Milan called – and the industry answered. After last year’s mini-Salone, the design capital resumed normal proceedings with the gigantic Salone del Mobile fair and Fuorisalone, the off-site design festival taking over the city centre. Everyone was keen to catch up, finally meeting people they only knew from video calls, and see the new furniture and lighting launches in the flesh. Many brands showed at their stands not only with the 2022 news but also included collections introduced over the previous two years. No wonder that there was plenty to discover for our team when they hit the streets of Milan. Here are eleven products they think you should know about – all coming soon to Clippings. If any particular piece catches your eye for a project you’re working on, contact your account manager or our procurement team, and they will look into pricing and lead times for you.
EC06 Ilma Lounge Chair by e15
German brand e15 unveiled the Ilma lounge chair at their stand at the fair. Finnish designer Joonas Lutz came up with the strikingly simple design, a twist on the classic swing chair, combining a solid wood frame with supple leather. The frame can be made of European oak or walnut, and the leather comes in natural, brand or black.
Melt Chandelier by Tom Dixon
Tom Dixon arrived in Milan in a party mood. His design brand marked its 20th anniversary with a show in the palazzo of Sotheby’s, displaying prototypes and highlights of his oeuvre. At Manzoni, Tom Dixon’s permanent restaurant and showroom in the city centre, the brand presented new launches, including a large chandelier version of the Melt LED range and the Stone tables, available as side or dining tables.
Brion Wall Lights by Matière Grise
French manufacturer Matière Grise specialises in contemporary metal furniture and lighting and impressed us with their latest launches exhibited at the Salone del Mobile. They included the exciting Brion series by Axelle Vertommen. The Belgian designer captured the brutalist architecture of the Giuseppe Brion mausoleum, a project by Carlo Scarpa, to create a geometric lighting series featuring wall, floor and table lamps in vibrant colours.
Altar Pendant by Lee Broom
British designer Lee Broom took us to church, debuting six lighting collections in a large building in heart of Brera. All new designs were inspired by religious buildings, especially modernist and brutalist churches. Broom displayed his news in impressive installations, creating an ethereal experience for visitors. Among the new collections: Altar, a slim pendant made from fluted wood panels similar to grooves the designer saw on mid-century altars.
Plane Dining Table by Resident
Set in the beautiful cloister of the San Simpliciano basilica, international furniture and lighting brand Resident lined up their new collections under the arches of the Romanesque hallway. Extending their furniture offering, the brand launched the sculptural Plane dining table, whose chunky timber slabs support a round or rectangular top. A design by New Zealander Jamie McLellan, it’s made of solid oak and comes either in a natural or umber finish.
Butterfly Upholstered Chair by L.Ercolani
British brand L.Ercolani celebrated debuting in the halls of the fair, presenting fresh additions to the growing collection of the label that only launched last year. Showcasing gently updated mid-century icons by Ercol founder Lucian Ercolani next to pieces from contemporary designers, we spotted this new upholstered version of the Butterfly Chair at the stand. The chair was launched initially in 1956, and from September, it can be specified with a leather or fabric seat.
Serpentine Pendant by Moooi
Moooi went all out with their immersive installation that took over an exhibition space close to Porta Venezia. Visitors walked through a multi-sensory experience with dance performances by room fragrance diffusers and 3D artworks. This was built around the brand’s latest product launches, including the Serpentine pendant by Swedish design studio Front. Its cluster of cone-shaped shades is inspired by the shapes that can be created with a simple sheet of paper.
Dolmen Side Tables by Tacchini
Over at the stand of Tacchini, the Dolmen low tables caught our attention. Designed by Noè Duchaufour-Lawrence, the French designer studied natural erosion processes in nature, translating them into two table designs with smooth edges and corners. Stone masons carve the tables either out of a beige Breccia or grey Fior di Pesco marble, sourced from quarries close to the production site in Italy.
Dalya Dining Chair by Co-edition
Building on the success of their Dalya Lounge Chair, Coedition introduced two dining chair versions of the design by Patricia Urquiola, a long-term collaborator of the French brand. Available with short and long backrests, the frame features slightly tapered legs made of solid oak or black stained solid ash.
Cores Shelf by Schönbuch
If you still associate German design with strict minimalism, Munich-based brand Schönbuch will surprise you. Their collection combines clean-lined design with bold colours, which they displayed in a pop-up location in Brera. One of our favourite new pieces is the Cores shelf with its sliding stained glass inserts brightening up its appearance – Piet Mondrian paintings inspired designer Leandra Eible.
Bouquet Vases by Magis
Milan takes design quite seriously. So it was very refreshing to spot these colourful little vases at the Magis stand. Designed by studio BrogliatoTraverso for the Italian brand, the decorative pieces double up as portable table lights for indoor and outdoor environments. The range comes in six colours, with the removable vessel element, which sits in the cylinder, adding a joyful contrast.
