Fornaseti X CC Tapis reinterprets some of the iconic illustrations from Fornasetti's archive. Pictured
is Re Sole and Rovine Classiche both hand-knotted of New Zealand wool. Photo credit: Piotr Niepsuj

MILAN -- Contemporary area rug studio CC-Tapis and renowned furniture and decor atelier Fornasetti pair up to present their new area rug collaboration based on archival Fornasetti designs at Milan Design Week, April 20-26, 2026.

The collection takes shape as a visual and conceptual dialogue between Fornasetti’s symbolic and timeless imagery — filled with illusion, irony, and storytelling — and the experimental vision of cc-tapis, which has long explored the rug as an expressive surface, a design space, and a collectible object. The collection, which includes rugs and tapestries, unfolds through a rich interplay of techniques—from intricate hand-knotting to delicate embroidery and hand-loomed constructions—each enhancing the depth and complexity of the designs. Trompe-l’œil effects, layered compositions, and graphic details give life to surfaces that shift between illusion and texture.


The Fornasetti x CC-Tapis rug collection, photographed in Teatro Sociale di Stradella in Milan, reworks Fornasetti’s archival
printworks. Each rug within the collection is handcrafted with fine natural fibers. Photo credit: Piotr Niepsuj

The result is a collection in which each rug becomes a stage, evoking a theatricality suspended between fiction and function. Trompe-l’oeil, fragmentations, rhythmic variations, and graphic details merge with refined textures, transforming each piece into a narrative “act” ready to inhabit a space with character and personality.

The variety of techniques and materials employed reflects the project’s expressive richness. Each rug is handcrafted using fine natural fibers such as Himalayan wool, merino wool, and silk — selected by cc-tapis to enhance the details and nuances of Fornasetti’s visual world. The sheen of the wool, the softness of merino, and the luminosity of silk all contribute to expressing the graphic depth and optical illusion characteristic of the distinctive style of the Milanese atelier.


The Bocca rug is a flat-woven wool dhurrie with hand embroidery. Photo credit: Piotr Niepsuj

CC-Tapis invites show attendees to a special cocktail hour -- (Meta)Fisica Cocktail Party on April 21 from 7 pm. at its showroom Piazza Santo Stefano 10, Milan. RSVP is required.

CC-Tapis's Piazza Santo Stefano 10 showroom will be open during Milan Design Week:
April 20, 10 am-8 pm
April 21-25, 10  am-7 pm
April 26, 10 am.-8 pm


Fornasetti's Profili by CC-Tapis features a 100 wool jacquard weave. Photo credit: Piotr Niepsuj