Media OutReach
Chiang Mai Design Week’s 10th Anniversary: A Decade of Transforming a Creative City
Far from being a static event, Chiang Mai Design Week (CMDW) has continuously evolved, fostering diverse dynamics that have propelled Chiang Mai toward becoming a global City Branding icon as a hub of creativity. Recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), Chiang Mai has also emerged as a center for design in Southeast Asia. The festival reflects the transformative power of design in driving societal, cultural, and economic development while promoting environmental sustainability. It has also inspired a significant homecoming movement, encouraging local talents to return and contribute to their hometown’s development. Over the past decade, Chiang Mai Design Week has undergone remarkable changes, creating a lasting impact across various dimensions:
1. From Local Festival to International Stage
Launched in 2014 through collaboration between the Thailand Creative and Design Center, or TCDC and local organizations, Chiang Mai Design Week began as a showcase for the city’s unique blend of traditional art and modern creativity. By 2015-2016, it introduced the creative market, workshops, and seminars, creating tangible networks and market opportunities.
From 2017 to 2019, the festival gained national and international recognition, featuring exhibitions by renowned designers and innovative integrations of technology with traditional craftsmanship. These efforts catered to global markets while preserving local cultural identity.
During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021), the festival adapted its format to emphasize sustainability and environmentally conscious design. Initiatives like the HomeComing Creator project encouraged local talents to return and contribute to their communities. Exhibits such as “En.Light.En” brought together artists with connections to Chiang Mai and northern Thailand, fostering collaborations that revitalized local areas like Chang Moi and the Lanna Folklife Museum.
The festival also embraced music and performing arts, as seen in the International Street Music and Performing Arts Festival, which transformed local spaces into vibrant cultural hubs. Other initiatives included the Thai Local Coffee Festival, promoting sustainability in the coffee industry, and LABBfest, a live music event blending art and international cultural exchange.
Since 2022, the festival has aligned its activities with Chiang Mai’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, forging partnerships with global creators and organizations. Notable initiatives include projects like “SANDBOX” from Moscow, which used film and animation as a developmental tool for children. The festival also featured lectures and workshops, alongside innovative events such as “MOSCOW EXPERTISE: VR/AR,” festivals and concerts in the Metaverse during and post-pandemic, presented by Russian VR artists, directors, producers, and festival curators. These initiatives underscore the festival’s role as a platform for cross-cultural exchange and innovation.
2. A Catalyst for Social, Economic, and Environmental Impact
Ms. Imhathai Kunjina, Director of the Creative Economy Agency (Chiang Mai Office), highlighted the significant positive impacts that Chiang Mai Design Week has generated across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
“Over the past decade, Chiang Mai Design Week has driven meaningful change, raising awareness within local communities about the value of creativity and design in enhancing cultural assets. The festival has also established Chiang Mai as a destination for global travelers, showcasing vibrant creative spaces that go beyond traditional attractions. Today, Chiang Mai Design Week serves as the ‘mothership’ for annual creative events, inspiring other festivals to align their schedules, ensuring that the city becomes a hub of creative energy and diverse events during the same period. This synergy not only amplifies the city’s creative atmosphere but also offers tourists a truly unique and immersive experience.”
Economic Contributions: The festival’s economic impact has been profound, attracting increasing numbers of visitors from countries such as Taiwan, Japan, China, Singapore, Europe, and America. Over nine years, Chiang Mai Design Week has welcomed more than 1,022,869 attendees and generated over 5.36 billion THB in economic value for Northern Thailand (2018–2023). Additionally, it has revitalized historic buildings by drawing investors to renovate and repurpose them, transforming these spaces into thriving creative hubs and contributing to sustainable urban development.
Interdisciplinary Art Integration: The festival has fostered collaboration across disciplines, such as matching craft designers with emerging chefs to create unique and value-added products. Initiatives like the 2020 Homecoming Creator project have brought talented individuals back to their hometowns, reconnecting them with local communities. Moreover, events like the Chiang Mai Street Jazz Festival, featuring world-class jazz artist Igor Butman, have elevated the city’s reputation as a vibrant jazz hub. These achievements reflect the festival’s holistic approach to creative growth.
