One of the world's most renowned trend forecasters

Travelling, shopping and searching the world over, Li is constantly gathering information and emotions, studying the fabric of society, picking up materials, words, figures and flowers like a global beachcomber.

And don't underestimate her ability to sneak dangerous ideas across international borders. The Dutch-born Edelkoort, 58, is the oracle behind Trend Union, the go-to source for trend forecasting for the fashion, beauty, retail, automotive, consumer-electronics, and interior-design industries. She counts Philips Electronics, Nissan, Virgin, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Estée Lauder, Wella, Camper, Donna Karan, Jean Patou, Lancôme, and L'Oréal among her 1,500-plus international clients.

Li's work has evolved into the realms of education at the Design Academy Eindhoven, humanitarianism within the Heartwear foundation and ATA Europe, and curatorship as she delves into the art and design domain illuminating museums around the world, such as ARMOUR in the Netherlands (2003), Skin Tight: the sensibility of flesh at Chicago's MCA (2004), North meets South at Centre Culturel Suédois, Paris (2005) and Stockholm's Nordiska Museet (2006).

Li is also famous for her lively and inspiring seminars and speeches.

Twice a year with Trend Union, she tours the world to present her fashion and interiors trends audiovisuals, starting in Paris and then visiting Stockholm, Copenhagen, London, Amsterdam,Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles.

Furthermore Li makes tailored trend presentations upon request for companies, industry associations or institutions.

With her team, Li has created trend forums and audiovisuals which have remained imprinted in the minds of the textile and design community through installations for Première Vision in the 90's and more recently for Pitti Filati, Pratotrade and Moda Pelle.

Since she has been nominated as Chairwoman of the Design Academy Eindhoven, this already well-known institution has gained reputation with her vision on the future of education coupled with her knowledge of design and industry. Exhibitions are regularly organized in Eindhoven with the Graduation Show or during major events such as Milan’s Salone del Mobile.

Expressing her increasing involvment in art and design, Li also curates exhibitions such as Armour: the fortification of man in the Netherlands and an installation as part of Skin Tight: the sensibility of the flesh at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and New York's Stephen Weiss Studio.
 
Li has received continual recognition for her work in providing inspirational stimulus and fostering creative talent. In 2003, TIME magazine named her as one of the world’s 25 most influential people in fashion, while she received the Netherlands’ Grand Seigneur prize one year later for her work in fashion and textile. In 2005, Aid to Artisans honoured Li Edelkoort with a lifetime achievement award for her support of craft and design. More recently, in March 2007, she has been named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication.

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