The Heart of Design Will Beat in Istanbul This September

Preparations are in full swing for Furnishings & Design Istanbul (FDI), where innovative, unique, and aesthetic solutions for interior design will come together, ranging from furniture to lighting, home textiles to accessories. Organized by the Federation of Furniture Associations (MOSFED), this event, which is Turkey’s first design-focused fair, will take place at the Istanbul Expo Center from September 19-21.

MOSFED President Ahmet Güleç commented on the fair, saying, “Turkey needed an organization that is well-positioned, with clear goals and mission, and focused on design. FDI was organized in response to this need.” He also noted that the organization, which is the first design-focused fair, will feature a recycling laboratory. “This is also a first. We will recycle fair waste and create playgrounds for schools in need,” Güleç added.

The Turkish furniture industry is gaining increasing recognition not only for its steady growth in production and exports but also for its design vision. Furnishings & Design Istanbul (FDI), which is preparing to host the latest and most inspiring designs along with horizon-expanding discussions, will bring together innovative designs focusing on various areas from sustainability to innovation. Supported by the industry’s strong business network, the fair will also draw attention with its sustainability vision. All the stands and materials used will be recycled after the fair and transformed into different materials for schools, making Furnishings & Design Istanbul a pioneering event in Turkey.

We Will Create a Design-Focused Strong Jumping-off Point for Brands

Ahmet Güleç, President of the Federation of Furniture Associations (MOSFED), noted the significant transformation the Turkish furniture industry has undergone in the past 20 years. He stated, “Our industry has become an exporter, generated a trade surplus and made a serious contribution to the national economy over the past 20 years. With our production capabilities and marketing activities, we have become the 7th largest furniture exporter in the world. This success story needs to continue growing stronger. This can only be achieved by placing ‘design’ at the center of the industry. However, the weakness of our unique designs is slowing our progress. Given this situation, there was a need for an organization that brings designers and manufacturers together, facilitates productive meetings and experiences, and highlights the importance of unique designs. FDI was designed to create a design-focused strong jumping-off point for brands. All sections within the organization serve this purpose.”

Unique and Innovative Designs Across a Wide Range

FDI will host brands of all sizes that present unique and innovative designs across a wide range, from furniture and lighting to home textiles, flooring, and accessories. Industry stakeholders and design enthusiasts will have the opportunity to explore the unique aspects of design in Turkey at FDI. Emphasizing the fair’s focus on various areas from sustainability to innovation, Ahmet Güleç commented, “We want to establish a value chain centered on design, sustainability, and goodness, and become a global brand with our design culture. For this, in addition to product exhibition areas, we will have sections called FDI Stage and FDI Talks. In this area, we will conduct high-caliber conversations and discussions. We place great importance on our producers and brands working with designers and enhancing their uniqueness to increase the added value of their products. Another section supporting this goal will be our Designer-to-Business (D2B) area. In this program, we will bring our designers together with our producers and enable them to establish productive business relationships. I am proud to say that while Turkey is very familiar with B2B meetings in fair organizations, D2B will be a first in this context. Additionally, we will have a showcase area under the name FDI New Horizon Exhibition. We will host independent Turkish designers at different stages of their professional journeys with their products in this exhibition area. FDI Design House and FDI Lounge have been designed as other key areas supporting the core of our organization.”

A Recycling Laboratory Will Be Established Within FDI

Ahmet Güleç noted that FDI has taken on significant missions in the Turkish design world and aims to be a low-carbon footprint organization in terms of sustainability. He described the project with Repair Club as follows: “With the FDI recycling laboratory (ReUpcycle Lab) we will establish in collaboration with Repair Club we will re-evaluate accumulated waste. The decorative materials used this year at ReUpcycle Lab will be redesigned into chess sets, recycling bins, and playgrounds. As MOSFED, we will deliver these products to schools in need. In this way, we will provide social benefits and contribute to reducing waste production. Additionally, Repair Club will design home decor products, which will be included in the Design House collection, offering visitors the opportunity to adopt and support a sustainable lifestyle.” Ahmet Güleç added that they hope FDI, which has made great efforts to be a low-carbon footprint event, will serve as an example for other fairs.

Goal of Making Turkey a Brand in the Global Design World

Emphasizing that they are working with high energy and a future-focused mindset to ensure a productive fair with innovative designs, solutions, enlightening conversations, and high-level intellectual discussions, Ahmet Güleç stated, “With FDI, we aim to place ‘design’ at the heart of the industry to create a quality style and stance in homes, workplaces, and all public spaces, both indoor and outdoor. Our goal is to ensure that the decoration ecosystem, starting with furniture, achieves a unique appearance and becomes an event followed with interest worldwide. We are also preparing for future editions of the event. We can turn Istanbul into a design hub and make Turkey a brand in the global design field.”

FDI: The Unifying Force of the Design Ecosystem

The President of the FDI Design Committee, which consists of respected designers, interior architects, architects, and academics from Turkey, Prof. Dr. Alpay Er, Head of the Industrial Design Department at Özyeğin University, also highlighted the importance of design in his speech. Prof. Dr. Alpay Er, President of the FDI Design Committee, emphasized the significance of design by stating, “Design makes a difference, creates identity, distinguishes, and strengthens brand identity.” He noted that while the Turkish furniture industry has understood the importance of design over the past decade, there have been challenges in managing design. He added, “We have brands that design, but their numbers are very few. To increase this number, it is necessary to explain what the design ecosystem is, what it consists of, and where the gaps are. FDI can be a strong educator, exhibitor, and provider of information and experience within the design ecosystem. These are very important missions, and to achieve this, we have undergone an intensive working period with our strong supporter MOSFED as the Design Committee. Our efforts will continue this year and in the coming years.” Highlighting that previous design events in Turkey lacked sustainability, Alpay Er stated, “FDI is different in this regard. Besides being a fair organization, it has a civil and independent character supported by an industry that grows with design and is united with design, and its umbrella organization MOSFED. The primary goal is the high benefit of the sector and the country. I believe we will continue our path with great success and that it will become an organization everyone in the world will be eager to visit in the coming years.”

It Will Also Make a Difference with the Design Committee

The FDI Design Committee includes Prof. Dr. Alpay Er, Head of the Industrial Design Department at Özyeğin University; interior architect and designer Ahmet Raşit Karaaslan; architect Aynur Yılmaz; senior interior architect Cem Cemal Çobanoğlu; strategic communication consultant Cengiz Ayyıldız; industrial designer and interior architect Ece Yalım; designer, curator, and educator Erdem Akan; and industrial designer Şule Koç. All products exhibited at Furnishings & Design Istanbul (FDI) were selected by the Design Committee based on originality and criteria for working with designers. The FDI promotional meeting was held at Sofitel – Istanbul.

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