Environmental Sustainability: Chiang Mai Design Week has consistently prioritized sustainability, setting an example for eco-conscious practices. As Ms. Imhathai noted:
“The festival emphasizes ‘leading by example’ over ‘mandating actions.’ From the beginning, we encouraged creatives and architects to design reusable exhibition pavilions. In our 10th year, all pavilions are repurposed from the first festival. Informational signs are reused annually, and this year, over 95% of sign materials were replaced with recyclable options like corrugated cardboard instead of foam board, ensuring post-festival recyclability.”
Efforts to minimize environmental impact extend to reducing printed materials, utilizing solar-powered LED screens, and promoting green transportation. Since 2020, printed materials have been reduced by 30%—from 30,000 brochures and 150 booklets to 20,000 brochures in 2024—using eco-friendly paper. The festival also features electric tram shuttles and walkable event spaces, with bicycle services provided by Anywheel Co., encouraging sustainable mobility.
For vendors, we’ve organized training sessions on eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices, encouraging responsibility and adaptability for future sustainable business operations.”
Chiang Mai Design Week 2024, “SCALING LOCAL – Transforming Local to Global through Creativity, Technology, and Sustainability”
This year, Chiang Mai Design Week 2024 is set to take place under the theme “SCALING LOCAL: Creativity, Technology, and Sustainability – For Reviving Recovery.” The festival aims to elevate cultural assets and community resources to achieve global recognition while maintaining a focus on resilient community spaces that have thrived despite the challenges of COVID-19.
“Chiang Mai’s creative industries have grown significantly, showcasing the potential of local assets and talents nurtured over the years. To scale local creativity to the international stage, it is essential to integrate Creativity, Technology, And Sustainability—the three pillars that set the standard for festivals locally and globally. This year, we’re excited to welcome creators from neighboring northern provinces like Phrae, Nan, Lampang, and Sukhothai, demonstrating the festival’s decade-long influence in attracting regional creative talent,” explained Ms. Imhathai.
Chiang Mai Design Week 2024 will feature 6 activity categories with over 150 programs. Key highlights include:
- Lanna Gastronomy Tourism Economy Exhibition: A sustainable culinary tourism showcase exploring Lanna cuisine while creating income opportunities for local communities.
- Ready Set Old Exhibition: Reimagining Chiang Mai becoming the world’s 7th “Blue Zone” city for healthy aging, following in the footsteps of Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), Loma Linda (USA), and Singapore.
- Super Slow Exhibition: Immerse yourself in the beauty of slowness through innovative art that promotes sustainable and mindful living in a fast-paced world.
- Floral Wonders Exhibition: Showcase the potential of the local floral industry by merging creativity with technology, driving economic growth and job creation.
- LABB.Fest 2024: Enjoy live music performances blending Thai and international artists. This platform facilitates creative exchanges between artists, music entrepreneurs, and promoters from Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.
The Next Chapter for “Chiang Mai Design Week”: Towards Sustainable Global Recognition
The future vision for Chiang Mai Design Week is to elevate its global prominence by fostering collaboration among designers, artists, entrepreneurs, and local and international networks. The festival aims to maintain high standards while adapting to urban trends and contexts to craft remarkable experiences for attendees and tourists. At the same time, it seeks to sustain interest among investors and sponsors for continued support.
“Chiang Mai Design Week is evolving towards a new standard that prioritizes not just aesthetics but the integration of creativity and environmental responsibility. This approach sets a benchmark for other creative festivals in Thailand, as seen in Chiang Rai and Phitsanulok, which have leveraged knowledge gained from the festival with support from CEA Chiang Mai. Looking ahead, the festival will shift its focus from audience quantity to quality, targeting visitors who actively engage and carry forward ideas inspired by the event,” explained Ms. Imhathai.
The ultimate goal is to establish Chiang Mai Design Week as a globally renowned festival that grows alongside the city’s holistic development. As a member of the World Design Week network, the festival reflects a decade of progress and potential. To secure a lasting global presence, the festival must uphold international standards, strengthen networks, and expand global outreach. Achieving this vision would position Chiang Mai Design Week as a cultural hallmark, akin to Milan Design Week, capable of attracting 100% investor interest.
Experience the transformative power of design at Chiang Mai Design Week 2024 (CMDW2024) under the theme “SCALING LOCAL” from December 7-15, 2024, across Chiang Mai’s old city areas, including the Three Kings Monument, Chang Moi, TCDC Chiang Mai, Thapae, and nearby districts like Hang Dong and San Kamphaeng.
