Caxias do Sul consolidates itself as the capital of Italian design in Brazil. The city of half a million inhabitants, home to countless companies founded by descendants of Italians who represent the strength of the economy of the state of Rio Grande do Sul - from Florense to Trento -, hosted the Italian Design Day, with lectures by the senior vice-president design team from the Pininfarina of America group, Paolo Trevisan, and volcanic creative Sara Ricciardi.
Promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organized by the Consulate General of Porto Alegre at the Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Services of Caxias do Sul (CIC Caxias), the event was a public success, with more than 400 participants (many university students) in person, in addition to more than 600 online.
“Producing value is part of the history of Caxias do Sul, it is in its DNA”, observed the Italian consul general in Porto Alegre, Valerio Caruso, remembering that the event is celebrated a few weeks before the opening of the Milan Furniture Show (from April 16th to 21st), where the presence of companies from Serra Gaúcha is traditionally strong.
The numbers speak clearly: with an economy that grew 4,6% in 2023, and a consequent increase in employment, which is at its highest level since 2015, Caxias do Sul is one of Brazil's locomotives. And being able to host Italian Design Day, highlighted the honorary consul of Italy in the city, Gelson Castellan, “is an achievement of great symbolic value, which confirms us as a center of design excellence in the country”.
It is in this territory that the Pininfarina group, in collaboration with Florense, decided to create the Arco project: a kitchen without corners and designed to be the heart of family life.
The characteristics of Serra Gaúcha also impressed Sara Ricciardi, ambassador of Italian design. “Places like Caxias do Sul, similar to our Brianza, allow creativity to be expressed in design pieces and cultural moments accompanied by a far-sighted industrial and entrepreneurial power,” she said. (HANDLE)
