By On May 19, the design event within the initiative Italy on Madison was held in New York.
“The history of Made in Italy in the United States, through the story of the evolution and Design of the Italian shops on Madison Avenue” is the title of the seminar, organized by the ICE Agency in Miami and coordinated by ICE New York, which took place in the “Spirit of America” room at its Madison Avenue office.
The goal of the event, which was attended by the large New York design community, was to tell the story of how one of the world’s most famous shopping streets, Madison Avenue, has enjoyed a definite contribution over the years from Italian design, which has used its avantgarde knowhow to combine its great history with new trends and social developments.
Opening the event were the Director of the ICE Agency in New York, coordinator of the USA network, Antonino Laspina, and the Director of the ICE office in Miami, Carlo Angelo Bocchi, the office that follows Italian design companies in the U.S.
Italian Made in Italy in the U.S. during Covid registered record sales in 2021 (61 billlion USD), and design (furniture and building) is included in this success. In fact, Italy ranks in sixth place among importers in the U.S. with 3,428 million USD, an increase of 32% compared to the 2,598 million USD recorded in 2020, but above all, + 20% over 2019, a reassuring sign of its status and presence in the market, which has remained steady and even got stronger during Covid.
Furthermore, the initial data regarding imports in the U.S. for February 2022, show the furniture and building sector with 541 million USD, an increase of 14.7% already and these are not the best months in the purchasing cycle.
“The goal of Design Day, within the context of Italy on Madison, is to give value and to emphasize the great work that Italian companies are producing in the United States of America, on display in the unique setting of New York City, the foremost city in the world”, declared Antonino Laspina, Director of the ICE Agency in New York, coordinator of the USA network.
“Presenting Italian products in one of the most important design districts in the U.S., bringing proximity to the consumer (events on the street and in showrooms) together with industry experts in a true district like in an Italian city,” declared Carlo Angelo Bocchi, Director of the ICE Office in Miami.
“In times of global crisis, creativity can play a crucial strategic role. Fifty years since the momentous MOMA exhibition entitled, “Italy, the New Domestic Landscape,” our country, homeland of radical and visionary designers, can once again offer a fundamental contribution.
Design Day during Italy on Madison is a true opportunity to reflect on Italy’s creative potential and leadership in such an important cultural and industrial territory and to share a common language between designers, institutions, industrial partners and international and local communities,” stated Alessandro Melis, Professor at the New York Institute of Technology, IDC Foundation Endowed Chair.
Event panelists:
- Antonino Laspina, Director of the ICE Agency in New York, coordinator of the USA network
- Carlo Bocchi, Director of the ICE Office in Miami
- Moderator: Alessandro Melis, Professor at the New York Institute of Technology, IDC Foundation Endowed Chair
- William Sharples Founding Principal of SHoP Architects
- Simona Gazzaniga, Head of Marketing Poliform Usa
- Claudio Petucco, VP Business Development North America Florim
