The founding trip · Guadalajara · February 16–19, 2027
The designer’s secret to sourcing in Mexico.
Four days at Latin America’s leading furniture fair sourcing custom pieces straight from the makers, paired with luxury hotel accommodations, curated dinners, and guided tours. Complete with full itinerary support and lifetime freight and shipping assistance.
Ten seats available · Early bird rate ends October 30 · Hosted bi-annually (February & August)
Why come
Access Mexico’s top furniture makers. We handle the rest.
Mexico is full of incredible, untapped design talent, and Guadalajara is where it all comes together. Join us February 17–20, 2027, for four days at Latin America’s biggest furniture show, featuring 500+ top makers.
Straight from the source
Custom woodwork, ceramics, textiles, and lighting, straight from the makers. Touch the materials and set up supplier ties for years to come. We’ll do a guided tour to get you oriented, with bilingual help on standby whenever you need it.
A group that actually clicks
We cap each trip at ten designers so the dynamic feels natural and easy. You’ll be sourcing alongside peers at similar business stages, swapping real studio secrets, and enjoy comparing notes over drinks.
Standout sources for your studio
Character-rich pieces that elevate your portfolio, paired with trusted maker contacts you can reorder from for years to come.
End-to-end Export Support
You focus on sourcing, we handle the logistics. From customs paperwork and door-to-door freight to quality checks, every detail is managed for this trip and future project orders. Plus, most qualifying pieces enter the US duty-free under USMCA.
Who it's for
Ten designers. A built-in network of peers.
This trip is for designers handling high-end residential and commercial projects who want unique, handcrafted pieces and direct relationships with the makers behind them.
Our five-minute application helps us curate a balanced, cohesive group of designers who speak the same language and bring real value to the table.
If it looks like a great fit, we will set up a short video call to say hello and answer your questions. Once accepted, you’ll get an email with a direct link to lock in your seat. Space is limited to ten designers, first come, first served.
The itinerary
Four days. Plenty of sourcing, learning, and good times.
Tue, Feb 16 · Arrive
Private airport transfer directly to the Westin. Unpack, settle in, then meet the group at 6:30 PM for welcome drinks, trip orientation, and dinner.
Wed, Feb 17 · The Expo
Breakfast, followed by a two-minute walk to opening day at Expo Mueble. A bilingual guide leads an orientation tour through the high-design halls, leaving the afternoon open for independent sourcing. Free evening to explore or relax..
Thu, Feb 18 · Expo and Tlaquepaque
Final morning at the Expo, followed by a private shuttle to the historic artisan village of Tlaquepaque. Meet master craftsmen in their studios, see work in progress, and order direct. Wrap the day with cocktails and a group dinner in town.
Fri, Feb 19 · Head home
Farewell breakfast at 8:00 AM, with checkout at 11:00 AM. A relaxed end to the trip before heading to the airport.
+ Want a fifth day? Two easy options and custom days with Caroline, just below.
Add an Extra day to explore
Stay one more day.
Extend your trip on Saturday, February 20 with two curated options, hosted by our co-founder Caroline.
Something else in mind? More sourcing in the nearby villages, or a different kind of day altogether. Caroline plans custom days too. Book a short call with Caroline and she will put it together.
Tequila
Saturday, February 20 · from $[price] Tequila Fields and Tasting
Saturday, February 20 · from $159 USD
A private day in Jalisco’s tequila country with a certified Tequila Master.
Agave fields and the colorful town of Tequila
Two distilleries, with seven tequila and mezcal tastings
Private transport, breakfast and an authentic local lunch
Saturday, February 20 · from $[price] Guadalajara, slowly
Guadalajara City Tour
Saturday, February 20 · Price TBD
The city’s architecture, food and art, plus a private pottery workshop.
A guided walk through historic neighborhoods and landmarks
A hands-on Taller de Barro: make your own piece with a local artisan
An authentic lunch along the way
Who we are
Meet Mina and Caroline.
Our story
Why we started this.
When Mina returned from the Guadalajara expo buzzing with ideas and inspiration, the concept for this trip came together naturally. By bringing together what they each do best, Mina’s eye for design and her connections within the design world, and Caroline’s deep knowledge of Mexico and expertise in creating bespoke travel experiences, they set out to create something that doesn’t exist in the market today and is specifically tailored for interior designers.
February 2027 is our first trip, the first of many. The designers who join us are our founding group, and what they tell us will shape every trip after it.
Mina Duque
Co-founder Mina is an American-Moroccan interior designer who ran her own studio in Tulum before trading it for little ones and her husband's 3D rendering business, Duke Renders, where she spends her days helping designers bring their projects to life.
After years of walking High Point, her first visit to the furniture expo in Guadalajara stopped her in her tracks. Mexico was full of incredible craftsmanship and beautiful raw materials, yet most American designers didn’t know it existed, let alone how to buy from it.
