We then made our way to the Union Square building and toured around three amazing showrooms with a group of North Carolina State students. The first showroom, Four Hands, was an awesome journey through Eastern China, Nepal, Tibet, India, Thailand and Vietnam. The company’s owner, Brett Hatton, is an English native who graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in film. In pursuing a career in photography, his work led him to the East, and to bring back antiques, which then turned into an inspirational furniture company. Check out the company website: http://www.fourhands.com/

Big themes from Four Hands:

• Finishes – leather distressed to look 100 + years old, cracking and creaking but comfy and inviting…
• The best looking dark wood dining tables with terrific dimples and texture, made by a mechanical process involving hand rollers which are run over the top of the table to give the dimpled appearance…
• Wonderful textured throw rugs and blankets, with deep piles – some for the couch, some for the bed and even some for the floor!!!

            Our next stop was South Cone Trading – an exquisite South American haven modeled on a Peruvian hacienda. They pride themselves on looking for sustainable and non-intrusive alternatives to mahogany. They showed two lines: Paracas, which was simple and contemporary, and Cuzco, which was more traditional: http://www.southcone.com/

            We finished up at the Roberta Schilling, with one-of-a-kind hand painted furniture from Brazil, as well as other pieces: http://www.rscollection.com/#

Just a few facts & figures about High Point…

• The Market is held twice a year in October and April
• It is the largest wholesale home furnishings event in the world
• Exhibit space covers more than 12 million square feet
• It displays enough furniture to reach the top of Mount Everest and back…150 times
• The Market is NC’s largest single event, with an impact of $8.94 billion each year and 69,000 jobs
• Approximately 10% of the Market’s attendees are from outside the U.S.

Trends that were evident at Fall Market:

• Global inspirations
• Self-expression through color, customization and craft
• Eclecticism & layering
• Enabling consumers to find meaning through objects and spaces
• Sustainable luxury

The student mentoring day was organized by Withit. Withit is a national organization created to foster the professional development of women in the home furnishings industry. For further information and a student membership application, go to their website at:  http://www.withit.org/index.asp
Student membership is only $35. there are $5,000 scholarships available as well as internship information.