Avantage picked the top 23 products out of perhaps a million items at the trade fair. A bamboo stool developed at the National Taiwan Craft Research Institute in Chaotun Township, Nantou County, was declared the most impressive and touching design by the French trade publication, revealed Lin Zeng-yi, director of the institute.

“But do you know that the stool takes two weeks to weave and produce?” remarked Lin. “This may not be a product for mass production. But it attests to the quality of the Taiwan product design.”

“The stool was the result of many experiments,” pointed out bamboo weaving expert Su Su-ren. “I discarded at least 10 stools halfway through my trial attempts to create a satisfactory design.”

The National Taiwan Craft Research Institute and the Taiwan Creative Design Center have organized since last year an alliance of award-winning craftsmen and artisans as well as upcoming designers of great promise to develop trendy products, hoping to establish eventually internationally-recognized Taiwan brands and labels.

During the five-day trade show in Paris, Taiwan’s product designs shone in the “Now! Design a vivre” section. They included ceramics, pen sets, bags, lamps and flower vases, among others. The modern designs made use of local materials and incorporated with refinement a bit of Taiwan’s art and culture, resulting in their great appeal to the buyers from different countries.

The Pompidou Center and Parsons Paris School of Art and Design expressed great interest in Taiwan’s product design development and wanted to explore cooperation.

“Taiwan Craft and Design” will be highlighted at the 2008 Taiwan International Cultural and Creative Industries Exhibition at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall I from October 23 to 26.