Tabletop products take up a lot of the visual field at Ambiente in Frankfurt, Germany. But there are lots of other products, too. For example, pots and pans make up an important category that is in transition.
One major shift, of course, is the eco trend. Makers are offering everything from water-based ceramic coatings to layered-mineral coatings that require very little energy in production. Color is also changing the look. Pots and pans for Le Creuset, for example, confirm that the market’s love of Purple is not limited to plates and glasses. Meanwhile, silicone accents are adding color in ways that are more acceptable in the US than call-over color on the stovetop.
A company called Royal VKB brought interesting shape to cookware, pairing it with functionality in a product called the Boomerang Wok. This piece, designed by Nikolaï Carels, includes a curved edge that causes food to drop back to the bottom of the pan during stir-frying. Great design, great product. Here is a picture.
