28 March 2024, 20:50
By Furniture News Apr 23, 2014

Salone del Mobile makes its mark

The 53rd edition of the Salone del Mobile notched up a total of 357,212 visitors, 311,781 of them sectoral operators – up 13 % from the 2013 edition.

“Our goal was to make this the best Salone del Mobile in the world and the results have far exceeded our expectations,” says Claudio Luti, president of Milan's Salone del Mobile. “Buyers, journalists and designers have seen firsthand just how superlative and creative our production chain is, recognising the value of Made in Italy manufacturing and the global importance of the Salone.”

Significant recognition of the sector’s importance came from Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who visited the fair and acknowledged that the furniture sector was key to Italy’s economic strategy.

Roberto Snaidero, president of trade association FederlegnoArredo, comments: “This edition of the Salone del Mobile has confirmed the crucial role of exports for the sector. Almost half our manufacturing sales over the last year have been to other countries, as the strong presence of foreign visitors shows only too clearly.”

This was an even more international event than previously, with visitors from over 160 countries.

The 2014 edition marked a powerful synergy with the city of Milan, the creative capital capable of attracting thousands of visitors to design week with the Welcome Project, launched this year in collaboration with the Municipality of Milan and its Department of Fashion and Design. More than 100 students from Milan’s design schools were deployed to greet visitors at information points set up at points throughout the city.

The Where Architects Live exhibition provided visitors with an opportunity to engage with and reflect on the modes and experiences and the art of inhabiting, as evidenced by eight exceptional architects – Shigeru Ban, Mario Bellini, David Chipperfield, Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, Zaha Hadid, Marcio Kogan, Daniel Libeskind and Studio Mumbai/Bijoy Jain.

“This edition was a something of a rehearsal for Expo 2015,” Claudio Luti concludes. “There is everything to suggest that it will be a tremendous event that will show the world just what Milan and Italy are capable of achieving. We are unfazed by the challenge, and are already preparing for a great Salone that will get the Universal Exposition ball rolling.”

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