office, and contract furniture, accessories, textiles, and machinery, thanks to the concurrent Shanghai International Furniture Machinery & Woodworking Machinery Fair.
The 52nd edition of CIFF Shanghai introduced a revamped layout, dividing the fair into four thematic exhibition events. CIFF Home Textiles & Accessories Lifestyle Exhibition brought together a selection of brands interpreting new trends in home furnishings, while CIFF Offices & Public Spaces Exhibition presented innovative trends for workspaces. Additionally, CIFF Urban Outdoor Furniture Exhibition showcased outdoor furniture, accessories, and equipment, and CIFF Shanghai International Furniture Machinery & Woodworking Machinery Fair hosted machinery for the production of furniture and furniture parts.
Here are some of the highlights that impressed us:
The “Design with Purpose” exhibition: Good design is always good business.
Since its inception in 2015, the “Design with Purpose” exhibition has been one of the most significant design-themed areas at the Shanghai Home Expo. Curated by renowned Chinese designer Zhu Xiaojie, the exhibition primarily provides a platform for young and emerging designers to showcase their work. This year’s theme, “New Beginnings,” divided the exhibition into four main sections: Fusion, Workshop, Marketplace, and Teahouse. It featured over 80 designers and more than 300 “purposeful” new designs, with the goal of making young talent’s work visible.
Camerich’s “Transit Garden”: Creating an Ecological Exhibition Hall with Recyclable Materials
In pursuit of sustainable environmental goals, Camerich collaborated with Semester Studio to create an ecological exhibition hall design that embodies “zero waste, recycling, and sustainability” by combining natural elements and environmental themes.
Grand Tea Classic: An Immersive Tea Culture Space for Tea Enthusiasts
Tea culture has been passed down through generations in China, and people of all ages have the habit of drinking tea, making it one of the most representative aspects of Chinese lifestyle. Curated by Huang Jianhui, the “Grand Tea Classic” is a highlight special exhibition at the China Home Expo. This year, it introduced new elements such as tea connoisseurs, tea gatherings, and tea theaters, injecting fresh vitality into the millennia-old tea culture.
Noya Home: Building the Future of Formaldehyde-Free Green Homes
Noya Home focused on the theme of “Future, Nature, Sustainability” in their exhibition, showcasing their flagship formaldehyde-free, environmentally friendly, and fire-resistant product, the “Nayan Honeycomb Panel.”
XPOWER (艾宝沃): Saying Goodbye to Messy Power Strips with Modular Track Sockets
The “XPOWER Track Socket” with an IP54 waterproof and dustproof rating utilizes a globally exclusive invention known as the “multi-phase-like two-dimensional modular electrical system.”
Cosmo Mobili: Unconstrained, Undefinable
At the China (Shanghai) Home Expo, visitors entered the bustling exhibition hall of a brand called Cosmo Mobili, which brought the theme of “Unconstrained, Undefinable” to its art and life exhibition. Cosmo Mobili’s furniture designs draw inspiration from returning to nature and essence, leading visitors to contemplate the relationship between people and space and appreciate the beauty of simplicity found within. In the exhibition, the “Pumpkin Chair” on display had a cute, round appearance, with an overall structure that lacked a frame. When sitting on it, one could immediately feel the soft, elastic fabric gently enveloping the body. Another standout item was the “Miro Dining Table,” which featured a triangular design that broke away from the conventional notion of dining tables being either circular or rectangular.
Jiumu (九牧): The Must-Have Musical Showerhead for Bathroom Singers
The globally debuted “Jiumu K8 Musical Showerhead” brings a unique shower experience with its “singing showerhead.” It integrates features like karaoke, music playback, audiobooks, and phone calls. The showerhead boasts up to 180 water outlets, creating a circular silk curtain of dense and gentle water droplets, resembling a spa-grade shower.
There’s more to explore! Check out this video as Iko In takes you on journey to discover the best of CIFF!
