Ombre: From Embroidery to Ceramic Surfaces

The product of skills that were traditionally practiced every day and passed down between generations, embroidery and handcrafted textile techniques possess an evocative power that can reach the core of our emotions. A company specializing in sintered stone slabs, Nexion drew its inspiration from this world of craftmanship to develop its latest product range, creating a coming together of nature and design, and an interplay between material and light. The range, dubbed Ombre, was unveiled at Milano Design Week 2025 in an exclusive exhibition space in the Brera District. A new addition to the current trend for textured ceramic surfaces, the line features embossed patterns on 120x240 cm slabs, with the meticulous attention to detail and the inherent materiality significantly enhancing its expressive potential.

The name “Ombre” reflects the chiaroscuro effect created by the interplay of natural tones and shifting light. This imparts a sense of depth and movement to the surfaces while underscoring their nuances and contrasts. Different intensities and angles of light create an ever-changing display of light and shade, transforming spaces throughout the day and imbuing them with an evocative, shifting atmosphere.

Patterns and tones

The Ombre range is available in five different textured patterns: Picché, Punto, Croce, Trame and Forme. With its low-relief embossing (0.3 millimeters versus 1.5 millimeters on the other patterns), Picché is also suitable for floors. All the pattern names are inspired by the traditions of embroidery and textile craftsmanship. Each slab is hand-crafted from wet clay to produce a pure, simple, and authentic material that, with its elegant aesthetic language, also has a contemporary edge.

The decorative patterns are available in five shades – Calce, Nude, Taupe, Cotto and Espresso – all of which draw inspiration from natural earth hues. With their soft tones and subtle gradations, they’re ideal for creating color blends. The palette naturally dialogues with both architecture and landscape, lending itself to endless design interpretations.

The “Love. Live. Create.” installation at Milano Design Week

Ombre was unveiled at Milano Design Week 2025 in an exclusive exhibition space themed “Love. Live. Create.” in the Brera Design District. The space brought together aesthetics, refined production and technology, well-being, sophisticated living, and creativity to reflect MDW’s “Connected Worlds” theme.

Each concept had its own space: Love was an experiential area signposted with a heart-shaped artwork covered in reflective cubes. It hosted the Ombre range, with visitors encouraged to explore and experience the materials through touch and emotions. Live focused on surfaces mounted on vertical panels arranged like symbolic doors – openings that presented new ways to experience sintered stone by emphasizing its three-dimensionality and interplay with light. Finally, Create was a photographic exhibition chronicling how the range is produced, revealing the craftsmanship involved and the creative process at the heart of every Nexion project.

For more information: www.nexiontiles.com