A slice of Italian life can be had in Hong Kong from Friday at the Italy 2004: Quality & Lifestyle extravaganza organised by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Trade Commission. Events including fashion shows, films, music and exhibitions will be held at various venues around town and from June 5 to 13, a products exhibition at Times Square, Causeway Bay, will showcase (among other items) what's hot in Italian home appliances. Designed and manufactured by Polti, which claims to have improved the lives of millions of housewives with its products, comes the Vaporetto Lecoaspira 700 vacuum cleaner ($5,999; below left). Sleek in form and multi-functional, it includes a water filter to steam-clean carpets and upholstery ecologically and hygienically. The brand is also showing off its no-nonsense professional iron (Vaporella New Concept 329, $1,199; below) with special grooves for consistent steam and temperature. The appliances are available from Polti Asia (17/F, Metropole Square, 2 On Yiu Street, Sha Tin, tel: 3105 3967) but will soon be at department stores Wing On, Sincere and Sogo.