Exploring Textile Elegance: A Journey to Italy's Proposte Fair
I was thrilled to embark on a journey to Italy for the renowned Proposte Fair, a trade show that has captivated high-end home furnishings textile manufacturers and mills for the past three decades. This event serves as a nexus, bringing together top mills, exquisite fabrics, and talented individuals, all against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Como.
Entrance to Villa Erba in Cernobbio, Italia.
The event unfolds at the splendid Villa Erba in Cernobbio, nestled along the serene shores of the lake, where magnificent trees line the property, creating an enchanting atmosphere.
Originally conceived by a consortium of mills from Brianza, Proposte aimed to showcase Italian manufacturers to an exclusive audience. As time passed, the show expanded its reach, drawing mills from various corners of the world, including Turkey, India, and the United States.
Beyond the official Proposte mills exhibiting within Villa Erba and the Observatory, a personal highlight for me was the Italian weavers setting up pop-up showrooms in diverse spaces, from grand villas overlooking the lake to quaint shopfronts and hotel conference rooms. These temporary showcases can be discovered in both Cernobbio and Como, on opposite sides of the lake.
This arrangement bears resemblance to the relationship between Salone del Mobile (the trade show at the Rho Exhibition Center) and Fuori Salone (an assemblage of galleries, showrooms, and pop-ups scattered throughout Milan). I've coined the term "Fuori Proposte" to describe these external mills. Unlike Proposte's strict "mill-only" rules, you'll find a mix of mills, jobbers, and converters here.
As a first-time attendee at this event, my primary objective was to immerse myself in the European market and explore emerging trends. This unique venue afforded me the opportunity to reconnect with my current vendors and forge new partnerships with high-end decorative textile mills, all while savoring the rich culture of Italy.
