Milan is always something special. Here, design is embodied, and those who are interested in furniture and furnishings make sure not to miss out on the Salone del Mobile, EuroCucina and the many events as part of Design Week - for 60 years now. This year in particular you could feel the whirring enthusiasm. After the unwanted coronavirus break, on every corner there were the meetings, exchanges, experiences of furniture in our industry that have been badly missed. No wonder, then, that the 60th Milan Fair was a huge success: 262,000 visitors were counted over the seven days of the fair. For us, the fair in Milan is always something special because we see the fruits of our labour there: GRASS products were presented by more than 50 exhibitors. The companies came from Italy, Spain, Germany - and confirmed that the inner workings make the difference. We support furniture manufacturers all over the world - from carpenters and manufacturers to industrial companies.

You will be amazed by the minimalistic and elegant kitchens from VALCUCINE and will be surprised by the grandiose, kitschy interiors by DOLCE & GABBANA just a few streets away, which transform traditional Sicilian folk art into pop art. Between these poles, Milan once again showed what design can do - but without the big surprises. Harald Klüh, Global Brand Manager of GRASS, had expected something different: "The designers were on their own in the pandemic. As there were hardly any external influences, I would have expected something unique, something new to come into being. But this creativity explosion did not materialise. "In light of the current global situation, however, it is also understandable," explains the brand specialist. "In view of rising energy prices, a shortage of raw materials, inflation, war anxiety and a stagnating economy it would have been an incalculable risk to start a design revolution."

Even if the pandemic — and the lockdowns and remote working that followed—had not lead to a boost in creativity, the furniture world would have changed nonetheless. One person who has made this observation is Markus Sander, Managing Director of Marketing, Sales and Controlling at Hacker Küchen: "The pandemic and the challenges of world politics have people longing for comfort and security. Our current circumstances inspire a new appreciation for our own four walls. 'Let's meet for dinner at the Italian restaurant' has become 'When should we come to you?'" This development also changed how we cook: Food has become our calling card, so it's little wonder that bolder and more exciting strides have been taken in kitchen design rather than living room furniture.

A second trend has also emerged as a result of the pandemic: Home has become more homely. Now that people are spending more time at home, well-being has become a hot topic again. More value is being placed on beauty and cosiness. The bathroom is getting a glow-up and becoming a real oasis of well-being — it's emerging from the shadows of our other living areas in terms of design. This development has also benefited our outdoor spaces, where the furniture is now almost indistinguishable from its counterpart in the living room.

Sustainability is one of the big issues of our time - including in the furniture industry. It is self-explanatory that a very green edition of the Salone was expected in the run-up to the fair. And indeed: plants that meander down walls, gardens with fresh herbs, lots of wood - on the outside, the Salone del Mobile 2022 was completely natural. But those who do not want to engage in sustainability as a window-dressing game need to do much more. And also live with the fact that not all activities can be used for external presentation. Production conditions, materials, energy use, packaging, transport, recycling - all these factors play a role and are never presented at a trade fair.

Nevertheless, the issue was omnipresent at the fair. The "Design With Nature" special area developed by the architect Mario Cucinella offered know-how for manufacturers who wanted to focus more on the issue. The exhibitors themselves also find the issue very important. Vinzeno Amato, Brand Manager of STOSA, also highlighted the 360-degree view that shows true sustainability: "Sustainability is not limited to the use of environmentally friendly materials, but also means that you have to look at the entire supply chain, starting with raw materials."

This time, the exhibition management also gave specifications for the exhibition itself. The new director Maria Porro, incidentally the youngest director of the Salone and the first woman in this position, issued sustainability guidelines for the exhibitors. No plastic, recycled or recyclable materials - the Salone is to become more sustainable. This year, the rules are still voluntary, but they will be mandatory for the next Salone. At the stands, the sustainability efforts of the companies were usually communicated very discreetly - via billboards or in a personal conversation.