XIX edition of Proposte addressing furnishing designers

04 May '11

4 min read

Nowadays, though young people may have limited budgets and little space at their disposal when they set up homes, most will not go without a few select design objects, whether they buy them for themselves or ask for them as gifts. They decorate their rooms with them and proudly show them off, rattling off the names of their designers and producers. In their kitchens, you might find the Philippe Starck juicer produced by Alessi.

Their bedroom might contain the Eclisse lamp designed by Vico Magistretti and produced by Artemide. And in the living room? Although they may have bought Moroso armchairs, chances are they won't be able to tell you who made the fabric they are upholstered in, nor will they know who produced the drapes on their windows, except in very few rare cases.

Though this goal is probably still out of reach, it is becoming increasingly plausible thanks to a realisation that dawned immediately after the dramatic financial crisis of 2008. It would appear that the competitiveness and appeal of the European textile industry hinge on the following features: handcrafted character as a quality guarantee; attention to detail; and certifiable sources.

This trend was illustrated in a macroscopic and symbolic way by a monumental Ai Weiwei exhibit at the Tate Modern in London.

Proposte 2011

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