The 19th edition of Ambermart International Amber Fair was held from September 6th to 8th in Gdan´sk, Poland. The fair housed 210 exhibitors, and was visited by more than 2,800 buyers from 39 countries, most of them from Poland, Russia, China, Lithuania, Germany and Denmark. Among the many attractive features offered were a variety of jewellery and gems, and a compelling artistic and popular science programme to draw in visitors.
Amber trends
This year, many exhibitors showcased contemporary designs with lighter forms, and classic styles in precious materials. Manufacturers always look for new design ideas which sometimes lead to surprising combinations – for example, some of the collections were composed with organic materials and steel. Such jewellery drew buyers’ attention, but, as always, quality was on top of their minds.
“Buyers were most of all looking for top quality items—in terms of both design and execution. These factors are decisive when placing orders,” summed up Marcin Wesołowski, owner of NAC Amber.
S&A’s CEO Adam Pstra˛gowski was of a similar opinion: “The development of a unique and distinctive design style combined with high product quality gives you prospects for further growth, but also a guarantee that, as an industry, we will continue to matter in the global jewellery market.”
New markets
One of the tools to build a global image of the Polish jewellery industry is the Polish fashion industry promotion programme, implemented by the Polish Investment & Trade Agency (PAIH), with amber companies among the beneficiaries. Under the programme, Ambermart was visited by a group of buyers and journalists from India, China, Japan and the USA interested in the Polish jewellery and fashion market.
Jewellery manufacturer Neeraj Kayathwal from Mumbai believes that amber has every opportunity to conquer the Indian market: “In my country, there are many wealthy people who are open to global trends, and who will certainly like large, exclusive amber designs. Collaborating with the right people who know this market and its needs well will ensure success for Polish manufacturers.”
Amber as the centrepiece
Ambermart is not only about business: it is also about education in a wide range of amber-related areas. The knowledge required to make strategic decisions was provided to both the buyers and exhibitors at a marketing seminar delivered by the Oliwa Consulting Group, aimed at showing the tools required to build a brand in the context of online sales and creating an e-store from scratch. “The speakers presented the participants with solutions and ways to use free tools, along with opportunities to deepen their knowledge,” summed up Maria Olszewska, the meeting’s moderator.
Amber plays an important role in various contexts, including jewellery, fashion, culture, history, nature, religion – and all of this was emphasised at the conference titled Amber—Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow organised by the Je˛drzej S´niadecki Gdan´sk University of Physical Education and Sport and by the Stegna Municipality. “Such conferences are very necessary because they show how many opportunities there are for developing amber’s potential. They also make it possible to exchange experience at an international level,” summed up Jacek Olszewski PhD, the meeting’s organiser.
Design awards
As usual, the Ambermart Most Beautiful Amber Jewellery competition generated plenty of excitement. The international judging panel comprised Belgian lecturer and artist Alain Roggeman; editor-in-chief of Moda w Polsce magazine, Lidia Przybylska; head of the Gdan´sk Amber Museum, Joanna Gra˛z˙awska; master goldsmith Marek Mikicki; and artist Andrzej Pacak – all chose the Dimitis necklace by Wojciech Kalandyk as the most beautiful piece. The Solidarnos´c´ pendant by Marcin Bogusław and the Dominant with Equivalent Value pendant by Elz˙bieta and Marek Pawłowski (E&M Marek Pawłowski Art Jewellery) received honourable mentions.
Inspiration was provided by Ambermart’s many other side exhibitions, including the ones presenting ideas on amber by 29 artists from all over the world at the Gdan´sk Amber Biennial and in DNA Brussels—Gdan´sk, which is the result of the work by Belgian designers Alain Roggeman and Delphine Perrache.
Both exhibitions were produced by the City of Gdan´sk Promotion Department, in partnership with the KIGB Polish Chamber of Amber Commerce.
Mariacka Street went dancing
Ambermart always features Mariacka Street artistic meetings, organised by the International Amber Association and the MTG SA Gdansk International Fair Co. This year’s events were held under the campaign ‘Mariacka Goes Dancing’ and were exceptionally magical. From midday until late at night, the street was filled with dance shows, fashion and jewellery shows, meetings with authors and poetry, concerts, art previews, workshops and exhibitions.
“We are happy that the event enjoys such great interest: each year, there are more and more regular participants who know exactly what they come for as they take their comfortable seats on entrance terraces, in galleries and windows under the hospitable eye of the hosts. Amber attracts sensitive, artistic people, as can be witnessed at the Mariacka Street Festival,” summed up Ewa Rachon´, the project director of the Ambermart International Amber Fair.
The 20th Anniversary Ambermart International Amber Fair will be held from 29th to 31st August 2019. Visit www.ambermart.pl for more information.