Salone del Mobile Milan 2024, themed "Materia Natura", took place from April 16th to the 24th 2024 at the Rho Fiera tradeshow center, with Fuorisalone events beginning as early as April 13th. Fuorisalone, which translates to "outside Salone" indicates events and exhibitions that are happening outside of the actual tradeshow, usually scattered throughout the City of Milan. Many of the exhibitions are open to the public or require a simple sign-up. Our team spread out during Milan Design Week to attend and share our favorite events and highlights, from exclusive cocktails and opening parties, to public presentations and formidable talks.
It's become evident by now that "sustainability" as a theme is as inherent to the future of design as form and function have always been. This evolution is a reflection of the collective values being carried forward by recent generations who are hyper aware of the climate crisis and the environmental impact of production and design.
The theme from this year, "Materia Natura", translates to natural material and is reminiscent of the Italian phrase "Materia Prima" referring to raw materials. However, the defining difference lies within the all-encompassing character of nature itself, not only as a source of materials but as an intrinsic connection to conscious design culture as, natural.
Fashion brands and Design continue to converge, always finding more ways to creatively elaborate brands’ ethos. With so many exciting exhibits this year, our editorial staff was pressed to choose their favorites but there were some concepts that definitely stood out. Here are some of the highlights from Milan Design Week 2024 from the CGC editorial staff.
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1. ROBERTO CAVALLI HOME x FAUSTO PUGLIESE
The Roberto Cavalli Home by Fausto Pugliese cocktail took place at the Conde' Naste office in Milan, hosted by AD Italia. The “Ray of Gold” design from the collection could be seen everywhere, from chair coverings to a tram to the laser printed version on cocktails.
Shop the collection here: www.robertocavalli.com/it-it/cavalli-world/ray-of-gold/
2. LORO PIANA
Loro Piana Interiors paid homage to Italian architect and designer, Cini Boeri during Milan Design Week. The installation entitled "A Tribute to Cini Boeri" was designed in collaboration with the Cini Boeri Archive, and produced by Arflex to celebrate the more playful, cheerful and contemporary side of design that Cini Boeri embodied. The installation brought to life Cini’s concept of a house with separate rooms with independent exits and a common area that the inhabitants share by choice, not by imposition.
3. MISSONI "FLOW THROUGH THE COLORS, MATCH WITH THE STARS"
Rubinetteria Stella, heritage makers of luxury faucets collaborated with Missoni during Milan Design Week to create a multi-sensorial, immersive experience at the centuries-old Fonderia Napoleonica Eugenia. Creative Director Alberto Caliri finds a way to express Missoni’s creative identity without losing sight of the brand's roots.
4. MISSONI “EN PLEIN AIR”
For Missoni’s Home Collection 2024, the colorful new arrivals by Alberto Caliri were showcased in the installation En Plein Air in via Solferino 9 during Milan Design Week.
The installation consisted of a collaboration between the innovation in fabrics and craftsmanship of Missoni, and the functionality and sophisticated style of RODA - an Italian company specialized in outdoor furniture. This synergistic collaboration resulted in an exploration of matter and form that made every piece of the decor a main character.
5. BOTTEGA VENETA "ON THE ROCKS"
Bottega Veneta presented "On The Rocks", during Design Week Milan, il Salone del Mobile 2024. An installation inside Palazzo San Fedele, the exhibit was curated in collaboration with Cassina and the Fondation Le Corbusier. The installation features the “LC14 Tabouret Cabanon”, a timeless icon by Le Corbusier, which reflects Cassina's excellence in the design sector.
6. ECOALF “RE-IMAGINING WASTE AS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE"
A major trend we’re seeing in apparel and lifestyle production is a move toward re-imagining waste materials as resources that can be re-used, re-produced, and recycled as durable, long-lasting fibers. Ecoalf, the innovative sustainable lifestyle brand, unveils a pioneering showcase that challenges the normal perception of waste by showing the intrinsic value of waste materials. The recognizable (and copyrighted) slogan has been seen everywhere and remains a provoking truth: BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLANET B ®
7. PRADA FRAMES - ‘‘BEING HOME’, ‘LIVING ROOM - BEING QUEER’
For Milan Design Week 2024, Prada organized the third edition of its multidisciplinary symposium ‘Prada Frames’ entitled Being Home. Curated by design agency Formafantasma, it took place at the historical Bagatti Valsecchi Museum.
The insightful session ‘Living Room - Being Queer’ explored habits of diaspora communities in homemaking and architectural spaces.
8. ARMANI CASA BY GIORGIO ARMANI - ‘‘ECHOES FROM THE WORLD’’
Giorgio Armani reopened the doors of the historic neo-classic style palace Palazzo Orsini, the long-term headquarters of his brand, to present the latest Armani/Casa collection. Staged as an imaginative journey by the visionary designer, visitors were invited to explore a realm of treasured objects, furnishings and unique creations that brought to life Giorgio Armani’s personal places of inspiration.
9. MONCLER - ‘‘AN INVITATION TO DREAM’’
Italian luxury fashion house Moncler created a large-scale immersive public exhibition at Milano Centrale Railway Station during this year’s Design Week. The installation named ‘‘An Invitation to Dream’’, curated by Jefferson Hack, illustrated the brand’s mission to push the boldness in adventurous explorers, inspiring them to accomplish their dreams and reach the highest peaks.
10. LOEWE LAMPS BY JONATHAN ANDERSON
Creative director Jonathan Anderson commissioned global artists and artisans to explore the theme ‘illumination within the house’. This resulted in the series of lamps and lighting installations exhibited by Loewe during Milan Design Week 2024.
Consisting of table, floor, installation and ceiling lamps, the collection of the 24 pieces was an experimentation and a celebration of the individual techniques each artist used with the surprising and original materials - from horse hair and bird twigs to Japanese washi paper and onyx.
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