Wallpaper* Handmade pulls out all the stops for Eat me! Drink me! Tell me that you love me! party

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Ever restless, Wallpaper* Handmade upped its perfectly proportioned sticks again this year, installing itself (well, we helped) in a semi-retired stretch of Milanese store fronts to create the Wallpaper* Arcade. We were determined that this year's Handmade event be the biggest, best and most bountiful yet. And so it was; not least our opening bash, now well established as Salone's swingingest party.
This year we were joined by Tom Dixon, Patricia Urquiola, Konstantin Grcic, Philippe Malouin, Maurizio Cattelan and many other luminaries who enjoyed the more interactive elements of this year's exhibition: including the Wallpaper* nail bar; live hair styling by the legendary Jimo Salako; and the remarkable 'Rotunda Seronita' snack bar, dispensing not only savoury treats but their own handmade cherry wood trays.
Of course, such scale and ambition does not come easy and we again have to thank the many friends, old and new, who provided invaluable assistance and supplies. The champagne flowed freely thanks to Veuve Clicquot, whose Re-creation Awards installation of re-imagined mail boxes proved a particular favourite, while Royal Salute served wonderful whisky at their remarkable 'Neolithic' bar, designed by Studio Mackereth and crafted by Jack Badger. The highest-grade grappa came courtesy of Nonino (try saying that after a few glasses) whilst beer was supplied by San Miguel (summer in a bottle as far we're concerned).
Given this year's culinary theme, the catering had to impress and we served up a monumental stretch of Italian favourites, including generous dollops of organic panettone gelato from local favourites, Grom. We also flew in St John sous chef Arnold Hoeksma who cooked up bone marrow pizza at the Emeco space while the young craftsmen Josh Fisher bent, beat and shaped metal into unique editions of Jasper Morrison's 'Alfi' chair.
The Wallpaper* Arcade – a collaborative effort in the best tradition of Handmade – was brightened by Kvadrat's spectacular multi-colour colonnade as well as the multidisciplinary delights of d3 Dubai Design District; the contemporary crafted carpets of AfghanMade; and Gufram's prickly pop-up lounge.
Finally, a huge thank you to the event sponsors, Veuve Clicquot, Hästens and Monoqi Business, and, of course, Leclettico's Claudio Loria, whose ambition and drive matches our own.
Served inside was a moveable Italian feast, including pasta, cheeses, meats, bread, dried fruit and nuts, stretching down the length of the arcade
Nonino served up refreshing grappa cocktails in their own flamboyant way
Grom created delicious dollops of panettone gelato especially for the event
Gallerist Libby Sellers at the 'Nail me!' nail bar – designed by Bozarthfornell Architects and Testi – getting a super-slick lick of lacquer, including Kenzo's stripes, Philippe Malouin's terrazzo print and our own Wallpaper* Blue
Emeco metal craftsman Josh Fisher making a one-off version of Jasper Morrison's 'Alfi' chair, overseen by Gregg Buchbinder, Emeco chairman
St John sous chef Arnold Hoeksma made and served marrow pizza for our panel beater, Josh Fisher (pictured right), and Handmade guests, while Emeco chairman Gregg Buchbinder and designer Jasper Morrison watch Fisher at work.
Time Inc. UK luxury managing director Jackie Newcombe and Veuve Clicquot CEO Jean-Marc Gallot
Handmade 2015 marked our biggest and most ambitious outing in Milan to date. Celebrations spilled out onto the streets of San Gregorio Docet
Party guests enjoying the sophisticated air hockey table by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio, Corian and The Games Room Company
Italian photographer and Toilet Paper founder Pierpaolo Ferrari and Tony Chambers, Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief, and Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan (right) at the Gufram space
The remarkable 'Rotunda Seronita' snack bar, where guests were able to enjoy savoury treats and take away their own handmade cherry wood trays
British designer Bethan Laura Wood, pictured here at the Wallpaper* Arcade, was also commissioned to create an installation to celebrate Tory Burch's new 'Lettuce Ware'
Wallpaper's Designer of the Year joint winner Konstantin Grcic and Alex Rasmussen, president of Neal Feay
Wallpaper's Picky Nicky (Nick Vinson) with Alberto Zontone, CEO of Studio Urquiola, Spanish architect and Designer of the Year joint winner Patricia Urquiola with Wallpaper* editorial director Richard Cook
Dzek founder Brent Dzekciorius inspecting the Formafantasma and Caesarstone dining table
Silvia Negri Firman, Patrizia Marras, Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers, fashion designer Antonio Marras, Vogue Italia editor at large Cesare Cunaccia, and Wallpaper* Italy editor at large JJ Martin
OTB Group CEO Stefano Rosso and friends
British designers Paul Cocksedge and Terence Woodgate with V&A curator of contemporary furniture Jana Scholze
Dutch designer Richard Hutten and Kvadrat VP head of brand communication Njusja de Gier
Design Miami director Rodman Primack and interior designer Paola Aboumrad, standing in front of Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers' contemporary crafted carpet for AfghanMade
Wallpaper* editor-at-large Suzanne Trocmé with david/nicolas co-founders Nicolas Moussallem and David Raffoul at the d3 Dubai Design District
Lindberg's global communications manager Christina Sunn and marketing director Peter Warrer
Lobmeyr managing partner Leonid Rath and London-based designer Philippe Malouin
Wallpaper* design editor Rosa Bertoli with Ron Arad, Yves Béhar and Wallpaper* creative director Sarah Douglas
Tomorrow PR founder Neil Byrne and Autoban co-founder Seyhan Özdemir
Patrik Fredrikson and Ian Stallard from Fredrikson Stallard, standing in front of their AfghanMade rug design
Leclettico founder and Handmade exhibition designer Claudio Loria with Beatrice Bonzanigo
Ron Arad enjoyed the gelato almost as much as we did
Wallpaper* creative director Sarah Douglas and British designer Tom Dixon; designer Stephen Burks and Gufram's head of product Axel Iberti
In tune with our theme of food, drink and entertainment, a live brass band added jazzy tunes to the Wallpaper* Arcade
After a long night of celebrations, the party continued at Teatro Versace with the official Wallpaper* after party with SodaStream.
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