Material innovation takes center stage once again at Milan Design Week 2025, where sustainability, storytelling, and craftsmanship converge in striking new ways. From poetic reinterpretations of heritage to bold collaborations that bridge industries, this year’s standout materials reflect a growing shift toward emotional design and conscious production.
The Swatchbox Curator's Choice celebrates the most memorable product launches and material moments seen on the ground in Milan, hand-picked by our team for their design quality, narrative strength, and relevance to the future of architecture and interiors. These ten selections offer a glimpse into where material culture is headed next.
2025 Swatchbox Curator's Choice Winners
SensiTerre
by Florim
Florim’s SensiTerre collection, developed in collaboration with architect Matteo Thun, offers a thoughtful reimagining of traditional clay surfaces. Inspired by natural earth pigments and shaped by ancient ceramic techniques, the collection reflects a deep respect for material heritage. At the same time, it embraces the precision and possibilities of advanced porcelain manufacturing. The result is a series of warm, textured surfaces that feel both handcrafted and refined.
Each shade is a deliberate choice, connecting past and present through a careful balance of tone, texture, and meaning. SensiTerre invites architects and designers to work with materials that carry a story, while meeting the demands of contemporary design.The judges were impressed by the way SensiTerre draws from natural earth pigments to create a tactile, warm surface that feels rooted in tradition but executed with cutting-edge porcelain technology.
DI-NOC
by 3M
3M™ DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes offer a smart, sustainable way to refresh interior surfaces with minimal disruption. With over 900 designs, these films give designers broad creative freedom across walls, cabinetry, doors, and even curved elements. The built-in 3M™ Comply™ Adhesive ensures a smooth application, reducing labor time and waste.
The collection also includes eco-conscious options that help minimize environmental impact. DI-NOC™ is a classic example of smart material design — ultra-versatile surface films that allow for rapid refurbishment and creative freedom, while reducing waste.
Fiber 12 in Econyl®
by Caimi
Caimi’s Fiber 12 is the first sound-absorbing fabric made from ECONYL® yarn, a regenerated nylon created from global waste streams like fishing nets, carpets, and industrial plastics. This acoustic material delivers high performance while embodying a circular, sustainable mindset.
The innovative textile offers the same strength and properties as traditional nylon, with the added benefit of being infinitely recyclable. It’s a thoughtful response to growing demands for well-being, sound control, and environmental responsibility. Fiber 12’s clean aesthetic and technical performance is very impressive, especially how it merges acoustic innovation with regenerative material use.
theBreath
Anemotech’s theBreath® is a zero-impact fabric that purifies indoor air without any power source. It works passively, absorbing pollutants and odors while reducing airborne bacteria. This certified, multifunctional material can be used in a wide range of spaces, from compact rooms to large public interiors.
More than decorative, theBreath® is a high-performance textile designed to improve indoor environments through silent, continuous action. It represents a new direction for functional design in health-conscious architecture. The judges appreciated theBreath® for its silent innovation. A smart, power-free fabric that actively improves air quality is both practical and timely.
Tavillon
by Wall&decò
Tavillon by Wall&decò draws from the rustic charm of traditional alpine architecture, reimagining wooden shingle cladding as a contemporary wallcovering. The 3D vinyl wallpaper features engraved and embossed textures with metallic accents, offering a poetic take on surfaces that feel both familiar and new.
Predefined patterns and colors allow for quick installation, while the richly layered look adds visual depth to any space. It’s an abstract nod to tradition that celebrates material storytelling through texture. Inspired by traditional wooden shingle roofing, reinterpreted in wallpaper. It’s a poetic take on texture and memory, beautifully translated into a wall covering.
Tumultus
Tumultus is part of the new Laminam x Automobili Lamborghini collection, an exclusive surface collaboration that fuses Italian design icons. With dramatic veining and chromatic depth, Tumultus embodies the bold spirit of the Lamborghini brand in architectural form.
Crafted for interior applications, the slab’s expressive visuals reflect and refract light, revealing layers of contrast and complexity. The judges noted Tumultus for its cinematic drama and distinctive identity. It is an architectural slab that captures the attitude of Lamborghini with finesse and flair. Available only on Swatchbox Pro in the UK, it’s a sculptural statement with prestige.
Slow Wall
by Marazzi
Inspired by nature and heritage, Marazzi’s Slow Wall series brings quiet beauty to ceramic surfaces. Available in soft, earthy tones and minimalist 3D textures, the collection plays with light and relief to create walls that are both calming and expressive.
Touch technology enhances decor patterns like Myrtle, Dash, and Hay, with each adding its own sense of rhythm and character. Designed to be arranged vertically or horizontally, it adapts seamlessly to peaceful modern interiors. With its gentle textures and restrained palette, Slow Wall stands out as a tactile expression of the “slow design” movement.
Unito Pierrot
Unito Pierrot is part of the Altagamma Tissé collection by Jannelli & Volpi. It is a textile-inspired wallpaper designed to bring warmth, character, and a soft theatrical touch to interiors. Its textured finish and muted tones evoke a sense of elegance that complements both classic and minimal spaces.
Crafted for contemporary settings, the design blends familiarity and refinement, creating an immersive backdrop that elevates without overwhelming. The judges highlighted its ability to emote through simplicity. It’s a wallpaper that adds atmosphere and depth while staying effortlessly refined.
Alga Rug
by Nanimarquina
The Alga Rug by Nanimarquina is a hand-knotted and hand-loomed piece inspired by the flowing forms of underwater seagrass. Made with a blend of Afghan and New Zealand wools, it offers durability, tactile richness, and an aged, organic appearance.
Its unique shape and textural contrast create a grounded visual rhythm, while the use of responsibly sourced algae-based fibers reflects the brand’s commitment to ethical craftsmanship. It is a beautiful piece that challenges the conventions of textile sourcing and introduces a fresh material narrative.
ReUp®
by Versalis
ReUp® reimagines household design through industrial circularity. This new collection of furniture and decor uses recycled and alternative raw materials, including mechanically recycled plastics and by-products of chemical recycling, such as pyrolysis oil and bio-naphtha.
A spin-off from the Eni-backed chemistry company, ReUp® blends large-scale sustainability with everyday usability. It brings experimental design to the consumer level. Judges saw ReUp as a forward-thinking project that proves how legacy industries can embrace sustainable practices at scale without losing innovation or function.
About the Curator’s Choice Distinction
Curator’s Choice is a distinction awarded by Swatchbox to building materials that are particularly noteworthy for their impact on design, sustainability, and progress. The 2025 Curator’s Choice was selected by a team of designers led by Marco Castiglioni, Senior Project Architect at Il Prisma in Milan, Italy.
Swatchbox is a premier sample fulfillment service for building product manufacturers. With proprietary software designed by insiders of the design community, Swatchbox helps manufacturers improve product sales and brand affinity by delivering material samples to the design community with speed, intelligence, and style. Learn more and join Swatchbox at www.swatchbox.com.
