DALLAS – Vendors at the Dallas International Lighting Market, which started yesterday, are looking into the future as well as finding inspiration from the past.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary, Hinkley Lighting debuted three new outdoor collections influenced by historical looks: Sedgwick, a brass traditional tapered rectangular lantern; Bingham, a brass “turn of the century” gaslight reproduction; and York, an aluminum traditional lantern design. Each piece also has a faceplate with the Hinkley name and the year it was established, 1922. The company also brought in the historical schoolhouse pendant shape in the indoor Amelia collection, with the added detail of stepped etched glass bottoms.
Waterford Wedgwood returned to the Dallas Market Center after a several-year absence, and held a ribbon-cutting yesterday. “We’re happy to be back,” said Rick Fencel, vice president of sales. The showroom features its new Waterford Interiors line of lighting, as well as some gift items -- “because this is a crossover show” – and some lighting in its existing lighting category. The Interiors line features the creations of three designers -- Jo Sampson, John Rocha and Billy Canning -- including a $44,000 mirror from Rocha. The line “is meant to be in the finest retailers,” he said.
Further expanding into organic LED technology, WAC Lighting introduced its second organic LED collection, called Vela. Offering in a chandelier and wall sconce/ceiling mount, the collection has a sleek,contemporary look. The chandelier has both up- and down lights for a total of 24 panels, which put out 2,000 lumens. The organic LED category “is an exciting space to be in,” said Shelley Wald, president. Organic LEDs are “not overly talked about” compared to LEDs, but they are part of the evolution. The six-panel sconce generates more than 500 lumens.
Sterling has launched its first collection in the wall decor category, with 62 SKUs and a total of about 250 pieces. “The category made sense,” said John Haste, vice president. “It’s a significant category within the industry. [Wall decor] is not always a planned purchase,” but a great impulse buy. While most of the artwork is traditional to start, he added that it will expand into other looks going forward. Focusing on illustrations and drawings, the exclusive designs feature different frames, different matting and different images. “It’s not the same thing over and over,” he said.
The LED category continues to expand at Lite Source, which debuted about 15 new LED items, including fixtures, flush mounts, pendants, sconces and task lamps. In total, the company introduced 108 items atthe market.
Spheres are a strong performer for Crystorama, which expanded its selection with crystal options, as well as three 40-inch items, its new largest size. The company also debuted an aged ivory finish, which mixed several tones and looks like stone.