The Best Up-And-Coming Designers at NYIGF

The best and brightest new designs at this year's New York International Gift Fair

Sometimes when I enter the sprawling Javits Center for the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), I think to myself "Same vendors, same old stuff -- time and time again." But then, every year I'm happily surprised with all the amazing new vendors and designs. Somehow, I always manage to forget that this happens, but I'm almost glad I do. The temporary amnesia is worth the delight I feel when I discover all the new wares!

Here's a round-up of some of my favorite surprises from the many fresh and innovative companies exhibiting at NYIGF:

First on my list of new favorites are the delicate porcelain pieces at Bailey Doesn't Bark. New York-based designer Re Jin crafts gorgeous home accessories like gold-accented plates and teacups. She also has a sense of humor, as evidenced in another series of plates that features a swirling procession of ants. Her ant motif also appears on some tiny porcelain pendants, which we loved.

Alice Supply Co. has moved over to the Accent on Design section for their third time exhibiting at NYIGF. I was crazy for their new navy striped brooms, screwdrivers, garden tools and other utilitarian goods, and I was especially fond of their navy-striped trash bags, which might just make taking out the trash less of a chore. Alice Supply Co.'s cute products come in the aforementioned navy stripes, a multi-hued stripe, a camouflage and a pretty wood-grain print.


Next up is one of my favorite all-time finds: Waylande Gregory Studios' gorgeous hand-painted ceramics, which have the coolest story ever. The company's namesake was an early 20th-century artist who produced warehouses full of ceramic sculptures. Though well-known in his day, Waylande Gregory's pieces remained largely unknown until one of his descendants discovered a gold mine of his works. Presto, a company was born and the rest of us can benefit by owning one of the show-stopping pieces.

Equally elegant were British import Nick Munro's aerodynamic coffee and tea servers. Made of steel with rattan-wrapped handles, the engineer-turned-designer totally nails the balance of modern-and-trad. Though already available in Europe, this is the first time Munro's products are available stateside. Sign me up for when the mad rush for his products begins!


Another Brit showing solo in the U.S. for the first time is Thorsten van Elten, and we're all the luckier for it (his work has appeared in others' booths before, but this is Thorsten van Elten first show on his own).

Many of van Elten's desgins tend towards the witty -- plates emblazoned with "Good China" or "Bad China" anyone? On the other hand, some of the new offerings from van Elten are just plain cute. Check out these vegetable 'Gemüse' mugs and wooden dump truck toys. Please sir, may we have some more? Text

The textiles at Scintilla Limited blew me away. I loved the original designs of painterly, romantic brush strokes with a Rorschach/Pac-Man-esque edge. And the colors? Bright, fresh and out-of-the-ordinary combos that tied together the cutting-edge patterns.

If like me, you thought the outdoor rug market needed some spicing up, look no further than Fab Habitat. The Moroccan-inspired 'Lhasa' rug was my favorite, but a Greek key-bordered rug came in as a close second. In fact, these rugs are so nice and soft I might just opt to keep one indoors. Better still, Fab Habitat's rugs made of recycled polypropylene, which makes them super-duper eco-friendly.

Last but not least, is comeback kid Jardins du Jour (formerly known as Jardins de Fleur). The former manufacturer of lacquered chinoiserie furniture has reinvented itself as a print-making company. The results are beautiful framed grisailles, exotic birds and yes, more chinoiserie -- pagoda scenes, figurines and other eastern motifs are cast in luscious colors. Hats off to their new efforts!

Want to read more about the New York International Gift Fair? Check out Jessica's post about 2010's turquoise trend.