Fall High Point Market kicks off this weekend, and we’ve created a guide as the ultimate designer resource for the latest products and partnerships debuting this season. Here’s the news to know before heading to the show.
Now on Display
In October, High Point’s Bienenstock Furniture Library (1009 N. Main St.) will host a first-of-its-kind art exhibition curated by designer Gary Inman. The exhibit pairs the photography of Stephen Shutts, a designer at Charleston, South Carolina–based firm Mitchell Hill, with detailed renderings by Zachary Hodgin, the director at Inman’s Birmingham design studio. “The Eye and the Hand” features Hodgin’s hand-drawn interpretations of historically significant European and American buildings alongside 12 original black-and-white photographs of lesser-known architectural works captured by Shutts in Italy, Germany and Vienna.
“The best way to learn is by observing and documenting,” says Inman, who is also an interior design professor at High Point University. “[These artists] represent a bridge to the traditional teaching method of careful observation. Shutts chose the more modern method of photography, whereas Hodgin applied exhaustive, detailed techniques of the École des Beaux-Arts. The exhibit speaks to the artistic process of each designer.”
The collection will occupy more than 500 square feet in the library. “We’re excited to reach more designers and industry professionals through this special attraction,” says Karla Jones, executive director at Bienenstock. “The exhibit represents a wonderful opportunity to view the work of these amazing artists while also giving visitors a chance to experience the library and our wealth of resources.”
Going Green
As socially responsible design becomes a growing priority for designers and homeowners, High Point Market is creating dedicated programming via an immersive activation called Sustainability Stories. Taking over the Center Stage area, the daily exhibition will present the latest innovations in eco-friendly furnishings, materials and design, introducing attendees to green methods they can incorporate into their own businesses. Interior designers Laurence Carr, Nancy Fire and Jennifer Levy will create vignettes featuring sustainable pieces from High Point exhibitors, while an array of storyboards will display products from various industry partners.
In addition to the interactive displays, a daily schedule of programming will explore opportunities for the home furnishings industry to expand environmental efforts and offer actionable tips for those looking to improve their carbon footprint. High Point Market will also create a recycling station to give attendees a chance to actively participate in an important aspect of the program. “Our future, both for our industry and our planet, depends on how we address sustainability,” says Levy. “The Fall Market’s focus on sustainability will create an opportunity for us to share best practices and raise awareness about ways we can all be part of the solution.”
One to watch
Don’t miss the debut of Fabricut’s Maximal Couture collection, which features 12 eye-catching fabric styles and seven fabulous trimmings designed by Iris Apfel. The vibrant assortment evokes the spirit of the fashion icon’s bright, layered aesthetic and includes designs inspired by the many colors, patterns and textures found in her personal textile archives. The end result is nothing short of fabulous, offering everything from the ebullient Rose Floral in Chartreuse—which graces the cover of BOH’s guide to Market—to rich velvet tapes and fuzzy caterpillar cords that serve as a spirited reminder that when it comes to upholstery, less isn’t always more.
For more of BOH’s favorite debuts, click here.
Homepage image: A vignette featuring styles from Fabricut’s Maximal Couture collection by Iris Apfel | Courtesy of Fabricut