Kartell

Made in Italy

Kartell is the undisputed leader in Italian design. Founded in Milan in 1949 by Giulio Castelli, the company is now run by another Italian, Claudio Luti. For more than 70 years, Kartell has been conducting ongoing research into the creation of original, technical products. Initially aimed at the automotive market, the brand gradually moved into the world of furniture and decoration, with its first chair launched in 1964: the K 4999.

INNOVATION AT THE HEART OF DESIGN

The use of plastic was at its height in the 60s. Taking advantage of a father who was a pioneer in the field, the founder of Kartell, himself a chemical engineer, capitalized on this material in the manufacture of his next seating models, convinced of making them affordable. Philippe Starck puts it this way: "Kartell is a family philosophy or a philosophical family. These are people who, alone and before anyone else, had the intuition that only plastic could increase quality and produce interesting, honest products for the maximum number of people."

Recognized over the years as the publisher's signature material, Kartell has never ceased to innovate, giving birth to singular, playful, high-quality products. Its guiding principle is “Italian chic and modern”, highlighting intense colors and experimental processes that have become a real technical mastery. These innovations include the introduction of satin-finishing and transparency, as on the Victoria Ghost chair, and more recently, the use of AI in design.

A COLLECTIVE SUCCESS

It was Claudio Luti in particular who, from the 1980s onwards, breathed new life into the company, drawing on his experience in fashion. Through collaborations with world-renowned designers, he aimed to move the brand upmarket. His leitmotiv: creativity, aesthetics, technology and functionality. To achieve this, Kartell has surrounded itself with great names in design and architecture, including Ron Arad, Piero Lissoni, Eugeni Quittlet, Tokujin Yoshioka and Ferruccio Lavianio, who will become artistic director of Kartell in 2015. As for Philippe Starck, he is one of the brand's flagship designers, with dozens of references to his credit.

The fruit of their talents, Kartell's success is now attributed to its best-selling pieces. Reflecting the brand's innovative DNA to perfection, many products have become design icons in their own right, such as the Masters chair, the Bourgie lamp or the Componibili storage unit.

Country of origin: Italy