"We can do something for everyone," says Giulio Cappellini, design director of the high-end company that bears his name. For this market it was a white metal frame sofa nestled with feather cushions called the Basket, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec of France, and a looping yellow plastic indoor/outdoor armchair called Fish, by Satyendra Pakhale, who was born in India and now lives in Amsterdam.
At Driade, Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa fashioned giant white-leather-covered-"stones" called Ishi, seating elements that take their shape from an ordinary pebble that has been supersized. "I think he was trying to recreate the Zen garden in his own style," says Driade director Eberardo Gortana.
Internationally known Italian brands such as Kartell, master of transparent chic, are known for their innovation in their line of polycarbonate (plastic) furnishings. Kartell, a company that started in 1949 in Milan, exports 75 percent of its production to 85 countries.
This year, Kartell introduced 16 new products, and added to the family of one of their best-selling chairs -- Louis Ghost, by French designer Starck. This $308 chair, a favorite at show houses and designers' own digs, is based on the classic medallion-backed Louis XV armchair available in clear plastic in a fan-deck of see-through colors. The 2005 versions include Victoria Ghost, an armless version with the same shape back; Charles Ghost, stools of three heights; and Francois Ghost, a series of rectangular wall mirrors. Starck says the Ghost series reaches out to our "common cultural memory."
According to Ivan Luini, president of Kartell U.S., North America is the number one market for the company, even with the decline in the value of the dollar in relation to the euro. Kartell recently raised its prices 5 percent from last year to accommodate the increase in the cost of plastic and currency fluctuations, says Luini. "Right now, it's very important for us that all our products are made in Italy. There is a high level of quality in Italy in the way the plastic is molded. Our furniture reflects the culture and the way of living in Italy."
Rashid, who was born in Egypt and grew up in Canada, is far from a household name in America. But in Italy, design students ask for his autograph and 4,000 people turned up for his show's opening in Milan. Recognizing his unique position in American design, the Corcoran College of Art and Design will give Rashid an honorary doctorate next month.
At the six-day fair, Rashid runs with the big boys, commanding the respect due someone who can design manhole covers for Con Edison, martini glasses for Bombay Sapphire and jaw-dropping chandeliers for Swarovski. At last week's fair alone, Rashid, who also speaks Italian, introduced about 50 products for 15 companies at the world's largest design exposition.
In the midst of the frenzy, he appeared very much at home. "That's the thing about Italy," says Rashid. "They still do business in a very personal way."
