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JoAnn Tan & Luca Nichetto x Bolon: A Weaving of Ideas

For three generations, Bolon has been turning innovation into a sensory experience. Founded in 1949 with a bold idea– to transform waste materials into woven flooring– it has redefined the very concept of surface design. Collaborating with designers, architects, and fashion brands, Bolon has created spaces that transcend materiality. This constant drive to push boundaries has given life to EXODUS, the installation JoAnn and Luca created together for Milan Design Week 2025.

Some collaborations feel inevitable, like two parallel lines destined to converge. When JoAnn Tan and Luca Nichetto first met, it wasn’t by chance– it was the culmination of years spent navigating different creative worlds, each crafting immersive narratives through design. Now, at Milan Design Week 2025, these two visionary minds unite for the first time, with Bolon as their canvas.

For over 75 years, Bolon has redefined material innovation, transforming woven vinyl flooring into an art form that blends aesthetics with sustainability. This spirit of reinvention made it the perfect partner for EXODUS, an extraordinary installation where design transcends function to become a living, breathing experience.

Housed in a historic ball room which in the past was also used as a textile factory in the heart of Milan, EXODUS is not just an exhibition– it’s an odyssey into a world where materials take on new life. Visitors step into a surreal landscape divided into two realms: one, a primordial forest, where Bolon's textured surfaces seem to rise from the ground, pulsating with raw energy. The other, a dreamlike world where gravity loosens its grip, and soft, luminous hues create an atmosphere of weightless wonder.

At the heart of it all, a moment of fusion– a mythical creature emerges, born from both realms, embodying the power of transformation. It is here, in this meeting of minds, materials, and ideas, that the essence of EXODUS is revealed: the beauty that arises when opposites intertwine.

JoAnn Tan, known for her theatrical storytelling immersed in the fashion world, and Luca Nichetto, a master of craftsmanship and industrial design, have created an installation that challenges our perception of space, surface, and meaning. And Bolon, a pioneer in sustainable innovation, has provided the foundation for this breathtaking metamorphosis.

This is EXODUS. This is Bolon at Milan Design Week 2025. Will you step inside?

Viale Lombardia 56
April 8th-12th 10 am to 8 pm
April 13th 10 am to 5 pm

Photography: Max Rommel

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JoAnn Tan & Luca Nichetto x Bolon: A Weaving of Ideas

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