Saradec exceeds trade enquiry target on Day 1 at FIND, Singapore

SINGAPORE, 23 September 2022: It proved to be a very encouraging debut for Sarawak Design Centre (Saradec) at the inaugural Design Fair Asia (FIND) here, after having received a total of RM6,104,150.00 in trade enquiry on its first day at the design fair. This figure exceeds the Sarawak-based company’s expected RM5 million in trade enquiry for the entire three-day event.

Saradec’s booth, which showcases unique furniture designed by talents from its Sarawak Young Designers (SayD’Signers Sarawak) programme as well as products from its SayD’Signers Sarawak Link and Match (SLIM) incubator programme, attracted more than 500 international buyers consisting mainly of businesses, architects, as well as interior designers looking for furniture designs that are one-of-a-kind.

Visitor response has been very encouraging, with comments such as “very unique furniture and designs”, and “awesome with high quality wood.” A representative from Williams-Sonoma Singapore, a renowned retailer of kitchenware and home furnishings, commented that the furniture at Saradec’s booth had “amazing designs”. A fair number of visitors to Saradec’s booth also expressed interest in future collaborations.

Saradec’s exhibition booth is located at B21, Design Fair Asia (FIND), at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

About FIND

FIND is an opportunity for exchange and inspiration in West meets East, putting Asia firmly on the global design circuit. As part of a joint venture with Fiera Milano, dmg events brings together the largest carefully selected collection of interior brands, key opinion leaders, designers, and content from across the globe. Visitors, including architects, interior designers, retailers, agents and design savvy consumers from across Asia, will attend to draw inspiration, network and trade at this three-day event located in Singapore, the gateway to Asia. FIND – Design Fair Asia will also be one of the anchor events for the brand-new Singapore Design Week.

About Saradec

Sarawak Design Centre (Saradec) is a production house to produce young furniture design talents and creative designs in Sarawak to be accepted and recognised globally. Sarawak’s furniture design is finding its way to international markets, attracting all layers of buyers and collectors with their distinctiveness, and designs that bind together culture and nature with indigenous motifs from the State’s multi-ethnic makeup. This supports the goals of Saradec’s vision to be a Global Design Enterprise by 2030 and its mission to secure a position for Sarawak furniture in the world market.

About SayD’SignersSarawak

Sarawak Young Designers (SayD’SignersSarawak) is a premier training programme developed by Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). It is a two-year programme for fresh graduates in Industrial Design from Unimas, incorporating a specially customised curriculum developed by Indonesia’s Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). SayD’Signers Sarawak has successfully carved a career path in furniture design for young designers since 2018.

About SLIM Programme

SayD’SignersSarawak Link & Match (SLIM) programme, introduced in January 2022, is a design entrepreneurship pioneer programme by Saradec aimed at getting Sarawak’s young designers involved in the local crafts and furniture industries, particularly in the area of new product development to compete in domestic and international markets. SLIM is the second module of Saradec’s incubator programme that started in October 2021. The incubator programme, as a whole, is a one-year programme to provide the SayD’Signers with all the necessary entrepreneurial skills and knowledge they needed.

The inaugural SLIM programme linked and matched first, second, and third batch Sarawak Young Designers (SayD’SignersSarawak) with some of the leading furniture companies that are members of Sarawak Furniture Industry Association (SFIA), as well as STIDC vendors.

For more information, go to www.saradecevents.com 

~ Chief Executive Officer of Saradec Management Sdn. Bhd., Dayang Nena Abang Bruce (back, 6th from left) and the Saradec team at their booth, at FIND, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

~ Chief Executive Officer of Saradec Management Sdn. Bhd., Dayang Nena Abang Bruce (back, 2nd from right) explains about the furniture design by SayD’Signers to visitors at Saradec’s booth at FIND, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

~ Chief Executive Officer of Saradec Management Sdn. Bhd., Dayang Nena Abang Bruce (left) invites visitors to try one of the unique furniture at Saradec’s booth at FIND, Singapore.

~ Chief Executive Officer of Saradec Management Sdn. Bhd., Dayang Nena Abang Bruce demonstrates the Nirmala Easy Chair by SayD’Signer Muhammad Awis Qarni to visitor at Saradec booth while SayD’SignersSarawak Furniture Training Programme Manager at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) Dr Imam Santosa (left) looks on.

~ Chief Executive Officer of Saradec Management Sdn. Bhd., Dayang Nena Abang Bruce (centre) talks to visitors at Saradec’s booth at FIND, Singapore.

~ SayD’Signers talking to visitors at Saradec booth on Day 1 of FIND in Singapore.

~ SayD’Signers talking to visitors at Saradec booth on Day 1 of FIND in Singapore.