Many local craft, furniture, and home living brands across Asia face a similar challenge:
Their products carry strong design identity and cultural value, but entering the Japanese market often requires much more than simply joining an exhibition.
For buyers and retail channels, products are not selected based on aesthetics alone. Brands also need clear positioning, market-ready presentation, spatial context, and long-term collaboration potential.
This is exactly why POPUPASIA® 2026 is collaborating with TRUNK DESIGN to launch the new:
✶ Local Craft × Furniture & Home Living Zone ✶
More than a display space, this zone is designed as a bridge connecting regional craft organizations, local industries, design brands, and international buyers.
About POPUPASIA®
POPUPASIA® is one of Asia’s leading creative business platforms, connecting brands, creators, and international buyers through curated exhibitions, B2B matching, and cross-border collaborations.
More than just an exhibition, POPUPASIA® focuses on one core mission:
Turning creativity into real business opportunities
About TRUNK DESIGN
(Photos credit to TRUNK DESIGN)
Based in Japan, TRUNK DESIGN specializes in lifestyle curation,
spatial design, and brand storytelling.
Their projects focus on helping design products become part of real consumer experiences
— not only objects displayed inside exhibitions.
Their work focuses on:
• Turning design products into consumer-friendly retail experiences
• Connecting Asian craft and design brands to the Japanese market
• Creating curated environments that are both aesthetic and commercially viable
Rather than focusing on a single product or brand,
TRUNK DESIGN is known for building complete lifestyle environments that connect crafts,
spaces, people, and local culture together.
This is also why the collaboration with POPUPASIA® 2026
is centered around regional craft ecosystems instead of individual brands alone.
Click here to get to know more about TRUNK DESIGN
Learn more about TRUNK DESIGN craftsmanship and global collaboration:
Read the full interview on POPUPASIA®(1)
Read the full interview on POPUPASIA®(2)
Read the full interview on POPUPASIA®(3)
Why Regional Craft Organizations Matter Today
In recent years, many buyers and international markets have started paying closer attention to regional craft communities and local manufacturing cultures across Asia.
Behind many successful craft products are not only individual creators —
but entire local ecosystems that preserve materials, techniques,
and cultural knowledge over generations.
For example:
• Daxi is widely known for its woodworking craftsmanship and wood furniture culture
• Nantou has long been associated with bamboo craft and natural material industries
• Chiayi continues to develop local craft, wood culture, and lifestyle design initiatives through regional creative projects
These regions already hold strong craftsmanship and production knowledge.
What they often need is not simply “more exposure,”
but stronger connections to buyers, curators, retail channels,
and international collaboration opportunities.
This is where exhibitions like POPUPASIA® become important.
The goal is no longer just to display products beautifully.
It is to help local crafts and regional creative industries enter real business conversations and sustainable market opportunities.
꩜.˚ POPUPASIA® 2026 × TRUNK DESIGN
Local Craft × Furniture & Home Living Zone ✶.ᐟ
At POPUPASIA® 2026, the collaboration with TRUNK DESIGN introduces a new zone focused on:
Design Curation × Spatial Aesthetics × Market Connection
This zone brings together:
• Furniture and home living brands
• Local craft creators (wood, ceramics, textiles, bamboo, etc.)
• Regional craft organizations and creative communities
• Lifestyle and design brands
• Spatial styling and real-life applications
Instead of traditional booth displays, the zone is designed as a complete lifestyle environment.
Visitors and buyers will not only see products individually
— they will experience how products interact within everyday living spaces.
From Exhibition to Real Market Opportunities
For many brands, joining exhibitions is often limited to short-term visibility.
However, this collaboration aims to create longer-term possibilities beyond the exhibition itself.
Participating brands and organizations may have opportunities to:
• Be selected and curated by TRUNK DESIGN
• Explore placement within Japanese select shops
• Participate in limited-time retail projects
• Connect with buyers and distribution channels
• Develop future cross-border collaborations
More importantly,
this collaboration creates opportunities for regional craft organizations
and local creative industries to build stronger long-term relationships with the Japanese market.
⋆˚｡ Limited Spots — Apply Now ⋆˚｡
Applications for the Local Craft × Furniture & Home Living Zone
curated by TRUNK DESIGN are now open with limited availability !
We are looking for brands with:
• Brands with strong design identity
• Regional craft organizations and local creative initiatives
• Market-ready product lines
• Lifestyle-oriented concepts
• Projects with international collaboration potential
Selected brands will receive:
• Curated exhibition opportunities
• Exposure to buyers and retail channels
• Access to B2B collaboration resources
• Opportunities to explore Japan market entry
‼ Join the Next Stage of Your Brand ‼
This is more than an exhibition.
It is a chance for local crafts, regional creative industries, and design brands to connect with buyers, retail channels, and international collaboration opportunities across Asia.
— Register on POPPASS and apply now —
• Register on POPPASS
•Apply as an Exhibitor (POPUPASIA® 2026)
Start your journey toward global collaboration today.
Your Gateway to Japan Starts Here
Entering a new market is never only about selling products.
It is about building the right environment,
finding the right partners,
and creating experiences that buyers and consumers can genuinely connect with.
Through POPUPASIA® 2026 × TRUNK DESIGN,
local craft communities and design brands can explore new ways to bring their work closer to international audiences and real market opportunities.
Want More Brand Stories?
Join POPPASS—our B2B platform connecting you with authentic, creative brands from across Asia. Explore exhibitor profiles, start collaborations, and be part of the POPUPASIA® network.
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