Milan, Economy & Furniture

The use of craft techniques in design looks like a trend with staying power. "From being an unfashionable fringe activity just a couple of years ago, craft has now been embraced by cutting-edge designers and manufacturers as a viable alternative to industrially produced goods," says Marcus Fairs, editor-in-chief of online design magazine Dezeen.com. "Even though craft is in many ways a branch of the luxury industry -- as the pieces tend to be expensive -- the perceived humility and sustainability of crafted objects is appealing in these angst-ridden times."

Patricia Urquiola's 'Crinoline' chair.

B&B Italia -- a company usually in the technological forefront, with items usually made in factories -- uncharacteristically showed off such low-tech items as the Philippines-inspired "Crinoline" woven chairs by Patricia Urquiola in both natural and synthetic materials (from £1,338 in rope; from £1,194 in polyethylene fiber weaving). "I love working using 'old materials' in a new way or new materials using traditional techniques," Ms. Urquiola says.

by Helen Kirwan-Taylor (WSJ)