New Collectible Design Showcase Is About to Hit the Apulia Region

MILAN — Said to be a hub of the Bronze Age, Salve, a rural town in Italy’s Apulia region, is famous for its ninth-century defense against the Saracens. Today, it’s the latest stop on the international design calendar.

From Aug. 31 to Sept. 14, collective art and design showcase Intrecci Intertwinings will unfold in a Capuchin monastery.

The event is supported by the Municipality of Salve, in collaboration with the Departments of Culture and Urban Planning. It is cocurated by Valentina Rito, who has worked with prominent London Gallery Fumi for eight years. Rito said the Apulian region of Salento, where Salve is based, is a fertile ground for contemporary design.

“It’s a place where interest in the land, craftsmanship, tradition and a growing focus on sustainability and culture come together. It’s not just a picturesque backdrop — it’s a living, breathing territory with deep roots and a strong sense of belonging. This spirit has the power to inspire a forward-looking approach to design that remains grounded in the past,” said Rito, who is also the cofounder of Esedra, an agency dedicated to supporting exceptional design through consulting, strategy and curation.

Rito contended that Salento’s design heritage is intertwined with the influence of the landscape on local culture and the local materials that have emerged. Local companies like Bianco Cave, a fine stone specialist that has worked with regional stone for nearly a century, is also a sponsor of the exhibition. Intrecci Intertwinings is an initiative envisaged with the focus of conjuring experimental designs from new perspectives — both local and international.

“With this exhibition, we aim to create an opportunity for diverse voices — both local and international — to come together around a shared sensitivity to the relationship between design, material and place. Our hope is that this can be a first step toward sparking new imaginaries and new ways of working, rooted in Salento,” she reflected.

Lecce-based designer Andrea Vitti is one such visionary. Vitti said he was eager to tell a story of rebirth. He will present Bolla, wood sculptures made with timber from the local olive trees infected with Xylella fastidiosa, which would otherwise be discarded.

“With Bolla, I present the result of research into the relationship between memory, matter and landscape: each piece is made from Puglian olive trees affected by Xylella, transforming loss into narrative and beauty. I believe the true value lies in listening to what the material has to say,” Vitti said.

The showcase will unfold within interconnected narrative paths. “Light and ritual” is one of the themes that explores the legacy of lamp oil and lanterns — symbols of rural life. Another, “threads and weaves,” draws inspiration from Salento’s textile traditions. “Matter and roots” investigates the deep connection to the land through materials such as olive wood and Lecce stone, which have a broader meaning as vestiges of history, memory and belonging.

The exhibition will feature works by design-forward designers and artists like 6:AM, Andrea Zambelli, Benedetta Mori Ubaldini, Cosma Frascina, Daniele Papuli, Duccio Maria Gambi, Marco Guazzini as well as Madrid-based studio Mayice Studio with home knits specialist Ábbatte and London-based lighting duo Vezzini & Chen (Cristina Vezzini and Stan Chen), known for their inventive, organically shaped lighting.

Giovanni Lecci, deputy mayor of Salve, said the ultimate aim of the event is to preserve the Salento region’s traditions like weaving, basketry and stone-cutting, and highlight cultural spaces. Showcases like these that draw an international crowd might also boost the local economy.

“The dialogue and collaboration between contemporary designers, master artisans and local producers lie at the heart of the first edition of Intrecci Intertwinings, and I believe this can be a key element in creating opportunities not only for the local economy but also for cultural growth,” he said.