New York’s winter trade show season has always been a barometer for where design is headed, but the February 2026 editions ofNY NOWandShoppe Object felt especially pivotal. Running concurrently from February 1–3, 2026, the two shows transformed the city into a multi‑venue design circuit — one that blended commerce, creativity, and cultural momentum with creative clarity that will define the year ahead. Together, they offered a portrait of an industry in motion: more curated (with an edge to Shoppe Object), more experiential, and more attuned to the aesthetic needs of modern consumers.
Featured images: Addison Ross lamps; Abigail Ahern flowers; Be Home engraved tableware; Abbode taxi keychains.
Curated and Creative
Shoppe Object returned to the Starrett‑Lehigh Building with unmistakable energy. Fresh off the launch of its Paris edition, the New York show brought together over 850 carefully selected brands, filling the venue with a sense of discovery and design‑driven storytelling. The show that felt less like a trade event and more like a design festival, a cultural gathering, with rows and rows of marvelous unique brands. Below are a few of the many stand outs including two glass companies from Detroit making amazing pieces (another Detroit glass maker was part of the NY NOW show), heritage Brazilian fragrance maker Granado, along with brands such as Canva Utility and Meloria that went deep into color offerings.
Andy Koupal brings both the precision of an educator and the vision of a fine artist to his namesake line of handblown sculptural glassware, each piece a contemporary work of art in its own right. As an Adjunct Faculty member at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Mr. Koupal’s deep grounding in craft and design theory is evident in every curve and contour of his collection. The result is glassware that transcends function, inviting collectors and design enthusiasts alike to experience glass as a serious artistic medium.Andrew Madvin’s creative journey as founder of Axiom Glass went from custom jewelry to sculpture to glass — has culminated in a body of work that sits at the very height of artisan craftsmanship. Born near Detroit, Mr. Madvin channeled a lifelong passion for the medium into building Axiom from the ground up, and since its founding in 2000 the brand now commands a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot facility in the city. Bold, original, and unmistakably Detroit, Axiom Glass is a testament to what vision and dedication to a craft can build over a quarter century.Caddis has built something closer to a movement than a brand, designing readers and prescription sunglasses for a mature clientele with the same boldness, color, and irreverence that younger lifestyle brands rarely extend to this audience. Their philosophy is rooted in living well and aging on your own terms, offering eyewear that is as stylish and confident as the people wearing it. The crowd gathered at their booth says it all — Caddis has earned its cult following one unapologetic, beautifully crafted frame at a time.Granado is one of Brazil’s oldest and most beloved apothecary brands, with a rich heritage spanning more than 150 years and a presence across many countries worldwide. Their extensive range of soaps, talcs, perfumes, and body care products is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the senses, with vibrant packaging colors and patterns that instantly evoke the spirit of Rio de Janeiro. Browsing a Granado display is its own kind of armchair travel — a vivid, fragrant journey to Brazil without ever leaving the room.Brooklyn Candle Studio has grown from a passion project into a full-scale artisan operation, now housed in a 20,000-square-foot factory in Sunset Park, Brooklyn since founder Tamara Mayne launched the brand in 2013. Every candle is hand-poured and hand-labeled by an in-house team of artisans using 100% soy wax sourced from American-grown soybeans. It is a brand that has scaled without ever sacrificing the craftsmanship and intention that defined it from the very beginning.LitBodies, founded in 2020 by CEO Sophia, was born from a vision to create beautifully crafted products that authentically represent and celebrate a wider range of communities. The brand’s thoughtfully curated line spans jewelry, stationery, candles, and home décor, each piece designed with both artistry and inclusivity at its core. In just a few years, LitBodies has carved out a meaningful space in the market where representation and exceptional design go hand in hand. Lemon Jelly is a Portuguese footwear and accessories brand that crafts bold, colorful, 100% vegan pieces using advanced injection technology and renewable energy, with every