• Preview of Tendence Lifestyle 2007
• Previews of The Design Annual - Inside: Showtime and Decorate Life: Tendence Autumn and Winter
• Review of Decorate Life: Tendence Autumn + Winter 2008
• Preview of Tendence 2010 – Living and Giving

By Ania Dardas

© Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera

Looking for Christmas ideas? Start early – the annual Tendence trade fair for home and gallery, gifts, table decoration and kitchen is on at the Messe Frankfurt in Germany between July 3 and 7. Amazing gifts are only part of the offering on show, but let’s start there. Jewellery is a classic gift and you’ll find designer jewellery from names like Bernd Wolf, Kreuchauff Design, Manu, Sommer Isfort Middelmann and Tezer. But there you will also find costume baubles and fashion brands as well as a slice of the future from recently graduated students as part of the Talents program. You’ll also find stationery, toys, arts & crafts, candles and gourmet gifts.

© Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera

Should Christmas not be your focus, then the consumer goods fair will still manage to hold your attention by sheer novelty. Among the exhibitors is the Vilnius Academy of Art with furniture created by its students using paper and cardboard. Paper is also the medium chosen by the Aachen University of Applied Sciences for its furniture display. For something a little more solid, the Nordic design area presents design classics and new products from Scandinavia where wood is likely to play a more prominent role. © Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Petra Welzel

© Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Petra Welzel

© Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera

There are also workshops that will teach you how to make silk flower arrangements and what to watch out for and floral motifs also play a part in the Carat! on stage lecture. There are awards that celebrate the best: the young cellinis for jewellery design with opals, the best of kitchen innovation and German arts & crafts. And there are plenty of places to relax, but you probably won’t have the time as there is so much going on at the show!

© Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Petra Welzel