Arflex

Italian company active in the design sector producing sofas, armchairs and prestigious top quality accessories. Founded by the Pirelli workers Carlo Barassi, Renato Teani, Aldo Bai and a young architect Marzo Zanuso. From the very beginning they started experimenting with te use of foam rubber and elastic tapes for the furniture market. Arflex company was presented to the public for the first time on 1951, at the IX Treinnale in Milan, where the golden medal was assigned to Lady armchair. Between 1955 and 1960 arflex began its diffusion on international markets with creation of consociated societies for manufacturing and sales in Benelux, France, Switzerland and Spain. The rose of designers collaborating with the company enlarges during those years, including several components of Italian design and projecting managers of the new generations: just to quote Carlo Bartoli, Maurizio Calzavara, Joe Colombo, Sergio Mazza till Cini Boeri. Arflex brand designs are innovative and based on the development and introduction of new material solutions to the world of furniture. In 1965 Bartoli designs Gaia, armchair in polyester resins and glass-fibre. Bobo (1967) is the first mono-block seat in polyurethane foam without internal structure and Serpentone (1971) is a revolutionary sofa in polyurethane, that assumes winding shapes for an endless length. Starting from 2005, the architect Carlo Colombo performs the important rule of artistic director of Arflex. In 2006 he designes the armchair Cocca, that expresses the synthesis between hard and soft: from one side there is the hard frame in polyurethane, made from one unique mould, synonymous of modernity and resistance, designed to confront time, and from the other side the soft, with the comfort, welcome and relax. In 2007 Arflex celebrates 60 years of the brand. In the same year, company wins two very important awards: “Wallpaper Jaguar” for bookcase Twist, designed by the architect Carlo Colombo and for the best re edit product, designed by Mario Marenco. Starting from 2008, Arflex begins the splendid relationship with the Swedish architects Claesson Koivisto Rune. Redefining iconic designs from past masters to modern sensibilities and creating new classics in collaboration with acclaimed international designers, Arflex collections still combine craftsmanship with creativity to shape carefully considered pieces with purpose and meaning. Always respectfully and made to last.