At the 2025 edition of Salone del Mobile.Milano, the distinction between indoor and outdoor living continued to dissolve as leading international designers and brands unveiled a new generation of outdoor furniture that fused comfort, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge materials with natural tones and organic forms.
Unopiù, Salò, design Matteo Thun and Benedetto Fasciana.
The fair showcased a consistent theme: 'Curved, enveloping lines, mute and earthen shades inspired by nature, geometries that never penalise comfort,' described the sector's latest offerings. Traditional weaving techniques were reinterpreted using modern industrial methods, especially in the widespread use of cords and interlaced fibres.
Federica Biasi emerged as a key voice in this evolution, presenting multiple designs. For Emu, she created Antigua, a minimalist yet generous collection defined by aluminium structures softened with braided ropes. She explained her philosophy: the seats are meant to envelop users like 'a warm embrace on an autumn evening.'
Biasi also introduced Mates and Saha for Gervasoni. Mates, derived from the Samet indoor sofa, embraces oriental influences and modular design. Saha, a PVC-coated polyester yarn rug, carries linguistic richness: 'in Sanskrit it means "land", in Maltese 'thank you', while in Arabic it contains a wish for good health and happiness.'
Gloster's Wrap lounge armchair, designed by Henrik Pedersen, offered 'reassuring forms and weaves' with a woven synthetic monobloc seat on a teak frame, while Dedon's Mymi by GamFratesi continued the duo's exploration of natural motifs. Their inspiration for the handcrafted fibre details: 'the birch forests of Northern Europe.'
Kettal presented Insula by Patricia Urquiola, a sculptural table resting on cylindrical bases with a subtly coloured enamelled top. The piece complemented a modular sofa and low tables in the same collection.
Spanish brand GandiaBlasco collaborated with renowned architect Kengo Kuma, whose limited-edition Hos pieces were crafted from recycled PET fibres and inspired by Japanese temples. The new Dunne collection by Nao Tamura evoked 'the undulations of sand dunes caressed by the wind.'
Gandia Blasco, Dunne, designed by Nao Tamura.
Other standouts included Unopiù's Salò collection by Matteo Thun and Benedetto Fasciana, characterised by "curved armrests of coloured aluminium" and large ergonomic cushions inspired by Lake Garda.
Plust Outdoor Attitude showcased Twist by Alberto Brogliato and Federico Traverso, a curvilinear, rotomoulded polyethylene seat-sculpture described as a "curl" extruded from a square, ideal for public installations or private settings.
Midj's Yak sofa by Nicola Bonriposi was noted for its adaptability: 'just as the ruminant is at its ease on both the Tibetan plateau and the Italian Apennines, the sofa can easily switch from the living room to outdoor spaces.'
Extremis introduced Cabrio by Dirk Wynants, a two-seater cocoon with a convertible cover, drawing inspiration from both German beach Strandkorb chairs and convertible cars, "symbols of luxury and leisure."
Finally, Vondom debuted Pasadena by Jean-Marie Massaud, who said: 'My ambition was to create a product that spoke an architectural language and was generous in terms of comfort... the ideal balance between comfortable seating, sensuous profiles and simplicity of lines, which I believe is the key to timelessness.'
Ethimo, Seeds, designed by Cristina Celestino.
Ethimo's Seeds by Cristina Celestino echoed this sentiment, reimagining greenhouse furnishings into organic compositions using natural teak and terracotta, layered with historical and material references.
The 2025 outdoor collections reflected a shared design ethos: graceful, grounded, and deeply intertwined with both nature and timeless artistry.
More information:
Salone del Mobile.Milano
www.salonemilano.it