product carrying the brand’s signature lemon scent. Expanding beyond shoes, their Splashy Bag has become a standout — a lightweight, waterproof UVA tote with boho rope handles, is available in a range of vibrant summer colors that pair perfectly with the brand’s footwear. Cruelty-free, sustainably made, and unmistakably fun, Lemon Jelly proves that eco-conscious fashion can be every bit as stylish as it is responsible.Founders Jillian Kaufman and Hal Grano have been crafting timeless cotton goods for Utility Canvas since 1990, building a collection that proves a singular material is anything but a limitation. From their original Field Bag to an ever-expanding range of beautifully made pieces, every item strikes the rare balance of durability, function, and enduring style. Decades in, the brand remains a testament to the idea that true quality never goes out of fashion.Abigail Ahern London is collection redefines what faux botanicals can be, with florals and foliage so meticulously crafted in color, texture, and design that they blur the line between art and nature. Each piece carries the feel of a curated florist’s studio rather than an artificial arrangement, elevating faux flowers to a standard that rivals the real thing. It is the rare brand where Mother Nature herself might do a double take.Italian Luxury Candles Meloria by Graziani gives a modern contemporary take on color and design. They have been manufacturing candles out of their factory in Livorno, a region of Tuscany since 1805. The candles have a high gloss finish that their artisans achieve by hand with the application of long-standing techniques.
Marketplace Looking Ahead
Across town at the Jacob K. Javits Center, NY NOW’s Winter 2026 Market reaffirmed its role as one of the industry’s most expansive and influential wholesale gatherings. The show functioned as a vital crossroads for brands and buyers navigating a retail landscape defined by rapid shifts in taste, production, and consumer expectation. This season, a confident return to bold, expressive color cut through the aisles. Meanwhile, “quiet luxury” matured into a more intentional form of luxury: beautifully crafted, highly functional objects designed to elevate everyday rituals. Hand‑turned wood pieces, sculptural kitchen tools, and refined storage solutions exemplified this shift. Hundreds of established exhibitors filled the floor, complemented by tightly curated incubator spaces spotlighting emerging talent. Among them were young brands like MOTA—each in business fewer than five years—selected for their fresh perspectives, design rigor, and ability to articulate where contemporary living is headed next.
Michael Wainwright is a celebrated American ceramics brand known for its signature technique of fusing handcrafted porcelain and glass with 24k gold or platinum to create elegant tableware, drinkware, and giftware. Founded in 1991, the brand has grown from humble beginnings selling handmade wares at New York City Street fairs which has expanded to multiple retails of varied sizes.Crown Inspired is a Brooklyn-based fashion brand founded by artist Ta.Ma.R.A Belinda (pictured), that creates handmade parasols and wearable art drawing on West African ancestral. Each piece is designed to offer both real UV protection and a deeper sense of empowerment, mental wellness, and self-expression for the wearer. The brand’s debut at NY NOW introduced its distinctive collection to wholesale buyers, showcasing slow-crafted fashion that sits at the intersection of functional art and cultural intention.The Danish brand Natures Collection specializes in premium sheepskin home décor and apparel, sourcing only the finest skins from across the globe and designing products built around the natural durability of sheepskin. Sustainability is central to the brand’s mission, with every collection crafted to deliver luxury that aligns with responsible, environmentally conscious principles.JK Adams is a second-generation, family-owned company that has been handcrafting premium wood kitchen and entertaining products in Dorset, Vermont since 1944, using sustainably grown North American hardwoods. Known for its beautifully crafted cutting boards, carving boards, and charcuterie and grazing boards, the company has built a legacy on the principle that everything it manufactures is food safe and built to last a lifetime. During the show they offered a free small plater with onsite engraving.DECO BOKO is a pioneering New York-based wholesale showcase founded by a Japanese entrepreneur and is the first platform in the United States dedicated entirely to spotlighting Japanese brands in the design and gift industry. The curated exhibit brought together emerging and established