Planning
for the Milan trip was quite hectic, simply because the planning took place at
the last minute. Plane tickets were hard to get as there were limited airlines
flying to Malpensa or Linate airport. Well this is my first trip to Milan and
to I’Saloni per say. The excitement of physically being present at the fair was
dramatic simply because it is the design capital of the world.
I
was not alone, as my friend who is fondly known as Hani, an Architect joined me
for this wonderful journey of experience. I was telling to myself, I need
plenty of grey matter to absorb, discuss and retain what I will be exposed to
at this wonderful fair on architecture, interior design and product design. Of
course a camera, a roller bag and a pair of great walking shoes were our
companion throughout the journey. Click here and there and the adrenalin of
excitement were gushing thru us.
Our
first day started with a train ride to Renate which is the final station in to
the show grounds which is huge and very well organized to cater for the growing
number of visitors ever year. The crowd looked like little ants marching in
several files. Imagine the feeling at Milan, hungry to know what are being
displayed to wet our appetites from all types of Italian and European
furniture, bath and kitchen products.
My
understanding and observation on the success of this show and have survived for
51 years is the congregation of designers, architects, buyers, distributors,
manufacturers, space planners and of course journalists who are presented not
only with newly designed products but a life style. Visiting the different
booths and having little chats, collecting brochures, feeling the product and
of course clicking for pictures gives you a connected feeling with a life style
being presented.
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| Author at the main entrance to iSaloni 2012 Exhibition - Fiero Milano, Milan, Italy. |
The
fair houses 22 buildings and offers an extensive space to more than 1600
vendors to display their products. We had to be selective and go to the booths
that was of interest and important to us because it was impossible to see the
entire fair. Honestly we would have loved to go to every booth being our first
experience at the fair but we have to be realistic to pick and choose and get
the best out of the trip. What is important is it gives a good perspective of
the direction of the world of design.
I
will conclude my journey’s story to other Malaysians who are in this industry
to make an effort to visit this fair and feel the adrenalin of what design is
all about. I will also leave you with pictures of our trail at the fair and
hope to write again on more specifics on the designs and what we discovered at
the end of our trip.
My journey was so memorable that I had to get to the nearest
shoe shop as soon as I got off the plane. My shoes gave way and told me that it
is so exhausted that it split between the sole and the upper part of the shoe
which goes to tell you the amount of walking that we had done.
 |
| With Paolo Zani, Art Director of Warli. |
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| With Shin Azumi, designer or 'Kite' chair for Fornasarig. |
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