The Rhythm of Valextra

As a largest trade fair for furniture design in the world, Salone del Mobile has always been the benchmark event for design and furnishing. After three years of hiatus, downsizing and rescheduling due to global health crisis, Salone del Mobile is finally back to its original schedule. As the scale also returns to normal, Salone del Mobile and the city of Milan is ready to welcome international visitors and design lovers to come back for this mega design fiesta.

Not only do design studios and furniture brands revel in this most acclaimed and anticipated global fair, fashion brands also love to surprise the publics and their clients with exceptional installation arts in collaboration with design firms and artists. As a pioneering Italian luxury leather goods brand born in Milan’s Piazza San Babila, Valextra will not miss the chance to be part of this design carnival. In this edition of Salone del Mobile, Valextra collaborates with London-based design duo Isabel + Helen on an installation The Rhythm of Valextra, rendering kinetic experience of our foundations in engineering beauty.

Throughout many decades of the its existence, Valextra’s identity has intertwined with the spirit of Milan. It is not surprising that the brand’s constant inspiration is the city look: from non-trivial architectural combinations and inimitable elegance, to the celebration of engineering beauty to conceive meaningful everyday objects of desire. With Isabel + Helen’s unique and precise vision, Valextra’s distinctive approach of combining function with beauty unfold in front of the viewers eyes. With the kinetic installation, Isabel + Helen tells the story of Valextra, exploring the mechanism and materials chasing simplification and transformation of complex ideas into readable and understandable meanings. Their love for analog design processes transforms Valextra’s perspective and methods into a dynamic exhibition. Successively on different levels from pattern making and technical tools to brushes for hand-painting the signature Costa black lacquered edging the installation symbioses spontaneity and sobriety.

The Rhythm of Valextra kinetic installation and multi-sensory experience is exhibited in Valextra’s Milan flagship store, on Via Manzoni 3, during Salone del Mobile 2023.