Japanese brands presenting home goods, furniture, and objects that blend rich cultural heritage with innovative contemporary design. (left to right): Harumi Nishida’ Dadada Tee; Hazuka (wooden bowls with gold leaf); Progress (titanium glass ware); Getals (wooden sandals).Be Home was founded in 2006 by Belgian-born entrepreneur Jonathan Hankar, who saw an opportunity to bring organic, artisan-crafted elegance to the home goods market. The Northern California-based brand designs its products in-house and has them made in small batches by skilled artisans, family-owned workshops, and women-led maker groups from around the world. Its wide-ranging collection spans handcrafted entertaining, dining, kitchen, décor, bedding, and wellness products, all built around a philosophy of beauty, functionality, and sustainability. The company is also a Certified Green Business in California.Matt Kolbrener is a Detroit-based glass artist and namesake of his brand that incorporates forms and surface textures that capture and reflect light in ways unique to the medium. Inspired by the post-industrial landscapes of Pittsburgh and Detroit, he constructs custom-made molds and tooling to shape hot glass into pieces that reflect Detroit’s rich manufacturing history through an industrial, modern, retro aesthetic entirely his own. Mr. Kolbrener has been honing his glassblowing, casting, and cold-working techniques since 2007, and all of his pieces are handcrafted in his Detroit studio.MOTA is a Puerto Rico-based brand specializing in handcrafted handbags and accessories, bringing vibrant tropical flair and artisan craftsmanship to the wholesale market. Their colorful collection spans crossbody bags, fanny packs, tote bags, and scrunchie bags, each designed with bold, boho-inspired prints that celebrate Caribbean culture. Making their trade show debut, MOTA is highlighting their designs of handmade pieces with a distinctive Latin aesthetic.Lighthouse Keeper’s Pantry is a Cape Cod-based gourmet food brand founded by Kelly O’Connell drew on her nearly two decades of product development experience with major lifestyle brands in New York City to launch her own line of small-batch jams, condiments, and sauces in 2020. The brand has since grown to more than thirty items — including hot sauces, pickles, honey, salad dressings, and boxed mixes — with retail distribution stretching as far as Alaska. Rooted in the recipes and spirit of a Sandy Neck Beach lighthouse keeper, the brand brings a distinctly coastal New England character to the specialty food market.s.Dallas-based Olphactory Candles is a luxury candle brand, founded in 2019, that uniquely pairs sophisticated fragrances with the artistry of jazz, giving each scent its own curated Spotify playlist to enhance the sensory experience. Their handcrafted coconut wax candles — with evocative names like Kemet Silk, Remnants of Lace, and Cole’s Trane — are designed to set a mood as powerfully as music does. Founded in 2019, the brand is now expanding its wholesale reach, bringing its distinct blend of fragrance, culture, and artistic storytelling to retail buyers nationwide. Pictured are company associate Kali and brand founder Brant Anderson. Specializing in handcrafted resin tableware and wooden decor Lily Juliet showcases artisanal craftsmanship that made the brand a standout in the home and gift markets. The collection reflects the brand’s commitment to originality and functionality, destined to spark curiosity and conversation in any home.Project Bloom is a home fragrance brand that has reimagined the classic reed diffuser by pairing luxury scents with beautiful faux floral arrangements, making each piece double as a decorative centerpiece. Their vegan, cruelty-free collection features sophisticated scent pairings — such as Vetiver & White Jasmine and Pear Blossom & Peony — presented in elegantly packaged gift sets. With a focus on intentional, clean beauty and eye-catching design, the brand bridges the gap between home fragrance and floral décor in a way that stands out on retail shelves.
Unified Purpose
Shoppe Object 2026 delivered a highly curated, design‑driven showcase with more than 850 brands, emphasizing craftsmanship, and strong creative identity. NY NOW 2026 offered a broader, industry‑spanning market focused on bold color, intentional luxury, and functional, beautifully made goods. Together, the two shows created a citywide circuit that highlighted both emerging talent and established makers, revealing where contemporary retail and design are heading. Their combined impact underscored a shift toward thoughtful materials, expressive palettes, and products that elevate everyday living.
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