The third Moscow Interior and Design Week unfolded over four days, opening each morning at 10 a.m. in the Manege Central Exhibition Hall. Attendees wandered among the latest projects from Russian design studios, met master craftsmen, and explored offerings from furniture manufacturers, all in one bustling venue.
The fair drew visitors from 30 countries, infusing the event with a lively international vibe. Uzbek silk pillows from Bukhara Silk shared space with iron-cashmere scarves from the UAE, Kyrgyz hats, and a sofa from China, while Russian finishing materials, heated floors, unusual radiators, and heated towel rails—many produced in the Vladimir region—were examined with keen interest.
The Moscow government provided essential support, spotlighting the capital’s industries and designers with a prominent pavilion at the hall’s center. Participants contributed to the pavilion’s decoration, transforming it into a vivid showcase of local ingenuity. Kristina Kostroma, head of the relevant department, described the event as having a dual purpose: giving entrepreneurs a platform to present products and connect with people while learning, and displaying the breadth and quality of local manufacturing to residents and visitors alike.
Many exhibitors returning for a second or third year affirmed the event’s lasting impact. While direct sales during the fair may be modest, the experience often seeds lasting impressions that encourage buyers to return a year later to purchase a favored lamp or piece of furniture.
Large manufacturers and home goods stores joined the week as well. Names such as Announce kitchens, European Furniture salon, Parquet Dvor, Design Boom designer stores, Innovation Nordic Design, and Empire Ceramics set up stands beside established Russian brands, creating a dynamic blend of large-scale production and boutique design.
Interior design experts reviewed the Archpole furniture gallery and the Modenature line, noting streamlined Archipelago armchairs and St. Petersburg’s Delo chairs, along with ceramic lamps from Polina Artamonova’s studio. New brands attracted attention too: a Moscow-area timber supplier, Uclad, introduced wooden tables; Kazan’s Eichel presented armchairs inspired by Soviet forms with a contemporary Japanese hue; and Odingeniy offered curved shelving that drew admiration.
Designer workshops captured notable attention, set against soft, curved seating and minimalist wooden tables and shelves. A desk showcased a wall painted with designer ceramics, where the St. Petersburg brand REDA displayed tiles that decorated furniture rather than merely serving as accents. The overall effect highlighted the balance between decoration and function.
Beyond tiles, the event featured striking elements such as colorfully framed Russian-style mirrors made from recycled cardboard and decorative pillows fashioned from old denim. The emphasis on recycling and reuse reflected a growing trend in interior design that embraces sustainability.
The corner booth for the object design studio iM-ocean showcased furniture built from recycled paper using a locally developed process. Founders explained that any non-laminated paper can be used to craft unusual sofas, chairs, and tables with shapes reminiscent of concrete—an aesthetic in high demand among restaurant designers.
Crafters revived barn boards aged up to 50 years, demonstrating methods to repurpose boards from northern, Ural, and Siberian barns. The natural aging was preserved while transforming the material into wall panels, decorative elements, and rustic-loft interior features.
With four days to cover, visitors moved briskly between stalls, sampling candle scents, testing chairs, and feeling the textures of rugs and barn wood. Lectures by Alexandra Sankova, director of the Moscow Design Museum, on the nature of design, and a Russian-style children’s costume workshop added depth to the experience. The sheer volume of exhibits and activities kept crowds growing each day.
By the close, Moscow’s leadership celebrated productive partnerships. Twelve cooperation agreements totaling 15.6 billion rubles were announced, and the event drew more than 220,000 attendees across four days. These figures underscored a thriving ecosystem where design, manufacturing, and commerce intersect to boost the city’s creative economy. Source: Moscow Design Week organizers reported strong engagement and ongoing interest from both local buyers and international visitors.