The Story Behind Calligaris: Creating Functional and Elegant Furnishings

9th January 2024 | IN EXPERT INSIGHT | BY SBID

Damien Breitner, Flagship Store Manager at Calligaris has given his insights into the industry.

Calligaris collections combine the excellence, functionality and elegance of Made in Italy design. We focus on the importance of living spaces as intimate and personal containers; furnishings that enrich the spaces of everyday life are able to instil harmony, beauty and elegance in the home a unique and personal place. At Calligaris, we believe that furniture should be as functional as it is elegant. When it comes to contemporary design for real life, Calligaris is where you’ll always feel at home.

Calligaris, The Story Behind Calligaris: Creating Functional and Elegant Furnishings — Calligaris

What are the origins of the brand?

Italian design since 1923, Calligaris was born in Manzano as a small craft workshop founded by Antonio Calligaris for the production of the Marocca chair, which was characterised by a wooden frame and straw seat, a typical artefact of the area. From the 1970s the family businesses developed in a more industrial sense becoming a leader in a geographical area known worldwide as the “chair district”, and began to lay the foundations for the conquest of other markets. The first catalogue appears and the export begins. From this moment Calligaris started distributing its products to the final consumers through local dealers both in the Italian and European territories. In 2008 it opened the first Flagship Store in Milan, which is followed by the ones in Paris and London.

How do your products and services enhance interior design projects?

It creates a sense of home and belonging to the interiors. We know that every space and home-maker’s needs are different, so we offer a wide range of products and made-to-order options to make sure you find what you like. Whether it’s a dining area with an extendable table that is always ready to welcome friends and family, the comforting call of the sofa, the dreamy prospect of your bed at the end of a long day, the home working area where ideas and inspiration can flow freely, when it comes to contemporary design for real life, Calligaris is where you’ll always feel at home.

What value does your specialist sector add to the industry?

At Calligaris, we believe that furniture should be as functional as it is elegant. Innovative design should be engineered to offer real-life solutions and essential comfort. Even after 100 years of experience in the industry, we continue to experiment with materials and finishes. We believe in quality. We choose top-range materials, we research new formulations to offer the finest performances and durability, and we submit our products to rigorous test sequences to obtain the necessary certifications in accordance with the highest standards.

Pioneer of introducing ceramic as a material to the tabletop experience for more than 20 years, our well-known ceramic table tops are the best example of practicality. Calligaris ceramics are obtained by coupling a porcelain stoneware slab with a tempered float glass. The result is a surface with exceptional scratch, shock, stain, thermal and chemical resistance features. It is easy to clean and hygienic, does not absorb liquids and does not release harmful substances. After all, our ability to embrace change is perhaps the most enduring characteristic of the Calligaris brand.

How do you work with interior designers?

The Calligaris Trade Department, based in our London Flagship Store, provides the trade network with the best knowledge and experience of our brand. Designers have the opportunity to open a trade account with us, enjoying exclusive offers and special prices. They have access to an exhaustive list of catalogues, pricelists and digital files to incorporate into their projects. While the interior design client could spend weeks ordering swatches and samples online or in stores, we will easily provide them with fabrics, and leather samples to look through. The greatest ideas are often the result of collaborated work, for this reason, for every project, Calligaris offers its 100 years of experience to support and provide the best furniture advice to the industry. Because ideas are never enough.

What has been your most significant company highlight or success from the past year?

Calligaris turns 100! A hundred-year journey that has turned what was originally a small chair manufacturer into the large international production reality that it is today. From the first seat weaving machine to the production of furniture and furnishings that make every home a warm and welcoming place. Calligaris stands out for its commitment to craftsmanship, adding touches of elegance and sophistication to its homes.

On the occasion of its 100th anniversary, Calligaris returns to impress with a new collection able to combine excellence, functionality and elegance of Made in Italy design. The original collaboration with Pininfarina has been renewed. The new Orbital table pushes even further the passion for innovation, harmony and beauty without losing its winning aesthetic and functional characteristics. The new Orbital is the result of a process of rationalisation of the lines that have made the shapes even lighter and contemporary despite a widening of the surface of the top with the aim of enhancing the uniqueness of the mechanism. Definitively 2023 has been a year of great success for Calligaris.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

Times are changing, and grey is no longer the darling of the design world. Instead, warmer and bolder colour schemes have taken over. The reason for this shift is simple: people are tired of the lifeless, cold feeling that grey can evoke. They want spaces that feel welcoming and inviting. Warm shades like terracotta, rust, and mustard create a cosy atmosphere, while bold hues like emerald green and deep blue add a touch of drama.

Lighting trends generally imply that the big light era is over, and that wall and floor lamps are the most important now. They create different shadows and corners in the room, offering you different atmospheres to relax, enhancing communication, and relations. Nowadays, it’s all about mixing and matching different styles and colours to create a unique and personalised look for your room. The space that perfectly reflects your style.

How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead?

Interior design has drastically evolved over the past decades. This evolution reflects how homes have changed to accommodate families’ needs and preferences. While many of today’s most popular interior design elements have roots in mid-century style, innovations continue. Sustainability, technology integration, maximising small spaces, and versatility for remote work are currently inspiring trends. Interior design will continue evolving as lifestyles, demographics, and technologies advance. No matter the decade, effective design always stems from understanding human behavior and optimizing homes to support occupants’ lifestyles and well-being.

Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?

As part of the Calligaris family, we are determined to make a difference on the issue of sustainability. The Greenbow – our sustainable agenda program aims to structure and organize corporate activities dedicated to this theme by acting on two fronts: on the Product, creating green furnishings, composed of natural and recycled materials and thinking about circularity, and on the Company system, for a sustainable approach to product development, production and distribution.

With Greenbow, Calligaris Group wants to give substance to sustainability initiatives: “We do not immediately promise you 100% green in everything, but certainly 100% commitment and transparency to make our contribution to a sustainable future”.

What does being an SBID Accredited Industry Partner mean to you?

For us, the SBID Accreditation represents the benchmark for professional standards, knowledge & experience across the industry. As a globally recognised marque of achievement, the SBID accreditation signifies the highest level of professional competence, along with a commitment to upholding industry standards. Being part of the membership network provides us with an extensive community of interior design professionals operating across the commercial and residential sectors, throughout the UK and beyond, enhancing our trade network and gaining access to exclusive opportunities.