To the Trade:
Notes From Milan
April means Salone del Mobile returns to Milan, with the latest and greatest design trends and new releases in the furniture, lighting and design world all vying for exposure at this global trade show. Our merchandisers spent the week exploring the show and its installations, and they’ve brought back some insight into upcoming trends. Here are the highlights from Salone del Mobile 2019.
Innovation
Philippe Starck presents his A.I. Chair for Kartell.
Arguably the most technologically plugged-in release was the A.I. Chair debuted for the Kartell 70th anniversary. As we see advances in tech making their way into smart homes, Philippe Starck was busy logging three years worth of chair design ideas into Autodesk software. The machine learned from these ideas and finally produced this chair design, compiling elements from many years of trial and error (much like his iconic Masters Chair) into a design that fits in with Starck’s catalog for Kartell. Machine learning for fabrication and computer-assisted design is poised to become the next big thing for clients and projects that want to demonstrate a cutting-edge aesthetic.
Sustainability
New from Mater, the Ocean Chair is made from recycled fishing nets, helping to address the issue of plastics in the oceans.
An inescapable trend this year is sustainability. From company mission statements to manufacturing, going green is now top of mind for a growing segment of design studios. As both companies and consumers become more sensitive to climate change issues and fair practices in labor, we’re seeing many designers answering the call with recycled goods, reforestation initiatives, fair-trade programs and programs to mitigate environmental impact.
To this end, one of the most buzzed about events during Salone was Triennale’s brokennature exhibition, looking at 30 years of projects that measure humankind’s imprint on the world. This included the “100 Chairs in 100 Days” installation in which designer Martino Gamper rescued tossed-out chairs from the streets of London to reimagine what repurposed furniture could be and the motives behind a culture of waste. His creations of 100 new chairs from parts and pieces of refuse served as a talking point about the wasteful nature of “fast fashion” in furnishings, and highlight the emerging trend toward purchasing thoughtfully designed pieces that will outlast fads.
Color & Texture
Another trend we saw a lot of this year that will impact the coming seasons revolved around color. Vintage hues and natural color made appearances at Salone, including an Indigo Blue collaboration for Moooi who, in partner with a few other companies like Ecco, showcased deep blue-dyed leather and denim that has been reworked for use as upholstery.
Pastels and muted tones are still having a moment, as are 1980s-throwback palettes which, in conjunction with some neon looks and the resurgence of geometric Art Deco designs, are leaning toward a Miami Beach trend, if slightly more refined. The takeaway is fun, vibrant interior palettes that are both exciting and soothing and, ultimately, livable.
Along with the brightly colored designs, much of what was displayed at Salone was returning to natural materials. Playing into the eco-friendly angle, we saw recycled plastics from Emeco in addition to their new wood chairs.
High Design goes Outside
Elevating the outdoor arena was a major theme this year, with iconic Italian brands like FLOS and Foscarini releasing outdoor iterations of some of their most popular lighting designs. In conjunction with the sustainability trend, Barcelona’s Vondom released a collaboration with designer Ramon Esteve that sees an artisan-woven daybed take center stage at their display; the woven upper sphere is handcrafted by a single villager who is expert in the technique. Other notable additions to the outdoor arena were Fermob with a garden of new colors in their outdoor furniture collection, and new outdoor upholstery pieces from Cane-Line.
To sum up the 2019 Salone del Mobile takeaways, we’ve got our eye on eco-friendly practices, inclusive design and fun colorways that will drive your projects for the seasons to come. Stay tuned as we onboard some of the new designs featured at Milan Design Week.
