Kartell

Kartell, the leading design company founded in Milan in 1949 by Giulio Castelli, has been a symbol of progressive Italian design for almost 70 years. Its story is one of success, told through an incredible series of products - furniture, furnishings and lighting - that have become not only a part of the domestic landscape, but also true icons of contemporary design. Claudio Luti (the current president and owner of the company) has been the heir to the “Kartell spirit” since 1988.

By embarking on collaborations with the most prestigious international designers, he has continued the search for new technologies, forms and styles with the same fervour and enthusiasm as the founder himself, perfectly combining the skill of individual designers with the potential and experience of the company. Kartell collaborates with some of the most prominent names of contemporary design, comprising Philippe Starck, Ron Arad, Antonio Citterio, Ferruccio Laviani, Piero Lissoni, Patricia Urquiola, Tokujin Yoshioka, Mario Bellini, Alberto Meda, Front, Nendo and Eugeni Quitllet.

The Kartell collection is multi-purpose, diverse, user-friendly and undeniably aesthetically pleasing. Colourful, subtle, sensory, transparent, and featuring unique shapes combined with unique objects, Kartell products are instantly recognisable throughout the world thanks to the emotions they evoke, their long-lasting functionality and their undisputed quality. The brand develops products by continually improving the way in which materials are used and experimenting with new technologies in order to uncover previously-unknown properties. This is essential both when striving for functional performance and when creating new aesthetic qualities. As a result of this continual research, Kartell has been able to introduce satin finishes, transparency, flexibility, resistance to weathering, softness and tactile surfaces. Over the years, Kartell has won enviable international recognition, including nine Compassi d’Oro design awards. In 2000 the Museo Kartell, the custodian of the brand’s history which was founded in 1999, won the Guggenheim Business and Culture Award for best business museum.

To coincide with the 2015 Expo, the Museo Kartell will be completely renovated and brought up to date. From the 1950s onwards, the company’s work revolved around two areas: LABWARE, materials for laboratory use, and HABITAT, dedicated to furniture, furnishings and lighting (the latter was successfully reintroduced in the 2000 catalogue). Since 2009, Kartell has also been producing a collection of plastic women’s shoes, designed by major labels from the world of fashion, under the “Kartell à la Mode” brand. In 2013 the company launched a partnership with Swiss bathware brand Laufen, giving rise to the first “Kartell by Laufen” bathroom range.

During 2014 the new “Kartell in Tavola” line was introduced, which already features three complete tableware collections. In January 2015, the “Kartell Fragrances” line of perfumed home décor products made its début. From November 2016, the new Kids line is on sale in the Kartell stores. Over the last 18 years, an ambitious expansion project has strengthened the brand’s distribution networks and image on a global scale. Kartell now exports over 75% of production and boasts 140 flagship stores and 300 shop-in-shop departments as well as 1000 corners, 2.500 retailers in 140 different countries.