Discover an innovative mix of inspiring brands at Downtown Design, the only platform in the Middle East for the region dedicated to original, high quality design from all over the world.
Downtown Design is the commercial centerpiece of the inaugural Dubai Design Week and the only platform in the Middle East for the region’s trade professionals and design enthusiasts to discover original, high quality design from all over the world.
Now in its third edition and double the size of last year, the Fair will be hosted for the first time at the Dubai Design District (d3) in a purpose built venue that will present 90 brands: from international heavyweights to emerging upstarts from some of the world’s burgeoning design capitals.
Curated from a long list of applicants, the exhibiting brands have been carefully reviewed to ensure a mix of brands that cover a wide breadth of product categories – from lighting and furniture to kitchens and bathrooms –70% of which will appear for the first time as exhibitors, with many never before seen in the region.
“Downtown Design is increasingly becoming a focal point in the design calendar that attracts active professionals from around the world. With the pace of development in the region, and so many brands looking to enter the market, we provide a crucial platform to meet key players in the industry and grow their business,” says Fair Director, Rue Kothari.
Of this year’s brands, some 13 exhibitors are returning, such as Bohemian lighting brand Lasvit from Czech Reuplic, Dubai’s Nakkash Gallery and climate controlled cellar environments from Canadian Vin de Garde.
Leon Jakimic, President, Lasvit comments: “We debuted at Downtown Design last year and were very impressed, not only with the turnout of key decision makers from the industry, but also of high net worth consumers who have visited our stand.”
New exhibitors include premium Italian bathroom company Antonio Lupi, Denmark’s premier silver brand Georg Jensen, Hacker Kitchens and Rolf-Benz UAE. Hacker Kitchens and Rolf-Benz, this year celebrating 5 years in the UAE and a 30% year on year growth for the two German brands, see their participation in the fair as a further opportunity to grow market share in an exciting market:
“Exhibiting at Downtown Design is a real milestone in our development and we see the event as a platform to help to grow our business in the UAE and the region. We’ve made a real contribution to the rapidly expanding UAE interiors market and we feel confident that the market will continue to grow. Consumers in the UAE are not afraid to take chances with their homes, they are brave and adventurous when it comes to interiors. When you add in the fact that many properties here are larger than those in Europe, it makes for some very exciting kitchen creations,” said Samir Ranavaya, MD of Hacker Kitchens and Rolf-Benz UAE.
Downtown Designsees the industry converge on the city for an opportunity to meet key industry players and foster new relationships. As a dynamic business platform, Downtown Design is encouraging a greater number of the region’s buyers to engage with exhibitors via the first Buyers Programme. Working with the latest in VIP matching software, Downtown Design’s dedicated Buyer Team is able to facilitate a smooth and productive experience, with wide array of benefits including access to closed events, talks and a Buyers Lounge.
This October, Dubai will be the only place to be for industry and design enthusiasts. “I believe that the growth of Downtown Design along with projects like the Dubai Design District, and the launch of Dubai Design Week, with all the incredible brands, designers and concepts that will debut here in the last week of October, will help further our goal – to establish Dubai as a global hub for design,” says Rue Kothari.
Dubai Design District, d3 | 27-30 October, 2015