Microtrends to Watch from Milan Design Week 2023/2024

Sustainable design and the idea of durability took centre stage at this year at Milan Design Week. Both emerging and established designers unveiled clever ideas across a range of applications.

As we explored an array of immersive experiences that delved into the challenges and possibilities of design, we were excited to have our own trends watching and market awareness validated.

Explore our Trends Book 2023/2024

Milan Design Week 2023 encouraged us to celebrate abundance rather than scarcity. It emphasised the potential for a more optimistic, sustainable future through thoughtful design and responsible use of resources.

Why attend?

Attending prestigious design events like Milan Design Week plays a crucial role in the growth and development of our product development team. These events serve as a platform to validate and inspire design decisions, ensuring that we stay at the cutting edge of textile design.

By incorporating the knowledge and experiences gained from such events, our team can create innovative and high-quality products that cater to the ever-evolving needs of our customers.

Commemorating the past and envisioning the future

Cassina commemorated the 50th anniversary of the iMaestri Collection by hosting 'Echoes, 50 years of iMaestri', a captivating exhibition at Milan's historic Palazzo Broggi in Cordusio. Curated by Patricia Urquiola and Federica Sala it highlighted the collection's enduring legacy.

As such, it featured works by 20th-century masters Vico Magistretti, Gio Ponti, and Carlo Scarpa, alongside new figures intricately connected to the brand's history. Finally, it culminated in the 2024 launch of the Eames Lighting Collection prototype, designed by Charles and Ray Eames.

Crafting an exciting future from the foundations of the past

Meanwhile, GUBI transformed the iconic Bagni Misteriosi into an immersive sensory showcase, GUBI SALONE 2023, blending cutting-edge contemporary artistry with timeless 20th-century design icons.

The diversity of creativity and wealth of imagination were so exciting to see. This, for us, is the heart of our Trends Book 2023/2024.

In TEN, a curated group of creatives from fashion, art, architecture, and music paid tribute to the legendary Beetle Chair, reimagining its enduring potential.

Let’s look at just two of these artists and their works, as they took such different approaches to the same project. Despite their contrasting techniques, both artists accentuated the original designs' forms while introducing their own special transformations and design voices.

Artists Adam Nathaniel Furman and Simon Wick reimagine classic furniture pieces, each employing distinctive approaches. Furman infused the Beetle Chair with vibrant colours and patterns, metamorphosing it into a fairy-tale throne that suggests new design contexts.

Conversely, Wick ingeniously reconstructed a deconstructed seat using an eclectic mix of materials, such as surplus textiles, upholstery offcuts, cardboard, and plastic.

Oublié and Dimore: creating imagined alternative spaces

The 'Silence' installation, masterfully designed by Dimore Studio's founders Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran, perfectly represents our 2023 Design Theme of Oublié.

This immersive exhibit, revealed through holes in walls and a final scene visible through five windows, brought visitors into the intimate lives of imagined inhabitants, as if they’d just left the room.

Rooms full of a mix of modified furniture and curated vintage pieces were thrown into disarray, accentuated by smashed fixtures, recently extinguished cigarettes, and an interrupted dinner party, all supported by an evocative soundscape.

Oublié represents a turn inward to a contemplative, almost mystical realm, seamlessly blending past and present. The 'Silence' installation resonates with this theme, inviting visitors to explore the forgotten and rediscover the beauty in the overlooked.

Time-honoured crafts in new hands: Durability thrives

The FREITAG "Always Beta. Never Waste" installation demonstrated a commitment to durability, resilience, and sustainability by exploring the development of materials and systems for circular products.

The installation highlighted the importance of seamlessly blending high design with durable technologies and natural substances, showcasing a forward-thinking approach to our future.

Quality is something you feel in your hands, following the creation of an artisan object from the rough irregularities of raw wood down to the smoothed out, finished feel in an exquisitely crafted piece. – Durability, Bru Textiles Trends 2023/2024

With our Durability theme in mind, we’d like to spotlight two designers and their work.

"Our 2023 Design Theme of Durability is perfectly represented by the incredible work of talented artists: Korean designer Sangmin Oh and the collaboration between Daisuke Yamamoto Design Studio and Taketo Masui. I am thrilled to see these artists' work as contributing to our vision of a kinder, more resilient future for everyone. These works remind us that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand, paving the way for a brighter, more durable future." – Nancy Claessens, Visual Production Director, Bru Textiles

Korean designer Sangmin Oh debuted a series of sculptural lamps titled “The Knitted Light.” Showcasing the possibilities of 3D knitting, the lamps were made with traditional fishing lines and elastic yarns that respond to light in different ways.

Daisuke Yamamoto Design Studio and Taketo Masui debuted a new furniture line called "FLOW", created in an installation made of salvaged materials where designers and artisans worked to recreate what was meant to be disposed of in a continuous process of assembly, disassembly, and reassembly.

The ultimate goal? To create a fluid, circular lifecycle for materials, preventing any industrial waste or need for disposal.

Finally, dip into the world of pop baroque: Poltronova: Beyond the Mirror

Our 2023 Design Theme of Pop Baroque is beautifully represented by the enchanting installation 'Ultrafavola. Poltronova Beyond the Mirror.'

With its with metallic 'curtains' and a reflective floor, the installation captured the essence of Poltronova's product catalogue, transcending surface meanings and delving into the magical dimension of design.

Pop Baroque is a theme that celebrates the return to a more normal social life, breaking down age barriers and encouraging everyone to embrace fun and experimentation in their pursuit of happiness. The 'Ultrafavola' installation perfectly embodies this spirit, showcasing a vibrant range of colours and materials.

As we move forward in 2023, we are excited to see how installations like 'Ultrafavola. Poltronova Beyond the Mirror' continue to inspire and influence the world of design, reminding everybody of the power of creativity, imagination, and the joy of self-expression.

Discover our 2023/24 Trends Book

Throughout Milan Design Week 2023/2024 our team was inspired by the innovative designs, commitment to craftsmanship, and thoughtful use of resources displayed by the talented artists and designers.

This event served as a reminder that the future of design is bright, with a focus on creating long-lasting, beautiful, and environmentally conscious products.

The ultimate beneficiaries of our team's dedication to staying at the forefront of textile design are our customers, who can trust that the products they receive are a result of our commitment to quality and innovation.

We invite you to share in our excitement and inspiration by checking out our trends book, where you can explore these themes in greater detail and discover how they are shaping the world of design.

Let's continue to celebrate the power of creativity and the potential for a more sustainable, durable future together.

Check out our Trends Book 2023/2024 now!