Milan’s standing in the fashion world is such that the city’s substantial contribution to design is often overlooked. But, while Milan may be best known for its sartorial supremacy, it is also arguably the most influential design capital in the world. It is a city of tradition, but also one of innovation, particularly in the design sphere. Milan has produced some of the world’s most pioneering designers, hosts major design events every year, and has become the first port of call for in-the-know shoppers seeking stylish, luxury products for the home.



Milan hosted groundbreaking designers throughout the 20th century and was the city that brought Italian design into the modern age. To this day, the city’s influence stretches around the globe. Various Milanese figures have been central to this evolution, none more significant than Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002), who, alongside his two brothers, revolutionised the entire design industry, by implementing the simple principle that design should restructure an object’s function, form and production. Castiglioni, born and bred in Milan, found his inspiration in the everyday rather than the sublime. His inventive, modernist works are as feted today as they were half a century ago.



Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007), a contemporary of Castiglioni also based in Milan, was similarly prolific. Famed for his original, colourful and often eccentric designs, Sottsass created a vast body of work comprising furniture, glass, lighting and office machinery. Always ahead of the curve, he and his team of engineers consistently delivered products that were both technically innovative and aesthetically radical, exemplifed by his iconic bright red Valentine portable typewriter, manufactured in 1969.



In the 50s and 60s, when Castiglioni, Sottsass and their contemporaries had reached a creative zenith, Milan enjoyed a golden design era. It saw the birth and rapid growth of several Milanese design-led brands – many of which, decades later, are still market leaders. Milan-based B&B Italia, for whom Sottsass designed, is a case in point. The company, founded in 1966, is committed to ‘innovation, service, quality, design and prestige’ and is world-famous for creating exquisite furniture that is both modern and timeless; functional and aesthetically inventive. At a time of great creative energy, B&B Italia was launched alongside a number of Milan-based brands that went on to find great success. From Artemede, the lighting company formed in 1960, to Cassina, the 50s-founded high-end furniture manufacturer famous for its scrupulous attention to detail, Milan was a hub for cutting-edge design, and a spate of new designers and companies flourished.



Fast-forward to 2010, and many of those small companies formed some 50 years ago are now internationally acclaimed, boasting a vast global distribution. The future, too, is bright. Not only are several recently established Milanese home furnishing brands making big strides in the industry, but Milan also hosts a number of important design events, which seek to nurture emerging talent from both within and beyond Italian borders. The Salone Internazionale del Mobile, held in Milan every April and now in its 49th year, is the world’s biggest and most important event for the home furnishing sector. The ‘event’ (as it is known) brings together over 3,000 of the design industry’s most dynamic and creative companies from around the world, and more than a third of participants are from outside Italy. The Salone attracts in excess of 300,000 buyers, manufacturers and designers from over 150 countries.



The sheer size of the fair can be overwhelming; each of the 24 pavilions is the size of a football pitch. Thankfully its fringe event, SaloneSatellite, is more accessible. Open to the general public (though just for one day), it is dedicated to designers under the age of 35, and is seen by many as the nucleus of the entire exhibition. Design, like fashion, is in Milan’s blood, and visitor numbers to the Salone Internazionale del Mobile and international media attention are growing each year. It doesn't look as though the city’s long history of success in the design industry will be drawing to a close any time soon.