5 reasons why you need to know Rossana Orlandi
The Italian with statement glasses designed fashion for many years. In 2002, she opened a design gallery where exceptional talents in the furniture sector can be seen.
Rossana originally became famous for her knitwear. Among other things, she designed them for Karl Lagerfeld when he celebrated his first successes at Chloé. Today she is known for her "Spazio", a gallery in Milan. She doesn't show art or fashion there, but young and established furniture designers. An annual visit is therefore a must for me, especially during the furniture fair. That's when Rosanna really gets going: From exhibitions in collaboration with trend researcher Li Edelkoort to lectures on the topic of sustainability, she gives ideas a space.
1. it promotes up-and-coming designers
The first time I saw Rossana was at the Design Academy Eindhoven. Every autumn, she looks for new talent to give a platform to next spring. Which is not to say that the young designers only come from Holland. There are students from all over the world who present their work at the Dutch Design Week. To help them find producers, Rossana connects them with the right people.
2. she creates awareness for recycling
Piet Hein Eek has become known in the furniture industry for his 'upcycling'. Rossana holds him in high regard for his sustainability ideas and regularly exhibits his designs. The concept of sustainability in design is certainly not an easy one, but it is an important one. When you design today, you can't avoid thinking about our environment.
In order to give the debate a platform, Rossana launched the "Senso di Colpa" project this year. With numerous lectures and products created from PET, the talent scout proves to an international audience that design can be sustainable.
3. she creates an experience
For the first time, the "Spazio" also opened the doors to its fantastic garden, where there was plenty to discover, from giraffes to hanging lights. As well as being a feast for the eyes, Rossana also looks after the well-being of its visitors. The furniture fair demands a lot from you. I always want to see everything. That's why I sometimes miss out on the food. That's why the "Bistro Aimo e Nadia" restaurant, run by two Michelin-starred chefs, was opened. Gelato was also a must and there were delicious sweets with the restaurant's own branding everywhere.
4. she shares with everyone
"Sharing is caring:" Rossana's iconic status is not just down to her actions, her glasses also make her instantly recognisable. Many fashion bloggers and stylists want to create a look that is difficult to imitate. Rossana is more straightforward, she simply sells her eyewear model. She knows that everyone is unique anyway.
5. it shows something for every taste
The "Spazio" is a meeting point for the press, schools, designers and manufacturers. Every need is covered. New products from established design studios such as Sé are also exhibited. Every year I am fascinated by their dreamy exhibitions, which are located in a separate part of the building. They take you into a world of soft and round furniture. Rossana favours unconventional shapes. For example, she favours circular tables over rectangular ones. Only what pleases her personally finds a place in her universe.
Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.