Discover the exhibition organized by ETEL, with the support of ABIMÓVEL and ApexBrasil, at Milan Design Week 2025.
Representatives from ABIMÓVEL (Brazilian Furniture Manufacturers Association) and ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency), partner entities in the Brazilian Furniture Project, visited on Wednesday, April 9, the exhibition “Audacious Modernism: from Oscar Niemeyer to Claudia Moreira Salles,” at ETEL Milano (Via Pietro Maroncelli 13/14). This is yet another initiative supported by the project during Milan Design Week 2025.
Bringing together two special, complementary showcases, the exhibition highlights the sense of continuity between past and present in Brazilian culture. “Oscar Niemeyer in Italia” features drawings and images of 11 projects—both built and unbuilt—developed by the Brazilian architect in Italy, based on research from the Oscar Niemeyer Foundation archives.
Meanwhile, “Claudia Moreira Salles: a tribute to craftsmanship” presents a retrospective of the renowned Brazilian designer’s career, as she was the first to join the ETEL Collection. The exhibit explores her refined approach by reimagining the dialogue between material and form, offering an artisanal perspective on industry.
The delegation included Floriano Pesaro, Corporate Management Director at ApexBrasil, and Adeilton Pereira, Vice President of ABIMÓVEL, accompanied by Cândida Cervieri, Executive Director of ABIMÓVEL, and Maria Paula Velloso, Industry and Services Manager at ApexBrasil.
Supported by the Brazilian Furniture Project, the visit underscores the entities’ commitment to elevating Brazilian design and furniture, promoting both their historical legacies and their contemporary innovations in the global arena.
Learn more about it at: www.instagram.com/etel.design/
Brazilian Furniture Project
The Brazilian Furniture Project is an initiative of ABIMÓVEL in partnership with ApexBrasil, aiming to increase the presence of the Brazilian furniture and wood supply chain in the international market through a set of strategic actions based on sustainability, competitiveness, and design integration with industry. Currently, around 175 companies are part of the project.
In 2024, Brazil’s furniture and mattress industry was the sixth-largest producer and the 26th-largest exporter in the world, with revenues surpassing US$763.02 million from exports of finished products (excluding parts and components), representing a 3.8% growth compared to 2023. When including parts for furniture production, the figure reached US$870.20 million.
In a new cycle (2025–2026), the organizing entities invite not only furniture manufacturers and designers but also companies in the components and industry supplier sectors to join the project, further expanding the reach of Brazilian furniture and enhancing the competitiveness of the “Brazil” brand worldwide.
To join the project and showcase your brand at the leading events in the furniture sector around the globe, visit: brazilianfurniture.org.br.
About ABIMÓVEL
Representing the furniture industry from north to south of Brazil, ABIMÓVEL (Brazilian Furniture Industry Association) has been operating for over 45 years to strengthen the country’s furniture industry. Working collaboratively with both the public and private sectors, the association leads various initiatives to boost production, improve the business environment, and open new markets for companies in the wood and furniture supply chain in Brazil. These efforts include participation in international fairs and business matchmaking events, as well as programs addressing exports, sustainability, design integrated into the industry, manufacturing improvements, support for micro and small businesses, commercial intelligence, and more.
About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these goals, the agency conducts a variety of commercial promotion activities, including prospective and trade missions, business matchmaking rounds, support for Brazilian companies attending major international fairs, and visits by foreign buyers and opinion leaders to learn about Brazil’s production capabilities. The agency also works in coordination with public and private stakeholders to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country as a whole.
FURNITURE: OUR BUSINESS!
Brazilian Furniture Industry Association – ABIMÓVEL
Press Office: press@abimovel.com
