The 61st edition of the Salone del Mobile, inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, closed its doors with 307,418 attendees from 181 different countries.

More than 2,000 exhibiting brands took part, 34% of them from 37 different countries, including 550 young designers from 31 different countries and 28 design schools and universities from 18 different countries. Particularly significant was the fact that 65% of the buyers and industry professionals had come from abroad. China reclaimed its place as the top country after Italy, followed by Germany, France, the United States, Spain with Brazil and India tied. There were over 5,400 accredited journalists, 47% of whom were from other countries.

"We have learned several important lessons from this edition: we have learned that it is indeed possible to redesign a huge event like the Salone in order to propel it into the future, that sustainability really is achievable when the entire system pulls together, and that new content can be devised and employed in order to generate knowledge, growth and value," commented Maria Porro, president of the Salone del Mobile.Milano. Great success also for the new format of Euroluce. "We invested in quality and demonstrated our desire to carry on producing innovation and ‘telling the stories’ of our companies and our products. Yet again we have been the engine that has fired up the city. The contribution of the Italian Trade Agency ICE has been invaluable and irreplaceable, supporting us as we have opened out to new markets such as India, and growing markets such as America. Digital has also played a vital role this week, as it did the preceding months, allowing us both to make contact with new countries and to maintain a strong relationship with those unable to join us," added Porro, who wanted to thank everybody have contributed to these results, from companies to organizers, from fitters to curators. "We believe that everyone could feel the enthusiasm and the desire to provide a new, global and aware experience".

Claudio Feltrin, president of FederlegnoArredo, also summed up the success of the Salone: "The Salone has proved yet again to be the only design fair that can lay claim to the greatest number of Italian exhibitors capable of attracting visitors, most of them from abroad, the best possible result for substantiating the value of our know how."


The next edition of the Salone del Mobile
April 16 to 21, 2024
Milan

Photo: Luca Quagliato