As the Salone del Mobile descends on Milan, we pick out our top five offerings from the fashion houses on show
Salone del Mobile is the time of year when the world's greatest, chic-est and most innovative designers descend on Milan to present their new collections to the industry: it is just like fashion week, but for furniture. With over a thousand exhibitors in over a hundred thousand square feet, its enormity can be daunting to the uninitiated and so, after taking day one to pick out some favourites, we bring you our top five offerings from some of our favourite fashion brands. From those native to Italy, like Fendi and Marni, to the home-grown talents of Vivienne Westwood, here are our best bits thus far...
Dodie Thayer for Tory Burch
Many years ago, Tory Burch started collecting Dodie Thayer's 1960s Lettuce Ware, originally moulded in Palm Beach from the leafy green itself. During Salone del Mobile 2015, Burch has launched her very own collaboration with Thayer – a re-issued selection of the classic hand-detailed, ceramics glazed in Duncan Irish Green. Fans the first time round included Jackie Kennedy and Wallis Simpson. We're anticipating the new range will be equally well recieved.
Vivienne Westwood and Tiipoi Mirror 6 Collection
At their flagship Italian boutique, Vivienne Westwood is presenting a collaboration with design studio Tiipoi, entitled Alchemy: Material Obsessions. Looking at the transformation of raw materials, Tiipoi's Mirror 6 collection works with a Keralan family (who have been casting mirrors since the 15th century) who polish metal alloys for days on end until the surface becomes reflective. The result is a direct reflection, rather than the refraction through overlaid glass that we are used to, and a beautiful celebration of long-practiced craftsmanship
Fendi and Campana Brothers
A routine champion of elegant design meeting humour, Fendi's much-beloved bag bugs have been reinterpreted by Fernando and Humberto Campana. The resultant Armchair Of Thousand Eyes has a gilded brass base and a range of sumptuous furs, which maintain the luxury heritage of the Roman powerhouse, while the rest is a gleeful expression of whimsy that is simultaneously chic and hilarious. A consistent pioneer in fur techniques, Fendi and the Campana brothers have managed to find an even better use for the material than the Karl Lagerfeld bag bugs – a feat that we didn't think was possible.
Marni Mercado De Paloquemao
For this year's Salone, Marni have transformed their showroom into a Colombian fruit market (complete with fruits from Bogota) and featured fruit sculptures formed out of metal alongside colourful chairs and tables woven from PVC. All of the objects and furnishings presented were handmade by Columbian women (and all proceeeds are going to charity), which means that not only are their pieces some of the most aesthetically engaging on show, but also among the most philanthropic.
Loewe's The Bowls Project
Ever since Jonathan Anderson took the reigns of Loewe as creative director, his reinterpretation of the house's legacy has seen Loewe surge to success. With an understanding of leatherwork at its heritage core, for this season's Salone Anderson has worked with third-generation Spanish artisan José Luis Bazán to create 50 hand-mouled leather bowls. The sculptural pieces subvert traditional codes of pottery and ceramics by employing the unexpected material, and consolidate the strong new direction that the brand has been taking over the past year.
Salone del Mobile runs until April 19.
