Il Salone del Mobile in Milan, the world's premier event for design, furniture and the home, will take place as planned by 5 10 to September, albeit in different ways and spaces from those of the previous editions. It will be inaugurated, as promised, by the president of the Republic. This was communicated by the Salone's press office after the industry association, FederlegnoArredo, solicited from many quarters and by institutions of great political and economic weight, had finally dispelled all doubts. And above all, he had won the tough internal opposition of some companies to which the 58 editions of the Salone have given over the years an essential contribution for growth and exports. The image and success of the sector - it should be emphasized - have been built year after year by the extraordinary ability to communicate and attract the Salone and the Fuori Salone, without which SMEs would never have been able to achieve their current goals.
It will be an edition less extensive than the previous ones, but with great attention to both formal and technological innovations of the last 18 months and to various issues closely related to the global audience of its visitors, thanks to an original digital platform. The decision to make the Salone with this innovative formula was first of all communicated to the Prime Minister Mario Draghi, then to the trade associations and institutions that revolve around the furniture events as an induced, very rich one.
“At the end of a constructive internal debate, of an intense design work to which we have dedicated ourselves in recent weeks - underlines the press release - which ended with total sharing and a unanimous vote in which the strengths of the event were analysed, the historical and symbolic values, current and prospective ones, coherence with the program to relaunch the country's economy under the guidance of the new Executive, the significant sharing of the community, the expectations of both a professional and general public in Italy and in the world, the leaders of the Salone del Mobile in Milan have defined the steps that in the next few days will determine the path that will lead to the organization of the September edition”.
After the resignation of Claudio Luti as president of the Salone del Mobile and after some relevant ones defections of historic Brianza brands, it seemed that Milan, Lombardy and the entire furniture sector would have to pay for the crisis linked to Covid with two years of total closure, while other trade fairs resumed their traditional path, filling the gigantic void left by the Milanese event. But no. The pressures of environments linked to the world of furniture, design and innovation began at the very moment in which, among the global post-Covid megatrends, the one of a necessary courageous redesign of the living space emerges. But above all it was the timely, dry and determined announcement by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, who guaranteed his presence for the opening of the September edition, that made the entire sector reflect.
The project for the 2021 event - continues the communication - will be coordinated by an internationally renowned curator. “I thank the Presidential Council of FederlegnoArredo, the members of the Board of Directors of Federlegno Arredo Eventi and our entrepreneurs for sharing points of view, ideas and needs – he says Claudio Feltrin, president of FederlegnoArredo – a team effort that will allow us to organize a special, unique edition, just like the period we are experiencing is unique. We have won a great challenge: to give companies, from large to small, which represent the fabric of the supply chain, the best showcase for enhancing international and Made in Italy excellence. Now we will continue in this direction as always in close synergy with the City of Milan".
It remains to note the absence of any reference to the former president of the Salone, Claudio Luti, who had resigned in controversy with those - public institutions and associations - who did not give certain answers to allow for the preparation in time of a Salone worthy of its image. The pressure on FederlegnoArredo has been such that the September Salone is now safe. That of September, but for future editions, you know that there are many requests for change, above all to remodel certain exaggerated exhibitions of Nothing erected as Design, of very scenographic events but ends in themselves, of extreme luxury as a useless exhibition. And to review likewise total costs now unsustainable for small and medium-sized companies, forced to organize not only gigantic stands, but also the events at the Fuori Salone and often the opening hours of the showrooms. Above all this glittering millionaire world, the stellar prices of Milanese hotels soar, so much so that for years many operators have preferred to stay in Switzerland (it costs less) and reach the Fair in an hour by very comfortable train.
