36 Catalan companies participate in Milan Design Week, the world's largest design event

36 Catalan companies and designers will participate until Sunday in Milan Design Week, the world's most important event in the field of design.

Specifically, Catalan companies will participate in the different actions that are part of the design week: 31 will participate in the furniture fair (Salone del Mobile) with their own spaces, and five more in the Fuorisalone, which includes events held in buildings and other emblematic places of the city, beyond the fairgrounds.

This year, Catalan design will also be displayed at the exhibition "Inspired in Barcelona: SPA," organized by ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, the Catalan Government's agency that promotes foreign investment and business competitiveness, the City Council of Barcelona and the BCD - Barcelona Design Centre. The exhibition, located in the Brera district (one of the city's central areas where the Milan Design Week activities take place), focuses mainly on lighting, with an installation designed by the Catalan artist Guillermo Santomà that will be exhibited in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine.

The exhibition also has the participation of the Catalan companies SIMON, Bover, Estiluz, Faro Barcelona, Lamp, Marset, Parachilna, and Vibia. The Inspired in Barcelona initiative aims to position the Catalan design sector and the Barcelona brand with values such as creativity, design, architecture, and trends.

The 36 Catalan companies and designers participating in this edition of Milan Design Week are Aclara Lighting, Antoni Arola, Balliu Export, BD Barcelona, Beneito & Faure Lighting, Bover, Calmaoutdoor, Carpyen, CasaDesús, Coolwood, Cosentino, El Torrent, Estiluz, Emiliana Design Studio, Estudi Manel Molina, Faro, Fábrica Electrotécnica de Diseños Exclusivos (FEDE), Francesc Rifé Studio, Kettal, Kriskadecor, LedsC4, Luxcambra, Marset, Martín Azúa, Nanimarquina, Nomon, Nutcreatives, Resol, Robinlamps, RS Barcelona, Santa & Cole, United Alabaster, Vergés, Vibia, Ramos+Bassols and Roca.

The Salone del Mobile, which celebrates its 61st edition in 2023, brings together more than 370,000 visitors from nearly 190 countries annually and displays the products of 2,300 companies worldwide specializing in design. On the other hand, the executive director of ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, Joan Romero, took part in the opening of Milan Design Week this Tuesday evening.

The Habitat Sector in Catalonia

According to ACCIÓ- Catalonia Trade & Investment data (from 2019, the latest available), the furniture and habitat sector comprises 1,468 companies that employ 47,584 people in Catalonia. This sector represents the equivalent of 2.13% of the Catalan GDP since the dedicated companies add up a turnover directly linked to this area of 5,006 million euros. By business segment, Catalan companies mainly dedicate to faucets and sanitary ware; furniture, floors, and coverings; lighting, textiles, and housing.