WHAT DID I CHOOSE FOR BLOGGERS' CHOICE AWARDS AT THE GIFT SHOW?

I was asked again this year, along with eight other bloggers, to pick my Bloggers' Choice Award for a favorite item in the Accent of Design section at the Gift Show. What did I find "urgent, odd and delightfully designed"? This is actually a lot more difficult to find than it seems. Given the plethora of high design choices mixed in with the so so, you feel like you are playing good design hide and seek. After much hemming and hawing, I came up with my pick, shown below. "Design bloggers have a unique aesthetic sensibility, as well as an inherent knack for identifying emerging talents," said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. "Accent on Design offers an excellent platform for sourcing and rewarding design innovation." Each blogger selected one product from among the thousands featured by 200 Accent on Design exhibitors. My choice for the "next big thing" - is:

Marisa Marcantonio of www.stylebeat.blogspot.com:
Nasca Collection of globally-inspired textiles by Suki Cheema Studio (Brooklyn, NY)
"Merges the traditional craft of handmade Indian textiles with saturated colors and creative pattern play. The 100% cotton Taquile pillow is made using an ancient embroidery technique out of several fabrics, so the pieces add history and tradition to a home. The collection is very current with its playful graphic designs and cheery colors."

Suki Cheema, on the left, attended London's prestigious Central Saint Martin's School, a mecca for high design and creativity. After stints designing textiles for Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Diane von Furstenberg, he started his company in January of this year.


Graffiti-like patterns adorn embellished and embroidered textiles that take their cue from street culture and Indian design.