Stay updated with the latest news and activities at: Website: www.chiangmaidesignweek.com Facebook: Chiang Mai Design Week, Instagram: ChiangMaiDesignWeek
Hashtag: #chiangmaidesignweek #CMDW2024 #scalinglocal
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About Chiang Mai Design Week
Chiang Mai Design Week is an annual design festival hosted in Chiang Mai by the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), celebrating its 10th year (2015–2024). The festival serves as a dynamic platform for exchanging perspectives, experiences, and knowledge in design and creativity. It also fosters engagement through design, offering meaningful experiences to children, youth, communities, tourists, and enthusiasts alike. The festival features diverse activities, including exhibitions, talks, workshops, arts programs, and live performances, aimed at enhancing quality of life while infusing Chiang Mai with a vibrant, creative atmosphere. Events span iconic areas like Klang Wiang, rich in culture and local traditions, and Chang Moi–Tha Phae, home to TCDC Chiang Mai, a modern hub of design knowledge. In addition to these key districts, Chiang Mai Design Week also hosts programs in other significant areas throughout the city, offering visitors a fresh perspective on Chiang Mai and the chance to experience its unique creative spirit up close.
About Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization)
The Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization) or CEA was established on August 14, 2018, as an organization under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office to promote and develop the potential of the creative economy as a driving force towards a balanced and sustainable economy in the long term. One of CEA’s key missions is to establish creative economy districts by promoting and developing areas that foster a creative environment and encourage the growth of new businesses as well as aims to strengthen connections with surrounding communities. Additionally, CEA is responsible for promoting the growth of the creative industries by developing capabilities and linking networks, utilizing creativity as a tool to enhance businesses and improve the quality of life for the Thai people.
Hashtag: #ZuelligPharma #EliLillyandCompany #Cialis #Healthcare #MensHealth #Healthcare #Pharmaceuticals
https://www.zuelligpharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/zuellig-pharma
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About Zuellig Pharma
Zuellig Pharma is a leading healthcare solutions company in Asia, and our purpose is to make healthcare more accessible to the communities we serve. We provide world-class distribution, commercialization, and clinical trial support services, underpinned by a strong culture of innovation to support the growing healthcare needs in this region. The company was founded a hundred years ago and has grown to become a multibillion-dollar business covering 18 markets with over 12,000 employees. Our people serve more than 200,000 medical facilities and work with over 450 clients, including the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.
Media OutReach
Licensed Watch Dealer Times Avenue Marks Five Years amid Singapore’s Pre-Owned Watch Market Growth
As the global watch industry slows and fraud risks in the secondary channel draw public attention, Times Avenue is among Singapore’s secondhand luxury watch specialists seeing sustained growth on the back of shifting buyer preferences and tightening consumer scrutiny
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 August 2026 – Times Avenue by Horology Maison marks its five-year anniversary in 2026, as Singapore’s pre-owned luxury watch market expands amid a broader slowdown in the global watch industry.
A Growing Secondary Market and the Case for Regulated Dealers
The Bloomberg Subdial Watch Index, which tracks the 50 most-traded references by transaction value, recorded its best half-year performance since early 2022 in the first half of 2025, reflecting a broader shift in buyer preference towards the secondary channel.
The growth of the pre-owned segment has been driven by a combination of factors, including tighter supply of popular references at authorised dealers, record gold prices lifting new watch retail costs, and a shift among buyers towards immediate availability and market-reflective pricing.
Founded in 2020, Times Avenue has grown alongside this trend, transacting more than 3,000 authenticated timepieces from its Beach Road boutique over its first five years of operation. The boutique’s inventory is weighted towards luxury Swiss timepieces including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Tudor and Cartier, with a focus on sought-after references that are typically subject to long waiting lists in the primary market.
At the same time, authentication and fraud risks in the secondary channel have drawn public attention, including the recent prosecution of an Italian national who attempted to trade a “fake” Rolex GMT Saru at a Singapore retailer. Both developments underline the importance of sourcing from licensed, regulated dealers.
