Georgia will be in the spotlight at the PASSAGEN Interior Design Week in Cologne from 14-20 January 2019. For the first time, with the support of the EU4Business initiative, Georgian interior design products will be presented to the world industry gathering in Germany under the 'Design Georgia' brand.
Architect and interior designer Anuka Tavartkiladze, three architects and designers from Designbureau, Nia Mgaloblishvili, Sophio Shevardnadze and Ia Liparteliani, the ecology-oriented family business Funduki and XYZ Integrated Architecture will all exhibit their unique products at the event. From design to manufacturing, all products are made in Georgia, showcasing the ability of local industry to combine design and production techniques with a touch of innovation, working with materials such as metal, wood, glass, or ceramics.
The participation of Georgian designers has been made possible by the EU and German Development Cooperation via the EU4Business initiative and GIZ, and is organised in cooperation with Enterprise Georgia, the agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
All four design studios are members of the Georgian Furniture Cluster, which was established in 2017 with the support of the EU4Business project 'SME Development and DCFTA in Georgia', bringing together 40 Georgian designers and furniture producers. The cluster was established with the purpose of helping individual entrepreneurs and companies overcome challenges by pooling their efforts and resources, to bring furniture and interior designs from Georgia to Europe and beyond.
Each of the items showcased under the 'Design Georgia' brand in PASSAGEN possesses its own character and presents a wide range of functional, innovative, ecofriendly and conceptual approaches to design and manufacturing.
“Georgia’s design industry is growing and building up its presence on the interior design market. The participation of Georgian designers in the Passagen Interior Design Week provides important marketing and business networking opportunities,” said Levan Lominashvili from XYZ Integrated Architecture, whose Eclipse Eyeglasses won a Silver A' Design Award this year.
The SME Development and DCFTA in Georgia project supports the implementation of DCFTA-related institutional and regulatory reforms in Georgia. It lays the ground for strengthening the SME sector to ensure broad-based growth, by increasing the competitiveness of Georgian SMEs and ensuring their adaptation to the new regulatory environment enabling them to benefit from the opportunities under the DCFTA.