Here are a couple on-the-street images from this year’s Salone del Mobile. For those of you who aren’t familiar, it is one of the most exciting design trade shows on the planet. So highly revered, it brings more visitors to Milan than any of the runway collections. Powerhouse design firms like Cassina, DePadova and Cappellini produce masterful installations and throw their doors open to the masses. Boutique design galleries like Understate, Luisa Delle Piane, Rossana Orlandi, and robertaebasta create superbly whimsical installations that feature emerging designers as well as antiques. And what would a party be, without celebrities? On hand to unfold new projects are masters such as Zaha Hadid, Karim Rashid, and Vladimir Kagan. I actually bumped into Rashid one morning on via Tortona, one of the principle event addresses. He was wearing his trademark hot pink suit and even had a matching ring. Trust me, this first thing in-the-morning encounter was better than a cappuccino topped with the finest dark chocolate.
