These Are The Top Trends Coming Out of This Year’s Milan Design Week

It often takes a discerning designer to pull out fresh ideas from a historic archive. Such was the case last week in Milan, where Caterina and Raffaele Fabrizio, CEO and creative director of Dedar, presented “Weaving Anni Albers,” a collection culled from the Josef and Annie Albers Foundation including five jacquard fabrics. Situated high atop the sixteenth floor of the polarizing Torres Velasca, built in a brutalist style in the early 1950s by BBPR Architecture, the designers showcased each design as if examined through an archivist’s lens, complete with historic documents, old televisions and metal filing cabinets filled with neatly organized ephemera from the foundation. Each textile was showcased on looms, providing the viewer different vantage points to experience the texture, light and color within the orderly space and protecting the spirit of hand weaving craft traditions. –Benjamin Reynaert, Market Director

The LIL daybed and ottoman, designed by Christophe Delcourt for Jerome Aumont’s Collection Particulière, were a potent mix of whimsy and practicality, shown floated in the midst of the showroom floor like plump twin islands. The two asymmetrical forms complement each other even when not pieced together like a puzzle, allowing for various freeform seating arrangements. I was reminded of designer Rebecca Korner’s Lagoon modular sofa series for the Invisible Collection, composed of sculptural pieces that hold their own from every angle. On the other end of the spectrum, Hem’s modular Great Sofa (pictured), designed by Philippe Malouin, was installed two-deep along one wall, effectively turning the sofa into a giant mattress. All fun new ways to think about communal seating. –Sean Santiago, Deputy Editor

At Fendi Casa we saw a particularly luxe 70’s style vanity, which looks like a simple, yet beautiful, small table and unfurls into a mirror, leather chair and desk with cabinets on each side. At Baxter, as well, a semi-circular violet vanity was shown with an ovular mirror perched on an elevated shelf. Perhaps TikTok “Get Ready With Me” videos have ushered in the return of the luxury vanity—makeup routines are no longer confined to bathroom counters, but rather on display, on a buttery leather surface, ready for filming. –Annie Goldsmith, Senior Editor

Birds of a feather flock together—especially at Milan Design Week when there is food involved. To celebrate her upcoming bedroom-themed capsule collection with Marimekko, food artist Laila Gohar created a giant “bed-in” consisting of dozens of mattresses pushed together and dressed in the brand’s classic Maija Isola-designed striped sheets. In classic Gohar fashion, the event had an edible trompe l’oeil—the twin bed on the corner turned out to be a cake. Over at 5Vie, Carolina Levi of Rome’s Spazio Giallo Interiors curated an exhibit, Prendete & Mangiate (Take and Eat), consisting of a long banquet table set with color-drenched glassware and vessels by emerging designers. One had the sense that a wonderful meal had just ended—even the tiny house flies (by Utol Ceramica) on the table were made of clay. –Ingrid Abramovitch, Executive Editor

So many chairs and sofas you really want to sink into, but then gorgeous monumental desks like this one from Poltrona Frau that I’m calling Chairman of the Board. –Stellene Volandes, Editorial Director

Beni presented Intersection, a new collection of rugs by Studio Ko, in a crumbling former textiles factory. Displayed amongst an abundance of artfully arranged papers, typewriters, fax machines and chic office-inspired furniture mingle with responsibly woven rugs featuring five distinct weaving techniques. Heading back to the office has never been more appealing. –BR