Ceramics of Italy brings innovation, design and hospitality to Orlando

(April 2025) | As a global leader in ceramic tile innovation, Ceramics of Italy is poised to make a striking impact at Coverings 2025, North America’s premier tile and stone exhibition, which will return to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, from April 29 to May 2, 2025. Celebrating its 35th edition, Coverings continues to be the ultimate destination for design professionals, architects, and industry leaders seeking the latest advancements in surface materials. With 80 of Italy’s most esteemed ceramic brands exhibiting, the Italian Pavilion will serve as a vibrant hub of creativity, showcasing cutting-edge tile collections that embody Italian craftsmanship, sustainability, and technological advancement. This year’s exhibition will spotlight innovations in health and wellness, outdoor living, eco-conscious manufacturing, and timeless luxury, aligning with the show’s tenants and the industry’s commitment to design excellence, sustainability and high-performance functionality.

Inside the Italian Pavilion

Organized by Confindustria Ceramica (the Association of Italian Ceramics), the Italian Pavilion –  located in the convention center’s South Hall – will be brimming with new trends and innovations that showcase Italy’s deep-rooted commitment to global leadership and quality craftsmanship. At the heart of the Italian Pavilion will be Ceramics of Italy’s booth, “Giardino all’italiana” (Booth #1225), designed by renowned architecture firm HDR. This thoughtfully designed space will serve as an energetic, central hub to gather, network, and enjoy an authentic hospitality experience complete with gourmet Italian coffee and pastries from Spuntino, a renowned catering company based in Miami, Florida. Featuring modular and sustainable design elements, the booth will showcase the versatility of Italian ceramics – featuring contributions from Appiani, Ceramica Vogue, Cotto d’Este, La Fabbrica, Lea Ceramiche, Mirage, Naxos, and Fila Surface Care Solutions – which are applied across the booth’s floors, custom-built furnishings, and intricate three-dimensional structures.

Inside the “Giardino all’italiana”, Ceramics of Italy’s new “I Choose Responsibility” campaign – a movement to drive awareness about the responsible practices of Italian tile companies –  will also be on display. Through powerful new videos, the campaign will shed light on key topics – including energy efficiency, green building, embodied carbon, social responsibility and the circular economy – while strongly encouraging designers, planners and users to make conscious choices.

Information will also be available on Ceramics of Italy’s “Destination: Cersaie” program, an annual initiative that offers North American developers, architects, design professionals, builders and contractors the chance to participate in a dynamic delegation that attends CERSAIE – the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings – taking place from September 22 – 26, 2025 in Bologna, Italy.

Trends & Innovations on Display

Coverings 2025 will be a visual feast to explore the latest design trends and cutting-edge innovations in Italian ceramic and porcelain tiles. Expect to see a strong presence of water-inspired hues, tactile designs embodying imperfectionism and craftsmanship, striking geometric patterns, ribbed, fluted, and striped surfaces, plus exciting new takes on terrazzo. Prefabricated furnishings – ranging from washbasins, toilets, tables and cabinets – will continue to make waves across the Italian Pavilion, while integrated induction cooktops that cater to modern kitchens and baths, antibacterial porcelain surfaces, and through-body veining techniques will continue to take center stage. A continued emphasis on indoor-outdoor living will also be prominent, with brands showcasing collections that create seamless space transitions, while featuring new weather-resistant porcelain pavers, pool coping pieces, and pedestal systems that elevate exterior design. With sustainable design top of mind for Italian manufacturers, collections featuring EPD, LEED, and Greenguard certifications will also be at the forefront, as well as a growing number of B Corp-certified companies.

Thought-Provoking Discussions & Industry Insights

Coverings 2025 also offers an exciting opportunity to hear from some of the industry’s top leaders. Danielle McWilliams, Executive Vice President of Novità Communications, will be part of a distinguished panel for the ‘Global Tile Trends‘ session on Tuesday, April 29, at 11:00 AM (Room S230E), where they’ll explore the latest , inspiring trends around the world through the lens of Coverings’ four tenets; sustainability, timeless luxury, health and wellness, and outdoor living.

On Wednesday, April 30, at 3:00 PM (Room S230C), Confindustria Ceramica leaders, including Armando Cafiero (Director General) and Emilio Mussini (Chairman Promotional Activity Committee) will be joined by its partners at the Italian Trade Agency, including Italian Trade Commissioner Carlo Angelo Bocchi, to host the annual Ceramics of Italy International Press Conference. The event will reveal the winners of the prestigious 2025 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition. Recognizing outstanding projects from North American architecture and design firms, the winners will present their exceptional projects, highlighting the finest in Italian ceramic and porcelain design across residential, nonresidential, and new applications.

Recognizing Industry Excellence

A major highlight of Coverings will be the announcement of the 2025 Confindustria Ceramica North American Distributor Award, honoring a distributor that demonstrates exceptional knowledge and dedication to Italian ceramic products. The winner will be celebrated at a special offsite Serata on Wednesday, April 30.

Ceramic tile brands exhibiting in Ceramics of Italy Pavilion (South Hall)