World Market Center Las Vegas and Fiera Milano, Italy's leading and most prestigious exhibition centre, will collaborate for the first time ever this summer to showcase a one-of-a-kind Italian Furniture exhibit at the 2008 July Summer Market. Presented as “Design Italiano- Il Mobile di Design a Meda”, the exhibit will feature the best in Italian design from 1956 through 2008.

The July Las Vegas Market, scheduled for July 28 through Aug. 1, will salute Italian design with an 8,000-square-foot museum-quality exhibit. Conceived, organized and curated with the support of Fiera Milano, City of Meda, Regione Lombardia and Project Monza-Brianza, Design Italiano- Il Mobile di Design a Meda will showcase nearly 100 pieces from 13 top Italian designers and manufacturers, including B&B Italia, Cassina, Flexform, Minotti and Giorgetti. Leaders from some of the participating companies will also be on hand during the 2008 July Las Vegas Market to welcome the exhibit.

“As Italy is a recognized axis for superior design, some of the most identifiable trends and concepts in high-end home furnishings have come out of this region,” said Robert Maricich, World Market Center Las Vegas' President and Chief Executive Officer. “This exhibit provides insight into the evolution of modern furniture design. These unique pieces laid the path for 20th and 21st century contemporary design and bringing the best of Italy to Las Vegas will certainly stimulate and inspire retailers attending Las Vegas Market.”

The exhibit will be organized at World Market Center Las Vegas in a gallery format and will be located on the first floor of the celebrated, new Building C. Other companies that will have pieces in the exhibit are Flou, Futura, Busnelli Gruppo Industriale, Paola Lenti, BBB Emmebonacina, Di Liddo & Perego, Mobileffe, Comfort and Medea.

“I am very proud to be in Las Vegas to inaugurate the Design Italiano Exhibit, that celebrates the expressiveness and uniqueness of Italian creativity and the quality of its world famous furniture"- says Michele Perini, President of Fiera Milano. "Our exhibition centre is a reference point in this sector and an excellent promotional tool for companies that are pushing with great determination on the accelerator of international growth. Our cooperation with World Market Center goes into this direction and I am sure will be very fruitful.”

Several additional manufacturers of modern Italian furniture will also be exhibiting their products on the fifth floor of Building C, further adding an Italian flare to the space. Such companies include BBB Emmebonacina, Montina, CABAS, Galvantecnica, DMK, BUM and SINTESI to name a few.

Meanwhile, the furniture display will also be complemented by the photo exhibition by Italian photographer Maurizio Galimberti, that will showcase historic images of Italian furniture in an artistic design. The photo exhibit will include original drafts of the designs displayed side-by-side with photos of the pieces.

July Las Vegas Market week attendees also will be treated to slices of Italian life throughout the five days of Market Week. Italian fine wines and coffees will complement the Italian-lifestyle environment organizers are planning to create. Attendees are invited to attend a special reception “Salute to Italian Style” on Tuesday, July 29th at 5:00 PM to celebrate the creativity and splendor of Italian design at Las Vegas Market.