Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM FEBRUARY 2025 10 The design celebration opened with a venue-wide Opening Night Party. Proceeds from the opening night, including ticket sales and silent auction revenue, totaled $18,000, benefiting the Hollywood Food Coalition (HoFoCo) whose mission is to nourish the community by rescuing and distributing food, preparing nightly meals, and uniting efforts to achieve food equity. Co-Founder Megan Reilly said, "The growth of the WestEdge platform, from welcoming new brands to the expanded involvement of industry partners year after year, has been incredibly rewarding. The design community's enthusiasm, both locally in Los Angeles, nationally, and even globally, motivates us to innovate and take the event to new horizons each year." On opening night, guests got a sneak peek at the fair and an opportunity to mingle ahead of the weekend crowds with elevated food, cocktails, and entertainment, while shopping from hundreds of design products. A highlight of the night was a silent auction, where guests had the opportunity to bid on custom bicycles that had been transformed by design visionaries, as well as luxury travel packages and unique art. Opening night sponsors included Marvin, THG Paris, Priority Bicycles, Ardray Blended Scotch Whisky, Tequila Comisario, Hedonistas De La Fe, Prestige Beverage Group, and Maison Perrier. A crowning moment of the opening night was the IIDA/WestEdge Design Fair Product and Booth Awards Presentation. Judged by a panel of esteemed IIDA professionals, the product awards honored innovation, environmental functionality, function, and aesthetic or technical advancements across multiple categories. The booth awards honored originality of design and visual impact, emphasizing use of materials, space, color, texture, lighting, and graphics. Winners included: Armac Martin, Christopher Grant Ward, Kallista, Lucille Studio, Mercoeur Édition, James Royce Designer Rugs, Talenti, Thomas Cooper Studio and ZWILLING Flammkraft. "Our continued partnership with WestEdge Design Fair allows us to cast a spotlight on the show's creativity and innovation for the design industry as a whole," said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. On Friday and Saturday the Fair's main stage hosted a series of panel talks. Presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home and co-produced by Convo By Design (CXD), these educational programs offered insights and education by industry-leading professionals and brands. The conversations were made available as a 10-episode podcast series this January (see www.westedgedesignfair.com). Other notable highlights of this year's event included: • The Connoisseurs' Club This high-style hospitality lounge and demonstration kitchen, curated by award-winning interior designer Kerrie Kelly and presented in partnership with aspire design and home magazine, hosted design and lifestyle programming, including cooking westedge 2024

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