Design Import Club is her answer: a bridge that gives American designers access to a whole new market, and gives Mexican makers the exposure they deserve, with the logistics handled.
Co-founder Caroline Lamy
Caroline is Belgian and has called Mexico home for the past 10 years. With years of experience planning high-end travel for European and American travelers, she has a passion for creating unforgettable journeys—from private group trips to off-the-beaten-path places that most travelers never discover.
She fell in love with Mexico and eventually decided to make it her home. Today, through her concierge business, she helps others experience the Mexico she knows and loves: authentic, beautiful, and far beyond the usual tourist trail.
Throughout the trip, Caroline will take care of all the logistics, from your hotel and private transfers to dinners and experiences, allowing you to simply enjoy the journey. She’ll also be there to help with any additional plans, recommendations, or experiences you may want to add while you’re in Mexico.
What's included
Once you land, it's all handled.
Three nights in your own room at the Westin, across the street from the Expo
Expo registration and a private guided tour with translation
Airport and private van transfers
Daily breakfast, a private welcome dinner and a farewell dinner in town
A guided afternoon in the artisan village of Tlaquepaque
Help exporting what you buy, on this trip and every order after
Nine other designers, chosen to fit together
Founding member perk: priority booking for the August trip
Not included: flights, lunches and travel insurance.
Your seat
$3,850
per designer
Early bird: $3,650 if you reserve by October 30, 2026. Ten seats in total.
After a short intro call and your acceptance, a 50% deposit holds your seat, and the balance is charged on December 18, 2026. Paying by bank transfer? The balance is due that same day. Cancellation details are in the FAQ below.
Questions
Good to know.
What can I expect from the trip?
Think of it like any big trade show, just with a lot more help. The Expo has hundreds of exhibitors to walk, explore and collect contacts from, and you will have a guide to point you to the best of it. Add in an afternoon with the artisans of Tlaquepaque and a few great dinners with the group, and you leave with new sources, samples and a plan for what to order.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
Not at all. A bilingual guide walks the Expo with you and translates as you go, and our team is with you the whole trip.
Is Guadalajara safe?
Guadalajara is Mexico's second-largest city and hosts big international trade fairs every year. Like any big city, a little common sense goes a long way. You stay at the Westin across the street from the Expo, every group outing uses private transfers, and our local team is with you throughout.
What is not included?
Flights, lunches, travel insurance, and Wednesday dinner, since that evening is free. Your purchases and freight are separate too, and freight is quoted per order.
How does shipping my purchases home work?
This is where we really help. We work through the export side with you: customs paperwork, regulations that keep changing, freight to your door, and quality checks before anything ships. And it does not stop after the trip. We can handle reorders and future projects too, with someone local who speaks the language and knows the system.
What if I am not ready to buy on this trip?
That is completely fine. Plenty of designers come to meet makers, see the quality up close, and order later for upcoming projects. We help with those orders whenever you are ready.
Questions
Good to know.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable walking shoes come first: the Expo is big and you will be on your feet. Pack a few nice outfits for dinners and exploring town, plus a light layer, since February mornings and evenings can be cool. It also helps to bring business cards, a tape measure, your phone for photos and notes, some cash for the artisan village, and room in your suitcase for samples.
Can I add something else to my trip?
Yes. Whether it is more sourcing in the nearby villages, a day in Tequila, or something else entirely, Caroline can plan it for you. Book a short call with Caroline and tell her what you have in mind.
Can I come with a colleague or friend?
We would love that! Each of you applies, mentions the other in your application, and we review you together.
What happens after I apply?
We read every application ourselves. If it looks like a great fit, we will email you to set up a short video call, about 15 minutes, to get to know each other and answer your questions. If you are accepted, you will get a private link to reserve your seat with a 50% deposit. Seats go to accepted designers in the order they reserve.
What if my plans change?
The 50% deposit is non-refundable. Cancel before December 18, 2026 and the second payment is waived. From December 18, all payments are non-refundable. You can transfer your seat to a colleague in your studio or another designer we approve, up to 14 days before the trip. We strongly recommend Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance.
Is this your first trip?
Yes, and we are proud of it. February 2027 is our founding trip. Caroline brings years of experience planning high-end group travel in Mexico, and Mina knows the design side firsthand. What is new is bringing it all together for a group of designers. That means a smaller, more personal trip, and a real say in how future trips run. As a thank-you, founding members get priority booking for the August trip.
Is there another trip?
Yes. We go twice a year, for each edition of Expo Mueble, in February and in August. The August 2027 dates are announced closer to the time. Join the list for August and you will be the first to hear when applications open. Founding members from February get priority booking.
Is the trip tax deductible?
As a sourcing trip for your design business, it may be. Your accountant can confirm.
Still have a question? Email us at hello@designimportclub.com, or apply to join and ask us anything along the way.
Ten seats
Ready to come with us?
Early bird pricing ends October 30, 2026. Applying takes about five minutes, and we reply to every application ourselves.
Can’t make February? Join the list for August.
