This winter, the impact of the maker movement will play out with growth in the artisan-crafted gift and home décor products presentations featured at the Las Vegas Market.
C11 in the Las Vegas World Market complex will feature a new and an expanding showroom dedicated to handcrafted merchandise at the winter show, and a special C11 escalator lobby display will highlight handmade offerings. The American Made Collective is nearly doubling its showroom on C11 to feature 18 American-made artists in 3,636-square feet.
The Pavilions temporary exhibition space will see the return of the Artisanal LA pop-up showcase highlighting handcrafted, handmade, artisan and maker products available from 30 Los Angeles-based craftspeople. IMC also expects the expanded Handmade space in the Pavilions to sell out. In the Discoveries showcase, The Antique Vintage Marketplace will feature more than 100 suppliers of repurposed, refurbished and vintage items.
IMC plans to support the artisanal community at the market with a varied selection of educational programming and special events, including a new partnership with CRAFT, or Craft Retailers & Artists for Tomorrow. The nonprofit trade organization champions the business of handmade American crafts. CRAFT is developing special programming for retailers and exhibitors, including a Meet the Makers segment.
Other winter market events focusing on the artisanal community include the sixth edition of the Global Goodness Awards, which recognize furniture, gift and home décor companies for environmentally friendly, sustainable and socially responsible business practices.
“The burgeoning ‘Maker Movement’ is alive and well at Las Vegas Market,” said Dorothy Belshaw, IMC president of gift and home décor. “We will have a record number of artisans and makers at the winter market across both permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits. Our newly expanded Handmade category at The Pavilions is expected to be completely sold-out in January, and Discoveries, The Antique Vintage Marketplace, has doubled in size in just one year. In addition to resource growth, we are supporting the artisan category with a variety of exhibits, special events and dedicated educational programming, all designed to appeal to the unique and inventive maker community.”
