OUR BEGINNINGS

Eddy Karmona and Juana Montoya’s dream has become a “must” for design lovers from all around the world. The project was born while Eddy (who is also a Musician) was performing at an electronic music concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina; there he visited an interior design fair and understood that this concept should come to Colombia. He spoke with his wife, Juana Montoya a Graphic communicator, and together they decided to start a platform that would be focus on the growing design, architecture and interior design industry in Colombia.

2013 – 2014

After being inspired by a trip, this dream came to life as a show focused on home and decoration, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners. With 30 brands in the very first edition in a single pavilion and 70 brands in the second edition.

2015 – 2016

By 2015, 95 brands believed in the potential of design and creative industries.

By 2016, La Feria covered the design industry in general: Architecture, Industrial design, Graphic design, Interior design and Furniture.

2017 – 2018

Between 2017 and 2018 we understood why the good life is designed with Karim Rashid, turning La Feria into the first specialized design trade show held in Colombia, with 180 exhibiting brands.

During these editions, La Feria began to grow, knocking on doors with private companies, official institutions, universities, mayors’ offices, associations and international commissions that would contribute to consolidate the platform for the benefit of Medellín and the national industry in general. The founders decided that La Feria would not seek to become a massive event, but the best, with a good curatorship, great quality exhibitors and unforgettable experiences for all visitors. And it is undoubtedly one of the promises of value that remains.

2019

The seventh edition had experiences that led La Feria to receive an Honorable Mention at the National Architecture and Urbanism Biennial. 210 brands showcased their new designs to 18,000 visitors.

2021

It continued to demonstrate why everything is designed, with 141 brands from 8 countries. 12,000 visitors experienced La Feria through valuable content in the Trade Show, Academic Agenda and Experiences.

2022

By 2022, we received 20,400 visitors, 190 brands, 60 of them international, being the ninth edition of a global show.

Fact: On several editions, we have received industry professionals such as Paul Rowan (UMBRA-Canada), Andreas Krob (interstuhl-Germany), Jordi Ros
(Elisava-Spain), Joris van Tubergen (3D Printer-Holland), among others.

2023

2023 The 10 years celebration!
It was one of the most important editions for La Feria, not only in terms of attendance and business expectations figures, but also in terms of showcasing, as we managed to have 16,886 sqm of occupancy in the pavilions, 40% more than the previous edition, 900 national and 89 international buyers, and 60 more showcasing brands than 2022.

Other curiosities of our tenth edition are: the ‘Business Day’, a business roundtable that gathered 392 appointments with 50 buyers from 10 countries, and Conexión Sapiencia where we have on the same stage 15 ‘rockstars’ including Patricia Urquiola, Tom Dixon, Gemma Ribertti, César Giraldo, Karim Rashid, Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Bonilla, Tomás Vera, Rodrigo Torres, and others.

2024

In the eleventh edition, design was taken to an unforgettable experience… with 270 brands from 35 countries and 24,000 visitors.

In addition, in 2024, the partnership with Koelnmesse, one of the most recognized companies worldwide for the realization of fairs and more than 100 years of experience, who since 2021 showed interest in partnering with La Feria, was born. From this edition, we have evolved to La Feria De Diseño Medellín powered by imm cologne.