Phoenix, January 2006

From Italy's most acclaimed contemporary designers comes LUXURY IN LIVING - Italian designers for Italian industries, a striking exhibition that showcases the finest in contemporary Italian style and living, as well as the evolving nature of luxury in Italian design. Surveying a broad range of products, both old and new, the show will demonstrate how luxury is no longer simply about price tags, but also a range of other factors--including, perhaps paradoxically, affordability. It opens in Phoenix (AZ) at the Biltmore Fashion Park on Saturday, January 14th 2006, after a successful tour through Miami, Chicago and London.

Under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic and under the auspices of the Embassy of Italy in the United States organized by the Italian Trade Commission , in cooperation with the Associations of the Italian Manufacturers, LUXURY IN LIVING - Italian designers for Italian industries features 140 objects representing everything from furniture, lighting, and silverware to fixtures, ceramic tiles and other home furnishings. Together they represent 100 designers-- ranging from legendary names to emerging talents--working with more than 80 leading Italian manufacturers.

The purpose of the exhibition is to identify and present the current values and expressions of Italian Style in the home. Looking past fashions and fads, the organizers have selected objects that exemplify the recent radical shifts in notions of luxury. Indeed, luxury is no longer defined only by the cost or craftsmanship of a product, but by a range of other values that were once considered secondary: ethical production, research in materials, environmental impact and other characteristics that, while not always immediately apparent, create an added value to the object itself.

At the same time, the curator's selection is based on creativity, innovation, beauty and, above all, a functionality that creates the ideal rapport between designer and consumer. These items are all currently in production, whether they be contemporary creations or revivals of design classics. In total, they form a dazzling image of industrial creativity from the 1950s to the present day, thereby underlining the strength and continuity of Italian design.

The exhibition was curated by Carlo Ducci, editor-in-chief of the Italian magazines Vogue Italia and Casa Vogue, and was conceived by Armida Allevi, owner of the Milan-based company Aborigenacorp Srl.

LUXURY IN LIVING - Italian designers for Italian industries is part of "Italia- Life in I Style”, an ongoing campaign showcasing the excellence of Italian fashion, design, and cinema. "Abitare Italia- Life in I Style”, encompasses cultural and commercial events that celebrate the fine craftsmanship of Italian products and the power of Italy's industries. The initiative is funded by both the Italian government and private industry.

The Italian Trade Commission (ICE) is the operational arm of the Italian Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade and has 100 offices worldwide. Its mission is to promote trade, foster industrial and financial cooperation, and provide information and marketing assistance throughout the world.