Licensed secondhand goods dealers like Times Avenue operate under frameworks that impose customer due diligence, transaction reporting, record-keeping, and stock movement obligations. Exempted by the Singapore Police Force and a fully regulated dealer under the Ministry of Law, Times Avenue ensures that every watch sold undergoes rigorous in-house authentication before it reaches the client, and each piece is covered by an in-house warranty, giving buyers assurance of authenticity for every transaction.
Times Avenue also offers in-person buying from the public, trade-ins, consignment, and authentication, alongside retail, covering both the acquisition and resale ends of the secondary market.
Clients and prospective buyers can view current inventory, arrange private viewings, or request a sourcing consultation at https://horologymaison.com/contact-us/.
Hashtag: #TimesAvenue #PreOwnedWatches #LuxuryWatchesSingapore #WatchCollector #HorologyMaison
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Times Avenue by Horology Maison
Times Avenue by Horology Maison is a Singapore-based luxury watch grey dealer established in 2021, offering authenticated new and pre-owned timepieces from Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Tudor, Cartier and other leading maisons. The company provides retail, buying, trade-in, consignment, sourcing and authentication services from its boutique at 371 Beach Road #02-55 City Gate, Singapore 199597. Times Avenue by Horology Maison is registered with the Ministry of Law as a Regulated Dealer (Registration No. PS20220002864) and holds SPF Exempted Second-Hand Goods Dealer status.
Over 200 industry leaders, trendsetters and cultural figures gather at The Orbit to celebrate the much-anticipated launch event
SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 August 2026 – De Beers Group unveiled the Desert diamonds campaign for Asia at West Bund Orbit in Shanghai. The immersive experience brought to life the authenticity, individuality and inner radiance embodied by Desert diamonds. Generating significant buzz across Shanghai, the event attracted distinguished guests, including government officials and ambassadors, retailers and industry partners, media and cultural influencers, artists and designers.
Designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick, the West Bund Orbit’s fluid, ribbon‑like form resonates with Desert diamonds’ narrative of individuality, naturalness and fluidity, offering a visually perfect setting for the launch. The highlight of the evening was a sacred gong‑striking ceremony, symbolising the opening of a new era for Desert diamonds. Officiating at the gong-striking ceremony were Lynn Serfaty, General Manager, Natural Diamonds, De Beers Group; Annie Wong, Chief Operating Officer of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group; Winston Chow, Deputy General Manager of Chow Sang Sang Jewellery Group and Tommy Tse, Deputy CEO at Tse Sui Luen Jewellery Group. The ring the bell ceremony is accompanied by Loletta Lai, VP, Natural Diamond Marketing, APAC, De Beers Group and Sean Lin, VP, Sales, De Beers Group.
Government and diplomatic leaders joined the celebration to offer their congratulations. Taking the stage for a group photo were Mr. Sohail Shaikh, UK Deputy Trade Commissioner to China, UK Government / FCDO; Mr. Tom Simpson, MD, China, China-Britain Business Council; Ms. Phuti Joyce Tsipa, South African Consul-General in Shanghai; Ms. Bertha Amakali, Minister Counsellor of Namibia to China; Mr. Lin Qiang, President of Shanghai Diamond Exchange Center; Ms. Xu Yilei, Managing Director of the Natural Diamond Council Greater China; Ms. Meng Xiaojun, Chief Economist of NGTC; Shridaran Pillay, VP Government Affairs, De Beers Group, underscoring the event’s cross‑cultural significance.
“Desert diamonds captures the untamed beauty and power of the desert,” said Lynn Serfaty, “In China, natural diamonds are not imports—their origins are deeply rooted in ancient civilisation. The desert itself resonates with the Chinese cultural appreciation for transcendence, resilience, and the harmony between heaven and humanity.”
“Today’s consumers seek individual expression, true self, and self‑reward,” she continued, “Each Desert diamond is a response to this desire. Every Desert diamond presents a uniquely warm, natural colour and carries the imprint of billions of years. It is this cultural resonance that is driving the growing interest and appreciation of Desert diamonds in the Chinese market, representing the values most precious in our time: authenticity, individuality, and inner radiance.”
