It’s Milan Design Week, also known as Salone del Mobile, and that means our favourite Italian city is currently flooded with interior enthusiasts. The annual furniture fair in Milan originally exhibited Italian designs only, but thanks to its immense success (last year, there were just under 450,000 visitors) the Salone is now one of the biggest events in the world for the furnishing and design sector.
Every year when the city is buzzing with design fans, big Italian fashion brands pull out all the stops for their clientele too. Presenting the latest products, collaborations and installations (with an artsy edge, of course), these pop-up events and collections are yet another reason for booking a trip to Milan. And to save you some time, we've already rounded up our favourite fashion installations...
Marni
Introducing Marni Moon Walk, the brand has created a series of designer objects with an extra-terrestrial theme. Furniture-wise, we’re talking spaceship-like coffee tables, tribal alien sculptures and stools in the shape of animals – all made from metal sheet and hand painted. This year’s edition also sees the presentation of colour PVC and metal accessories in the form of petite sofas, rocking chairs and chaise longues, as well as colourful cushions, wool and natural fibre rugs.
Dolce & Gabbana
After the huge successes of their previous collaborations on hand-painted appliances, Dolce & Gabbana and kitchen-favourite Smeg are once again joining forces on a lifestyle project. Inspired by the traditional Sicilian cart (think prominent shades of red and yellow, as well as bright blues and greens), their lavishly decorated designs include an incredible stand mixer and coffee maker that you’ll definitely want to get your hands on.
Loewe
Focussing their fifth project for the Salone del Mobile on the art of weaving and basketry, Loewe asked eight artists from around the world to create a collection of traditional baskets with a contemporary twist. The result is a beautifully crafted range of leather bags (including their iconic Puzzle and Gate bag) that are both decorative and practical, as well as a limited line of bamboo-like bangles crafted from copper.
Etro
Etro is unveiling their new home collection at Milan Design Week. Influenced by nomadism and mythology, the Italian fashion house known for its use of bold prints and colours has created a line of soft furnishings, robes and ceramics. If you’re looking to zhoosh up your décor, these conversation-starting pieces (we’re talking parrot-shaped lamp bases, candle holders with Bengal tigers and throw pillows with mythical embroidery) will do the trick.
Armani
Armani/Casa is giving its flagship store (the biggest one in the world) at Corso Venezia in Milan a major revamp – updating all four floors with the newest bathroom, living room and kitchen collections, draperies and wall coverings. For the latter, Armani/Casa has partnered up with wallpaper brand Jannelli&Volpi on an eye-catching collection of prints with trompe-l'oeil imagery of the Italian island of Pantelleria, as well as some of Armani’s more iconic patterns.
Versace
For their latest home collection, launching at the Salone this week, Versace created on a line of furnishings inspired by the brand’s 90s fashion advertising campaigns. The installations were curated by interior designer Sasha Bikoff and artist Andy Dixon, and showcase everything from sculptural Medusa chairs in bright neon colours to opulent coffee and tea sets in their signature baroque motif. Over the top, as we would say, not that we’d expect anything less from the Italian fashion house.
Cos
London-based fashion brand Cos has taken over the courtyard and gardens of Palazzo Isimbardi in Milan with a large-scale 3D printed architectural installation made from compostable bio-plastic and wood. Designed by Hackney-based architect Arthur Mamou Man, Conifera (that’s the name of this impressive piece of art) will leave you without words for modern-day technology.
The Salone Internazionale del Mobile runs until April 14