The annual NeoCon World’s Trade Fair, June 14-16 at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago, will offer a range of unique exhibits. They are set to include:  


Vitra Neocon 2010 exhibition
First Floor, South Lobby

European design enters the South Lobby of The Merchandise Mart as Vitra promotes its ‘total environment’ concept with partners Verpan and Kasthall. Exciting spaces, both intimate and ‘street café,’ are created with Vitra furniture, designed by the renowned Bourellec brothers, Jasper Morrison, and Van Severen. These are arranged in areas defined by dramatic flowing fabric panels from Switzerland’s Creation Baumann and rugs by the Swedish Kasthall company. The Danish company Verpan increases the drama with its stunning light fixtures. Attendees are invited to visit Vitra’s new showroom on the 11th floor of The Merchandise Mart.


FashioNext Fuses Textiles, Furniture, and Fashion Design
First Floor, North Central Lobby
Sponsored by: Brentano, Chicago History Museum

This year’s NeoCon competition accompanies the Chicago History Museum’s I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot wedding-themed exhibition. The Museum asked established fashion designers to create a garment using interior design textiles provided by Brentano. The NeoCon display adds furniture to the mix, producing an exhibition that celebrates the creative worlds of fabrics, fashion and furniture by combining both traditional and imaginative application. To learn more, please visit www.brentanofabrics.com/FashioNext


Nomkhubulwane
The Merchandise Mart, South Drive Entrance
Sponsored by: InterfaceFlor
Partners: The Human Elephant Foundation, Imagine Chicago, The Wild Foundation

Nomkhubulwane (pronounced Nom-koo-bull-wah'-nee), a life-size elephant made from recycled materials, stands more than 10 feet tall, weighs 1.3 tons, and will grace the entrance to Neocon 2010. Internationally renowned sculptor, Andries has created 17 of these majestic life-size elephants and launched the Human Elephant Foundation to use them to accelerate imagination around issues of ecology, migration, conservation, industry and sustainability (www.humanelephant.org).


Interior & Sources Materials Pavilion
Market Suites, 8th Floor, Suite 8-3130
Sponsored by: Interiors & Sources

At the rate new materials, finishes and applications are developed; it's hard to keep up with what's new, cool, "green" or even practical. In the I&S Materials Pavilion, organized with the help of Material Intelligence and Think Materials, designers will find samples of furniture and architectural surfaces that will add impact, value, and LEED points for commercial interior design projects. A guide to related CEU resources and Pavilion materials in use in other NeoCon exhibits will also be available.


For more information about NeoCon, visitwww.neocon.comor call (800) 677-6278 (MART). People outside of the United States can call (312) 527-7600.