Departing from traditional jewellery launch formats, De Beers Group invited four “Real People” who embody the spirit of authenticity through their real‑life journeys to reveal the essence of Desert diamonds. The event opened with Desert diamonds “Real People” and sound healer Lear Tsui’s ethereal “Healing Trace” gong performance, guiding guests into a serene state of inner exploration. In the performance segment “Colour of Origin” that followed – Guo Yu’ang, a young Peking opera artist of the Mei School, honoured tradition with a graceful and elegant aria, conveying the beauty of heritage. The only female “Real People”, Shi Wei, China’s first F1 Academy female driver, made a stunning appearance wearing Desert diamonds jewellery at the “Blade of Resilience” segment. She shared with conviction: “True strength is often not outwardly expressed but built through intense focus. Just like the formation of natural diamonds—seemingly silent, yet enduring pressure over eons to achieve transformation.” Taking the stage at the finale “Ray of Refraction”, stand‑up comedian Liu Yang ignited the room with a series of humorous and heartfelt performances, and amidst the laughter, he led everyone into the moment of the very first reveal of Desert diamonds jewellery. Liu Yang shared: “True brilliance is not about being flawless, but about embracing every aspect of yourself, just as Desert diamonds reflects a unique individuality through the natural beauty of diamonds.”
At the heart of the celebration was a curated jewellery art exhibition, presenting Desert diamonds jewellery masterpieces by Chow Tai Fook, Chow Sang Sang and Tse Sui Luen, alongside De Beers Group’s iconic three‑stone collection and loose Desert diamonds. De Beers Group creatively partnered with bamboo weaving artist Xu Mingyu, who used the intangible cultural heritage of bamboo weaving to create immersive art installations throughout the venue. The Desert diamonds jewellery was placed amidst an intricate interplay of bamboo rhythms, sparking a poetic dialogue between contemporary jewellery design and millennia‑old craftsmanship. This distinctive Eastern aesthetic not only offered a fresh visual delight, but also interpreted the beauty of individuality, the authenticity of craftsmanship, and the radiance of time‑honoured tradition embodied by Desert diamonds from a local perspective, further underscoring De Beers Group’s Building Forever sustainability commitment.
To bring the experience to a memorable close, guests continued the journey through sensory party, where sound, scent and imagery combined to evoke the beauty at the heart of Desert diamonds. Interactive zones included a sand art experience allowing guests to co‑create with their fingertips, feeling the flow and eternity of the desert, a Gong Sound healing session using resonant frequencies to guide guests into a state of calm and introspection, and a Scents of the Desert fragrance experience blending warm amber and deep woody notes to outline the raw, pure beauty of the desert earth. Each experience acted as a different facet of a Desert diamond, collectively reflecting the themes of authenticity, individuality, and inner radiance.
To delve deeper into the spirit of the theme, De Beers Group hosted a series of panel talks, offering different perspectives on the evolving role of natural diamonds in modern life. Consumers were invited to participate in Natural Diamond Masterclasses, where they learned about the rarity, uniqueness and enduring value of natural diamonds, and gained further understanding of how to distinguish natural diamonds from laboratory‑grown diamonds. In addition, enamel painting workshops allowed guests to explore the dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design.
Desert diamonds opens a new chapter in the celebration of natural diamonds, honouring their deep‑earth origin, inherent rarity, and cross‑cultural significance as symbols of individuality, natural beauty and self‑reward. Today, consumers increasingly look for pieces that reflect not only who they are, but how they choose to live, celebrate and express themselves. Desert diamonds answers that desire with a natural diamond expression shaped by individuality, authenticity and inner radiance. Looking ahead, De Beers Group will continue to celebrate the enduring wonder of natural diamonds and inspire a new generation to discover their relevance in today’s world. Desert diamonds breathe new life into “A Diamond is Forever”—because natural diamonds belong not only to eternity, but also to the here and now.
Please follow the official accounts to find more information regarding Desert diamonds.
| De Beers Group Official Website www.debeersgroup.com |
Natural Diamond Instagram Page： @ADiamondisForeverhk |
Hashtag: #Naturaldiamonds #Diamonds #DeBeersGroup #Desertdiamonds #ADiamondisForever
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About De Beers Group
Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers London and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology services. De Beers Group is committed to ‘
Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability that underpins our efforts to create meaningful impact for the people and places where our diamonds are discovered. Building Forever focuses on three key areas where, through collaborations and partnerships around the globe, we have an enhanced ability to drive positive impact; Livelihoods, Climate and Nature. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com.
