Ciao from Milan!

In January a delegation of IDC members along with staff members and the IDC board took part in the first IDC mission of 2019 to Milan, Italy for the HOMI Milano show, with a quick stop in Modena, for a tour of stone and tile manufacturers.

The twice-annual HOMI Milano is an international trade fair for interior design and upscale home décor, and is supported by the Italian Trade Agency, who, along with Italian manufacturers, sponsored this mission.

[IDC President, Sally Mills and IDC CEO, Tony Brenders attended the January HOMI show.]

These missions provide an opportunity for IDC to explore business ventures and forge new partnerships with interior designers and manufacturers across the globe, and when it comes to design, Milan does not disappoint.

In Modena the delegates has a chance to explore the beautiful Italian countryside, taste some of Modena’s finest and oldest balsamic vinegar at Acetaia Leonardi, but most importantly tour two local tile and porcelain manufacturers: Casalgrande Padana, a tile manufacturer, heavily focused on technological innovation and environmental sustainability, and Serenissima Ceramiche, which specializes in porcelain stoneware finishes for residential and light commercial use.

[Left: Delegates learn about tile production at Casalgrande. Right: A look inside Serenissima’s award-winning showroom]

At HOMI Milano, IDC members had a chance to explore local and international companies, meet makers and other designers and form valuable connections, along with a select few members, including President, Sally Mills, who had an opportunity to present on a panel about IDC and share their projects on the international stage.

[Left to right: IDC member Allan Guinan, Figure3, IDC board member and industry representative, Glen Brewer, IDC President, Sally Mills, and IDC member Joe Pettipas, IBI Group.]

Applications for upcoming trade missions in 2019 are still open. Read more about each opportunity here.

For more information, contact communications@idcanada.org.