Salone Milano 2025: A Symphony of Brands Redefining Modern Design
Salone Milano 2025: A Symphony of Brands Redefining Modern Design
What if furniture could outlive us? Not just endure, but evolve—gathering patina like a Renaissance portrait, whispering stories across generations? This was the question hanging in Milan’s air as Salone Milano 2025 unveiled its secrets.
Beyond the clamour of trends, a rebellion brewed. Six Italian brands—Cierre, Vibieffe, Potocco, Efforma, Varaschin, and ERBA—had quietly rewritten design’s rules, merging ancestral craft with audacious futurism. Imagine travertine slabs floating on bronze legs, sofas tilted like leaning towers, and wardrobes that dissolve into walls.
Here, sustainability wasn’t recycled plastic—it was leather aged with walnut oil, stones left to weather like temples, and heirlooms designed to improve with time. The event wasn’t a showcase. It was a séance, summoning furniture that refuses to die.
Crafting Tomorrow's Classics
Cierre - Four Pencils, One Soul
The 2025 collection represented Cierre1972's vision of complete home environments, brought to life through the collaborative genius of four renowned designers: Emilio Nanni, Luca Erba, Marco Fumagalli, and Studio Bernhardt & Vella.
The Montgomery modular sofa, designed by Gianmaria and Stefano Conficconi, offered creative planning with over 40 elements. Its single-block seat module featured quilted detailing and smooth floating cushions, complemented by integrated side tables in bleached Canaletto walnut veneer.
The Loden sofa, a refined evolution of the bestselling Chapeau model, showcased fine leather piping and handcrafted leather toggles. Its fully removable and dry-cleanable design, even in the leather piping version, exemplified thoughtful luxury.
Bernhardt & Vella's Catarina compact sofa featured an external metal structure finished with signature cuoio-effect coating, supported by solid bleached Canaletto walnut or black-stained ash legs. Presented with luxurious Dedar textiles, it proved perfect for intimate spaces.
The Knight by Emilio Nanni demonstrated meticulous handcrafting with its full metal structure entirely covered in signature cuoio-effect finish. Meanwhile, the Chapeau Bed, inspired by its sofa counterpart, combined a striped fabric headboard with smooth upholstery and elegant leather detailing.
Vibieffe - Contemporary Elegance
Vibieffe captivated with innovative two-tone chair designs and asymmetrical fabric sofas featuring distinctive walnut shelf details. Their collection emphasised contrast through thoughtful combinations of neutral upholstery with bold metal and leather accents, creating pieces that balanced visual interest with practical comfort.
Eforma - Bold Sophistication
Eforma's collection stood out with the confident use of jewel-toned lacquered sideboards and sophisticated mixed-material dressers combining leather, glass, and mirror elements. Their dining tables featured distinctive asymmetrical bases topped with ceramic surfaces, while structured chairs with walnut legs completed their offering of contemporary luxury.
Potocco - Artistic Innovation
Potocco's standout "Pages" bookshelf showcased solid wood columns sculpted to evoke delicate forms. Their collection extended to include statement pieces and an outdoor collection featuring bold, graphic stripes, demonstrating their ability to create furniture that served as both a functional element and an artistic statement.
Lago - Expanding Horizons
Lago demonstrated their evolution by expanding into new territory with innovative kitchen and bathroom collections. This strategic expansion showcased their ability to translate their design philosophy into new living spaces while maintaining their commitment to contemporary elegance.
Varaschin - Artisanal Excellence
The Plinto collection by Varaschin presented coffee tables of varying heights, creating dynamic visual interest through asymmetrical compositions. Their dining chairs showcased exceptional craftsmanship through woven backrest details, while their lounge chairs offered multiple seating options, reflecting their dedication to combining traditional craftsmanship with modern design sensibilities.
Conclusion
Salone Milano 2025 revealed a radical truth: furniture’s value lies not in trends, but in its ability to evolve. Cierre’s contrasts, Vibieffe’s rebellion, Potocco’s play, Eforma’s secrets, Varaschin’s patience, and ERBA’s silence all championed emotional durability—design that ages with stories.
These pieces reject disposability, inviting scratches, patina, and adaptation. They ask us to cherish imperfection, find luxury in discovery, and see sustainability as a bond between maker and user.
In a world racing toward the new, these brands are designed for the eternal. Their legacy? Proof that the finest interiors aren’t decorated—they’re lived in, loved, and passed on.