9 favorites rooted in sustainability from the fifth edition of EDIT Napoli

Supporting a refreshingly new concept of design that weaves together quality, sustainability and craftsmanship – the fifth edition of EDIT Napoli was held at the Archivio di Stato di Napoli from the 6th to the 8th of October 2023.

With 100 exhibitors from across the globe, the spotlight was on the works of independent designers, authors and design editors as well as creators and producers.

The protagonist of the EDIT Napoli stage was slow design, represented through the careful selection made every year since 2019 by the founders and curators of the event Emilia Petruccelli and Domitilla Dardi. There was a common focus on the living sector – with products ranging from ceramics to textiles, from furnishings to surfaces, accessories and lights. 

“For five years now EDIT Napoli has been the ‘piazza’ in which the creative community shows itself to create precious synergies. Scouting is the lifeblood of the event – every year not only projects by young talents, but also known companies, have the opportunity to make a space for themselves inside the exhibition” shares Dardi.

“With a clear call for editorial and authorial design, every year EDIT gives everyone the opportunity to get involved and experiment!” Petruccelli adds. 

With DesignWanted being also this year their Media Partner – come view our favorite innovative sustainable picks that are eclectic but one-of-a-kind.

Franca and Allegra by Punto Zero

Punto Zero studio presented Franca and Allegra – a series of versatile, adaptable and playful dining and coffee tables born from a research for lines and shapes to harmoniously blend together the attitude of the 60s with a contemporary approach.

This collection features MDF tables – first cut flat by numerical control and then milled at the edge for the roundness of the top and sanded by hand. Its legs are made partly by hand, with a skeleton structure in poplar plywood on which a double continuous sheet of very thin MDF is spread to follow the curve. Everything is then sanded by hand, before moving on to the extra-gloss lacquering with a polyester base and scratch-resistant polyurethane paints, to enhance all the curved shapes, from the edge of the top to the legs.

Onice 45 by Mas Design

Beautifully born from a creative process inspired by the transformation of indoor spaces – hand-crafted furniture brand MAS Design by architect and designer Maria Adele Savioli, crafted Onice 45. 

The collections are characterized by clean lines and pure materials from glass to iron and brass. Each piece of furniture takes shape from the planning of a space and through the dialogue between the identity of the place, the people who live in it and the studio’s design language – they become mini architectures for everyday life. Onice 45 is made up of tables of various sizes comprising onyx tops with 45-degree edges and a structure of coated L-shaped iron profiles that, together, form coloured line prospects.

Coimbra by Marco Ripa

Marco Ripa’s collection consisted of an armchair, sofa and sideboard – elements of a broader project, which, thanks to its modularity is now ready to evolve into an extended family of multifunctional objects.

Coimbra cites retro inspiration in its abundant curves but modernizes them through the utilization of metal reduced to ultra-thin thicknesses, the geometric rigor of the shapes and the functionality, adaptable to different environments – not just domestic, indoors and outdoors.

Stellina by Blok by Carina x Panguaneta

Presented under the label Blok by Carina – Dutch company Blok Plaatmateriaal and Italian manufacturer Panguaneta joined forces to introduce Stellina. Stemming from the Italian term translating to “Little Star”, it encapsulates the magic of dreams within the graceful design of a daybed.

Meticulously crafted from PureGlue™ Plywood, Stellina marries environmental consciousness with refined aesthetics. Designed with both elegance and ease in mind, it features a streamlined, puzzle-like assembly process where the cushions can be arranged to one’s preferences, enhancing their lounging experience and elevating any living space.

Ghebi and Nasse by Rehub

Merging tradition and craftsmanship with technology and design, following the principles of the circular economy – Rehub transforms waste from Murano glass factories into a paste that can be 3D printed at room temperature after which each and every product is finished by hand. 

Their Ghebi collection paid homage to the Venetian lagoon – the lines of this collection are inspired by the sinuous curves of the Venetian Ghebi, the small canals. In nature, the shape of the Ghebi constantly changes following dynamics similar to the growth of certain living organisms. 

On the other hand, the Nasse Collection drew inspiration from childhood memories of skipping through fishing nets left to dry on the shores of Chioggia and watching fishermen patiently repairing each tear. The objects are grids fabricated using an algorithm that distorts them at a certain point. These graceful imperfections make each Nassa unique – just as the tears in the fishermen’s are always different – and lead to being awarded with special mention by EDIT Napoli’s expert committee.

Spooky Castle Series by Galapagos

Galapagos presented a quirky clothing rack, an uncanny amorphous wall mirror and an eerie desk lamp – everyday products that became whimsical creatures, coming straight out of childhood fantasies. An independent design brand, founded by Adriana Testaverde and Alessandro Pigoni, combines the rationality of product design with the enchantment of daydreams.

These objects are created from thick MDF sheets, milled and beveled to create sinuous shapes, reminding the fluidity of the creatures they draw inspiration from. Each piece is then finished with a semi-matte gradient lacquer, available in different colors. Casper is an atypical clothing rack, spectral and soft in its shape and a quirky interpretation of a friendly ghost, as suggested by its name. Flubber is a wavy mirror that embodies the irregular state of a spectrum, with a multi-reflecting surface and ectoplasmic look. Boolb is lastly an eccentric desk lamp with a sludgy soft shape, enlightening spaces around it diffusing a subdued gloomy light.

In the company of animals by BlueCycle 

A circular economy social enterprise, BlueCycle brilliantly aims to reuse marine plastic waste generated from shipping and fishing activities in Greece. Their goal is to craft high-quality material suitable for reintegration into the industry and to explore as well as promote a holistic approach to the sea waste problem. With a vision to create a new life cycle for plastic fishing and shipping gear – they rely on current research, new technologies, innovation and creativity and propose sustainable solutions 

Adopting modern practices and operating with a view to protecting the marine environment – their latest collection was a series of multi purpose furniture in collaboration with The New Raw made up of various animals and humans to remind us that the world we live in, is the world we share.

Frammenti by Studio X

At EDIT Napoli 2023, Studio X introduced their new Venere vase Frammenti – a product born from a passion for sustainable design. Their artisanal production chain, involved in the creation of resin vases and products often leads to waste or objects that don’t reach the rigorous quality standards they set. But instead of considering them waste, they transform them into something functional. 

More than a vase and a symbol of their commitment towards a more eco-friendly future – Frammenti takes its name from the resin granules that Studio X obtains through a plastic shredder built by them. The result is a unique high quality vase, ready to enter the market as a product from waste. Born from a story of transformation and innovation, it represents their commitment to creative reuse.

Very Simple Kitchen x Stamuli 

Celebrating their Italian soul and Nordic Style – Very Simple Kitchen presented two installations designed in collaboration with Stockholm-based creative studio, Stamuli. The exhibition marked the debut of two products, a shelf and a bookcase which highlighted the versatility and creativity of these two brand worlds. They set up a bar area in the atrium of the State Archive of Naples and an exhibition area in the Atrio dei Marmi, which is one of the office’s four magnificent atrium cloisters.

Bold volumes and the striking effect of raw stainless steel that made up the bar created a sensorial experience in contrast to the sober atmosphere of the State Archives. The distinct modules including the bookcase were placed within the space to accompany visitors as they made their way to the main exhibition area of the fair.

Meanwhile, in the Atrio dei Marmi one could admire the sustainable product range that represented the creative and innovative attitudes of Very Simple Kitchen and Stamuli. Raw stainless steel was without paint or chemical treatments and instead, tops were decorated utilizing plastic waste provided by Italian start-up Plastiz. The company gave bottle caps and other industrial waste to give body and color to tops developed specifically for the project.