Woven Whispers @ Milan Design Week 2025

Belgium Is Design presents 17 designers at Alcova

07.04.25 to 13.04.25

ALCOVA, Villa Bagatti Valsecchi

Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 48, 20814 Varedo

Belgium Is Design presents 17 textile designers and studios at Alcova during Milan Design Week 2025.

As every year, Belgium is Design — an initiative by MAD Brussels, Flanders DC, and Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode — will participate at the international Milan Design Week to promote Belgian design. This year, Belgium is Design focuses on textile design with the exhibition Woven Whispers. The exhibition highlights Belgium’s rich textile heritage, where innovation and refinement come together, emphasizing the craftsmanship and expertise of multiple designers.

Woven Whispers showcases 17 Belgian textile designers and design studios, presenting a diverse range of creations. From unique handmade pieces to industrially produced textile objects, the exhibition offers a large perspective on what Belgium has to offer in contemporary textile design. This year you can find the presentation of Belgium Is Design at Alcova, a unique and not to be missed event during your visit to Milan Design Week.

Presented designers

With Woven Whispers, Belgium is Design brings together textile projects that offer warmth, comfort, and a profound sense of connection. The selected designers and design studios are:

Amandine David, Amandine Fabry, Charlotte Lancelot, Emma Cogné, Emma Terweduwe, Esther Van Schuylenbergh, Kato Herbots, La Gadoue Atelier, Minjung Kim, Morevi, Mathilde Wittock, Natalia Brilli, Rosie Broadhead, Sarah Carestia, Stefanie Everaerts, Xavier Servas, Juraj Straka (in collaboration with Ibride France).

ALCOVA

Belgium is Design presents the exhibition Woven Whispers at Alcova. Alcova is a platform for designers and companies investigating the future of living and making, where designers can showcase their work. It was founded by Valentina Ciuffi (Studio Vedet) and Joseph Grima (Space Caviar).

For its seventh edition, Alcova has become one of the most visited design events inthe world. In 2024 Alcova activated Villa Borsani and Villa Bagatti Valsecchi in Varedo(near Milan), renewing its commitment to bring historical and significant spaces forthe city to life.Belgium is Design will be exhibiting in the great hall of the stables (Scuderie) at VillaBagatti Valsecchi, one the most significant examples of 19th-century villa architecturein Lombardy. A notable feature of the villa is its portico, supported by 15th-centurycolumns sourced from Milan’s Lazzaretto (the historic plague hospital) when it wasdemolished. The villa is surrounded by extensive gardens.

STUDIO HIER

For the scenography of Woven Whispers, Belgium is design is collaborating with Studio HIER. HIER is a love story brought to life as a design studio and workshop in Brussels. Witha passion for storytelling and craftsmanship, they experiment with techniques tocreate spaces and objects that tell compelling stories. Their work blends display,scenography, signage, and anything else that transforms ideas into tangible, spatialexperiences. Guided by a commitment to responsible design and local production,their process begins with words—laying the foundation for thoughtful research,followed by sketches, models, and technical drawings. Every project culminates in aone-of-a-kind creation, made and installed by HIER, always with love.

BELGIUM IS DESIGN

Belgium is Design promotes Belgian design talent internationally and is a collaboration between three organisations: MAD Brussels, Flanders DC and Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode. These three organisations have been working together since 2011, to introduce Belgian designers, manufacturers, and producers to the international market.

Belgium is Design emphasizes the passion for design and showcases unique Belgian creations to an international audience. With various initiatives, the organization wants to promote interaction between Belgian designers and international companies.