Interior Lifestyle China 2011

Interior Lifestyle China 2011
China International Trade Fair for Household Products and Accessories
12 - 15 October 2011
Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China

Debut ‘Talents’ showcase at Interior Lifestyle China
‘Shine Shanghai’ features up and coming local designers

For the first time, Interior Lifestyle China will import Ambiente’s ‘Talents’ showcase from Frankfurt to the Shanghai fair. Young designers will showcase their innovative design concepts and introduce avant-guard household products from 12 – 15 October 2011 at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre.

One of the participants, Ms Anika Engelbrecht from Germany, is eager to show her “Individuals” project, which is a series of glass objects with delicate patterns ranging from glacier landscapes sandblasted into drinking glasses to fence-like holes that add new functions to a vase, to a worldwide audience. “It will be a unique experience to go to a country I have never been to before and see how they react to my designs,” said Ms Engelbrecht.

She further praised the opportunity to market to a new group of potential buyers: “I mean, it is always good to leave your "comfort zone", to get a new point of view and without platforms like ‘Talents’, all of that would not be possible.”

French designer Margaux Keller agreed. “I want to discover Chinese way of thinking, meet Chinese designers and to understand Chinese design production.” Ms Keller will present a collection of objects inspired by human behavior. Among her products are glass bottles to help finish the last drop, ceramic plates that can be licked with fingers, a wooden tray for aperitifs with ceramic bells that allows one to "take the last piece of cake" as well as other design products."

Other participants include: Mr Miguel Fiores Soeiro from Portugal, Mr Stephane Choquet from France, Mr Jimmy Chang from Taiwan as well as Mr Wenmiao, Mr Xiao Tianyu, Ms Jiangjing, Mr Chen Darui and Mr Xu Gongwei from mainland China.

There is also a special “Shine Shanghai 3” platform which groups Shanghai’s top designers from different professional backgrounds who design a theme through purely subjective and independent designing. This year' s theme "True Lies" will be interpreted by using crystal glass, which embodies both truth and lies, for it is about both innocence and maliciousness, both love and vanity, and both honor and obscurity. Among the designers involved in this showcase are Mr Hou Zhengguang, Mr Ding Wei and many others.

In addition to a number of designer driven programmes are more than 250 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions including pavilions with products made and designed in Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Interior Lifestyle China 2011 is organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Ltd. To learn more about this fair, please visit www.il-china.com


For press information, please contact:
Ms Amra Durakovic
Tel (852) 2238 9972
Fax (852) 2519 6800
amra.durakovic@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com

Leather Vs. Fabric Sofas

Are Leather or Fabric Sofas more durable?



Article taken off ehow.com



Leather Vs. Fabric Sofas





Buyers shopping for a new sofa should consider their budgets, lifestyles and decorating tastes when deciding between leather and fabric. Differences between the two include price, durability and choice of colors. Cleaning methods also vary. Manufacturers continue to improve the qualities of leather and fabrics, building on the rich histories of the two coverings.



History

Sofas date to Greek and Roman times when they were used more for reclining while eating than sitting. Originally covered in fabric, leather has been used as an upholstery material for couches since the Renaissance period. Spanish craftsmen excelled at embossing, tooling and painting leather furniture. The Industrial Revolution caused a steep price drop in couches, making them available to more people. A recent innovation in sofa covering is the 1989 introduction of ultra suede, derived from synthetic microfiber fabrics first developed in Japan in the early 1970s.



Leather Benefits

Manufacturers choose leather for sofas because of its many attractive traits, including its tried and true reputation. Leather is durable and repels stains. It cleans easily, making it a good choice for families with children and pets who need a low-maintenance material. Also, very few people are allergic to leather. It comes in a variety of colors, including red, blue and popular neutral tones. Leather can be expensive, although it has come down in price due to new manufacturing methods.



Cleaning Leather

In the Good Housekeeping article "How to Clean a Leather Sofa," hints maven Heloise recommends dusting often and vacuuming seat crevices. Before applying any surface protectant, make sure it is approved for leather. Use a cloth to wipe up spills as soon as they happen. Avoid using saddle soap, furniture polish or alcohol-based cleaners when cleaning a leather sofa. These cleaning items can change the leather's pigmentation.



Fabric Benefits

Fabric sofas come in a wide variety of patterned and solid designs, giving a room a specific look. Fabrics provide a wide variety of colors, textures and patterns. Fabrics can be chosen to match drapes and curtains and are made from cotton blends, silks, other natural fabrics, man-made materials or blends. Microfiber fabrics are also used on sofas because they resist wrinkles and moisture while keeping their shape and form.



Cleaning Fabric

According to the article "Caring for a Fabric Sofa" at professorshouse.com, before treating a stain, spot test any cleaner on part of the sofa that is not usually seen. A wet cloth can usually be used to clean stains as soon as possible. Applying a protective spray can increase the fabric's longevity. Using upholstery attachments for vacuuming is also recommended.