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Local is booming and trending because people are seeking authenticity and connection in an increasingly globalized and digitized world. This is precisely what I saw at La Feria De Diseño Medellín powered by imm cologne. When everyone thought homogenization was gaining ground, design tells us otherwise.
I have found multiple—and very powerful—reasons behind this boom in local design and consumption:
Photo: Carolina Valencia
1. The search for authenticity and narrative: Local pieces, especially handcrafted ones, bring with them a story, an ancestral technique, and a direct human connection. Consumers no longer just buy an object; they buy the story of the artisan and the culture behind the product.
2. Sustainability and lower carbon footprint: Local consumption drastically reduces the transport emissions associated with imported products. This aligns perfectly with the growing concern for sustainability and bio-architecture. One of the pillars of this edition at La Feria.
3. Support for the community economy: There is a strong social awareness of the importance of supporting small entrepreneurs, producers, and artisans.
Buying local means investing directly in the community and preserving traditional crafts that might otherwise disappear.
4. Differentiation and uniqueness: In design, we all have access to the same global supply chains. Local sources offer unique pieces that cannot be found in mass-market stores, allowing spaces to have a distinctive and personalized character.
5. Revaluation of local heritage: In Colombia, for example, there is a renewed pride in cultural wealth and endemic materials, which drives designers and consumers to look inward for inspiration and resources.
Photo: Carolina Valencia
We are increasingly amazed by impeccable designs, but sometimes I feel that they are too similar to each other, where sober, discreet pieces with fewer details clearly stand out. We have adopted the phrase “less is more” as dogma, forgetting that in design—as in life—sometimes “more is more.” That is why at La Feria I was able to experience the cultural richness of our continent, where it is expressed not in absence, but in an abundance of meanings, textures, and symbols. Furthermore, globalization and gentrification have transformed the way we conceive of the design of spaces. Today, it is very common to appropriate cultural details that do not entirely belong to us, incorporating symbols or aesthetics that seem universal but actually dilute the authenticity of each place. In this search for the “cosmopolitan,” we often set aside what our own ancestors built: traditions, techniques, and visual languages that not only beautified but also told stories. Thus, what was once identity becomes a trend, and what was once rooted in tradition is replaced by a global aesthetic that, although polished, runs the risk of being undifferentiated, ephemeral, and sober. The Design Fair showed us an eclectic dialogue between our roots and global aesthetics, where both universes can coexist harmoniously, giving more meaning to spaces through disruptive and unexpected combinations that tell unique and differentiated stories.
Photo: Carolina Valencia
That is why La Feria was the perfect setting to tell and also experience these narratives, through a wide variety of styles, materials, textures, and elements that inspired me and surely transformed our vision of design.
However, modernity is often nothing more than an appearance and a trend, a model we follow because it seems “correct,” “clean,” or socially acceptable, but sometimes it is empty of meaning and disconnected from our roots and our being. This is why I conclude that both universes are necessary, because we cannot fall into the literalness of the indigenous either, since when we try to force a cultural or artisanal element, the result can end up looking outdated or overloaded.
Photo: Carolina Valencia
The key to making indigenous design work and not look “ugly” is expert curation and modern integration. It is not about replicating a museum, but about dialoguing with tradition, a clear scenario that we saw at La Feria De Diseño.
Don’t miss our next blog from El Ojo de Ana, where I explain how to avoid falling into kitsch or outdatedness. Well-executed indigenous design feels timeless and deeply personal.
Ana María Quintero
Interior designer
CEO and founder of CAJA BLANCA
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