Vitra

THE STORY OF A MEETING

It all began in 1950 in Weil-am-Rhein, Germany. Although Willi Fehlbaum, Vitra's founder, soon moved the family business to Switzerland, it was in 1953 that the company's story really began. During a trip to the United States, Willi discovered chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames. It was then that he decided to start making furniture in the spirit of tradition and durability.

TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY

Vitra products are designed to combine design, functionality and quality. Far from the diktats of trends, longevity is the watchword of its collections. That's why the brand's models can still be found in many contemporary interiors, decades after they were first launched.

The quality of the materials and their origins inevitably contribute to this lasting dimension. Since 1986, a working group called “Vitra and the Environment” has been exchanging ideas on this ecological and social mission rooted in the Swiss manufacturer's DNA. An attachment still present years later, as Nora Fehlbaum, today CEO of Vitra, points out "Vitra's greatest contribution to sustainability lies in its products, which have an above-average lifespan and do without anything superflu. Our roots in modern design wouldn't allow anything else.". Thus, the family business run by the third generation, pursues, in addition to its commercial mission, a cultural and ecological one. Founded in 1989, the Vitra Design Museum.

THE ORIGINAL SIGNED VITRA

The starting point for Vitra's creations is a relationship of trust with designers and architects from all over the world. After the first meetings with the Charles and Ray Eames couple, other collaborations have followed, notably with Jean Prouvé, Verner Panton and, more recently, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec. It is this cooperation, hand in hand with designers, that today makes up Vitra's wealth and contributes to its influence in the world of design. Numerous original pieces have left their mark on the 20th century, such as the DSW chair, the Lounge Chair armchair and the Coffee Table by Isamu Noguchi, all of which have become design icons.

 

Vitra's influence on the history of design is such that the company founded the Vitra Design Museum in 1989. This cultural institution, located in Vitra's home town of Weil-am-Rhein, is dedicated to the study and presentation of historical and contemporary design. From the new to the classic, Vitra continues to create timeless objects and furniture that fit perfectly into our everyday environment: home, office or event space. Each piece, like a work of art, tells a story and comes to life wherever it is displayed, with the aim of spanning generations.

 

Country of origin: Switzerland - Manufactured in Germany and the EU