Formex: Above and Beyond Passion

Creativity is about playfulness, and Formex serves as the ideal playground for artists and designers. It’s more than exposing artworks. It cultivates an entire atmosphere and a unique community. You can find inspiration at any step, without even searching for it, and embrace an escape from the mundane.

With roots dating back to 1960, Formex has a strong socio-cultural impact. Held twice a year, at the beginning of January and the end of August, it covers several industries, with a particular focus on interior design and collectibles. Its ongoing success and reputation in the Nordic region and internationally underscore its significance. By bringing together like-minded individuals worldwide, Formex fosters effective collaborations among businesses, investors, media, and press, creating societal value. Furthermore, its creative and innovative structure, which introduces different themes in each edition, leaves a lasting impact on Swedish and Nordic culture.

This edition featured eight different areas showcasing a range of products, from Scandinavian interior design to food crafts. This edition’s theme was Generation Love. The project manager of Formex, Sonja Björk Ebert, exemplifies the theme as a possible bridge between young talents and veterans, vintage and new trends, and the analog that meets the digital.

Upon entering the fair, a decorative setting was in the middle of the entrance square. It seemed like a structured whole new world that created an idyllic atmosphere. No doubt, it was the main exhibition there, by interior stylist Dennis Valencia. The little paradise was made with impressive elements, symbols, and colors: exotic fruits (coconuts, grapes), flowers (gerbera in bright colors), and even insects (scarabaeuses). It felt like a celebration of life with all its facets.

Exploring further, a dreamy scene of a café awaited all visitors upon reaching it. This is the inevitable effect of Monchiqe x Studio Lisa Bengtsson’s collaboration. A fusion of retro details and inspiration from the Italian Riviera fitted perfectly, allowing visitors to relax and be delighted by the summer aesthetics, immersing themselves in their world for a moment.

This company began in 2017 by packaging matches in small gift bottles, initially offering just three colors. Over time, they have expanded their product line to include 17 different colors of matches, as well as fire blankets, easy-to-use CO2 tubes, and other fire-related innovations. Their products strongly reflect Swedish culture because of the Swedish tradition of lighting candles in the houses during the darkest months.

Moving to the Design Talents section of Formex, several unique artworks were placed all over. Ann-Sofi Karlsson is the ceramicist and wire artist behind Vemod Keramik. She was exposing her astonishing ceramics, with the inspiration of the mighty forest as the central motif for all her artworks.

For Beautiful & Green Homes, as their motto reflects, Mind on Nature is a green company offering a wide range of sustainable home and garden products. Founded by Bengt and Gunilla Larsson in 1992, the business began with a store in the center of Lund. With a 25-year history at Formex, the business continues to thrive.

Another noteworthy artist is Ping He, who runs Ping He Art, a business offering stationery and gifts like postcards, art prints, and tea towels. Ping He's artworks primarily feature delicate flower paintings, through which she conveys core values such as family, friendship, and community. To adapt to the Swedish market, Ping He conducts research and incorporates elements appreciated by Swedish people, such as associating blue with yellow or painting landscapes.

Despite the decreasing number of exhibitors at Formex over the years (from 700 in 2020 to 393 in 2023), both artists and visitors were satisfied. Many exhibitors highlighted that it is worthwhile to be there because of meeting new people and creating connections, despite the decrease in size and visitor numbers (from ~18,000 visits in 2020 to 9,663 visits in 2023). Bengt Larsson, one of the founders of Mind on Nature, mentioned that despite his stand getting smaller and smaller, it did not have any negative effect on business as clients continued to come.

“It was a selection that needed to happen and it is very beneficial,” mentioned Ping He when talking about the fair. She appreciates the focused nature of the attendees who know precisely what they seek and are ready to invest and engage in business.

Additionally, she sees Formex as a platform where artists and businesses can collaborate rather than compete. Ping considers Formex the perfect opportunity to connect with collectors and professionals not easily accessible elsewhere.

Martina Sahl, founder of Eldstickan Stockholm, initially had low expectations for this Formex edition. “I thought this edition would be dead, especially due to the weather,” she said. However, she was pleasantly surprised that it turned out better than expected. Martina identified several potential larger clients during the event, whom she plans to follow up with in February. She noted that the January editions of Formex are primarily focused on networking and connecting with potential clients, while the August editions are more genuine, with orders being placed.

Paradisverkstaden, a family-owned company that works with stoneware clay, has been a presence at the fair for over 30 years. According to Moa Paradis, who currently runs the company, attending Formex is crucial for the renowned ceramic business from Öland. “Our clients are traveling from their hometown to Formex and it is an opportunity for them to visit Stockholm and other similar fairs during these days,” shared Moa Paradis.

For Ann-Sofi Karlsson, the artist behind Vemod Keramik, Formex is important for her career as it allows her to connect with potential clients and other art enthusiasts. This being her first exposure at the event, she appreciates the atmosphere and the people, noting that they have a keen sense of aesthetics and a deeper appreciation for beauty and the arts compared to the people in her small hometown.

Formex nurtures an immersive atmosphere, fostering a unique community of designers and enthusiasts. As the exhibitors mentioned, the main force driving Formex’s popularity is its unique capacity to create connections between like-minded people. It explores the authenticity of humankind through the act of creation. The artisans’ life stories and visions of today’s world are an inspiration for all visitors to this event. After all, what lets you feel something is essential in being alive. One valuable lesson is learned: take risks, be constant and authentic; what if you succeed?

One challenging aspect of Formex was the predominance of the Swedish language during most activities. To better immerse oneself in the atmosphere and fully grasp the significance of the exhibits, utilizing the English language could offer a more accessible option.