Dezeen promotion: international brands will be launching new products at this year's May Design Series event, taking place in London from 18 to 20 May.

Almost 300 designers and brands have signed up to exhibit at The Furniture Show, one of four sections in the May Design Series.

Italian furniture company Casamania is among those debuting new collections and will also showcase colourful storage units with grid patterns across the surfaces.

British brand Hitch Mylius is to exhibit its range of upholstered seating, including sofas, armchairs and benches.

Gallery Direct is set to show its expanded collection of British-designed sofas and chairs, console tables and occasional furniture ranges this year.

Lamps by Danish firm Ebb & Flow and UK company Enigma Lighting will also be displayed at the event.

The May Design Series will take place from 18 to 20 May at London's ExCeL exhibition centre.

For more information about the event and to register for a free pass to attend, visit the May Design Series website.

Here's some more information from the organisers:

International innovative and all including – It's a new dawn!

Exhibitors show their unparalleled support for the UK's definitive international furnishing fair as close to 300 brands sign up for the show.

The Furniture Show at May Design Series, organised by UBM Live Built Environment, is delighted to announce a truly international offering at this year's show set to deliver just what the industry has been waiting for; an event with a wealth of new, established, international and UK brands signed to the show.

We are thrilled to announce a 30% increase in international exhibitors from over 15 countries and the Furniture Show will be joined by Danalight, Stone Italia, Mango Crafts, Alpine Lounger and Weavart to name a few. Plus, an incredible 72% new brands are now joining the best line up to date.

We take a behind the scenes look at the new products that will be available to visitors as well as the sentiment from exhibitors, partners and associations on what they’re looking forward to seeing at this year’s show.

With over 100 brands specifically previewing at The Furniture Show at May Design Series we are pleased to welcome familiar favourites and those both new and ambitious to be part of the move to the London show such as Gallery Direct, Albioncourt, SITS, Chapel Street and Collins & Hayes to name but a few. Mazhar Ayub, Managing Director, and Highgate Beds said: "We're very excited about The Furniture Show. London is the capital of the country, so why shouldn't it be the capital of the industry? I'm confident that London is the best place for the show to be going forward."

At the heart of the UK's definitive international furnishing fair are UK's leading design names and we thrilled to have created a proposition that has made many UK suppliers come out of the woodwork, including including Parker and Farr, Velda, Kozmo Furniture and Original Bedstead. Original Bedstead Director, Tony Dham said, "I'm delighted that The Furniture Show is coming to London as this is without a doubt the right choice of location for the event – not only is The Original Bedstead Company back at the show, but we intend to stay. The Original Bedstead Company will be using this opportunity to showcase our extensive new ranges of metal, wooden and painted bedsteads, as well as our recent collection of linens – I'm seriously looking forward to it!"

Strengthening the international offering will be focus areas from around the world including Design China, a collaboration with our sister event Furniture China creating a one-stop destination to see the latest in original Chinese design. May Design Series will also be working with the Portuguese association AIMMP to showcase companies renowned for their craftsmanship and quality, highlighting some of the best pieces to come out of Portugal.

It's clear that London is deemed the gateway to the UK market, and we are pleased to introduce suppliers that not only are new to the UK market but show exclusives. New and inspirational brands to May Design Series and include Gwinner, Casamania, Dune, Ebb and Flow and Pp Mobler.  Matthew Rhodhes from Danish brand Pp Mobler was keen to add on signing: "We are delighted to be rounding of the exhibition season by showing at May Design Series. Coming to London after Milan feels like a natural step to take, and it is uplifting to see that London now has a long-awaited internationally competitive event. PP Mobler will be using this opportunity to celebrate 100 years of Hans Wegner by presenting a contemporary take on some of his most well known designs, as well as introducing some brand new collections to the UK market, which we are very much looking forward to."

Phillip Westgarth at SITS agrees: "The industry needs a successful London event to compete with the international fairs in the likes of Cologne and Milan, but crucially the timing of the May Design Series means that not only is it positioned perfectly to catch the peak of the retail cycle, but it does not clash with any other significant events on the calendar - making it an important place for Sits to be. The May Design Series is the ideal opportunity to showcase Sits to the contract market, as well as independent retailers, and we are looking forward to what promises to be a lucrative show. It's good to see a London venue become home to an international interiors trade event."

Tim Robinson, UK Agent for Koiner said: "After a 9 year break from showing in the UK, we felt that this year's May Design Series was the right time and location for us to exhibit again."

Industry associations too have shown their support, Dids MacDonald, Chief Executive, ACID said: "The ACID team is very excited to be getting involved with May Design Series this year. Anti Copying in Design (ACID) is committed to raising awareness of Intellectual Property issues in the design industry, and what better place to spread the message than at an international furnishings fair. By encouraging originality in design we hope to strengthen the industry for many years to come, and we look forward to offering help and advice - from frequently asked questions to more complex issues - at the show in May. We will also be launching ACID Marketplace, the UK’s first design and IP exchange, a safer trading conduit between designers and design buyers."

Veronica Dunn, Marketing Manager at The Furniture Makers added: "As the charity for the furnishing industry, The Furniture Makers' Company is looking forward to having the chance to see and meet so many new and interesting companies exhibiting at the May Series. It promises to be a great event!"

May Design Series 2014 will amass close to 400 exhibitors in 5 distinct sectors right through from Furniture, Decor, Lighting [including Arc], Kitchens & Bathrooms and DX. The Furniture Show at May Design Series, new for 2014 will welcome a preview of what is to come in 2015 -the destination for new products covering each interior space.

May Design Series will run from the 18-20 May at London ExCeL. Visit the website to register for your complimentary pass.

www.maydesignseries.com