Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, three cities and three epicenters of design, architecture and the North American real estate economy: these are the stops of the international roadshow held  in late February by the Salone del Mobile.Milano to present the new features of the 64th edition of the exhibition that will feature more than 1,900 exhibitors on a net exhibition area of  169,000 sq m.

From left: Marva Griffin, Founder and Curator SaloneSatellite; Julie Lasky, Contributor and Editor, The New York Times; Maria Porro, President Salone del Mobile.Milano; Luca Palermo, CEO Federlegno Arredo Eventi. ©Ethan O’Grady

USA, key market for the Italian wood-furniture supply chain

In the current difficult international context, marked by growing geopolitical and commercial complexities, the United States confirm their strategic role for the Italian wood-furniture supply chain, ranking in the top ten for number of professional visitors to the Salone del Mobile.Milano, a testament to the deep bond with the American design community. At the same time, exports to the USA in January–November 2025 amount to €1.9 billion, confirming the United States as the second country by export value after France.

“In a phase of global uncertainty, - said Maria Porro, President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, - the Salone consolidates its role as a strategic platform for companies and for the market, ensuring continuity, reliability and a long-term vision for the entire design system. The United States are a fundamental interlocutor: the roadshow in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York strengthens established relationships and accompanies the narrative of an edition that evolves in content and formats, in an open dialogue with a key market which, in the first ten months of 2025, confirms itself as the second destination country of the Italian wood-furniture supply chain”. 

A model of integrated promotion

The roadshow in the United States fits into the broader internationalization strategy of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, which during 2025 and 2026 has already reached the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain, and which is increasingly focusing on emerging markets such as India and Saudi Arabia.

Marco Verna, Director of ICE Miami, stated that “the synergy between ICE and the Salone del Mobile represents much more than a simple promotional collaboration: it is a strategic tool of economic diplomacy. In an international context marked by new trade tensions, redefinition of value chains and growing global competition, the American market remains a fundamental ground for the affirmation of Italian design. Initiatives like these roadshows allow strengthening the presence of Made in Italy in the United States, enhancing identity, quality and innovative capacity, and the collaboration between ICE and Salone del Mobile becomes a model of integrated promotion, capable of supporting the competitiveness of Italian companies and consolidating the role of design as ambassador of Made in Italy worldwide”.

In the opening photo: from left Giuseppe Pastorelli, Consul General of Italy in New York; Marva Griffin, Founder and Curator SaloneSatellite; Maria Porro, President Salone del Mobile.Milano; Luca Palermo, CEO Federlegno Arredo Eventi; Julie Lasky, Contributor and Editor, The New York Times; Marco Verna, Director of the ICE Agency Miami.

The presentation “A Matter of Salone” took place at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. ©Ethan O’Grady