The pleasure of choice: Longhi

Italy is renowned for its history of hand craftsmanship, which has seen generations of artisans cultivate an unrivalled level of expertise in manipulating materials such as marble, glass, wood and leather. Today, there are a number of companies helping to sustain and further the global reputation of the prestigious ‘Made in Italy’ mark. One of the most respected and progressive among them is Longhi – a second generation furniture manufacturer focused on producing a coordinated collection of items for contemporary living.

Longhi is based in the city of Meda, to the north of Milan, which is known as the heartland of the Italian furniture industry. The company was founded in the 1950s as a producer of wooden tables, and has remained resolutely committed to the pursuit of craftsmanship to ensure the highest quality standards. Today, Longhi works with leading designers to develop pieces that make optimal use of the skills and expertise provided by its team of highly skilled technicians.

“Our strengths are an ongoing and continuously evolving drive for innovation, first-rate craftsmanship, use of fine materials, and utmost attention to detail,” explains the company’s CEO, Andrea Longhi. “The three rules for the success of any product are; an exciting and captivating design, the use of quality materials, and the ability to produce and select unique, custom-made products.”

The company is perhaps best known as the producer of Joe Colombo’s classic Elda chair, which was developed in 1963. The chair’s fibreglass shell encloses a padded seat and backrest upholstered in leather or fabric. This product, which was a futuristic icon at the time of its launch, is still in production and epitomises Longhi’s pursuit of excellence in both design innovation and manufacturing.

One of the characteristics that sets Longhi apart from other Italian furniture makers is the diversity of its product portfolio. The company manufactures everything from tables and chairs, to beds, bookcases, lamps, rugs, internal doors and outdoor furniture, offering customers a complete living solution. Every Longhi product is hand made and often made-to-measure, based on a client’s specific requirements. The resulting items display consistency in the quality of their design and craftsmanship, and can be adapted with unique properties to match any interior scheme. For Longhi, this freedom of choice is key to its offering as a luxury brand. “True luxury is about having something unique, which is why every one of our products can be customised with an infinite range of materials and finishes,” Andrea Longhi points out.

The use of premium materials including marble, onyx, leather, steel and wood requires specialist knowledge, which at Longhi forms the basis for an ongoing process of research and experimentation aimed at identifying new directions for its product collection. The company also recognises the importance of thinking globally and has successfully expanded into new international markets in recent years. The majority of its sales are now focused overseas, and a careful consideration of international tastes is seen as imperative when designing new pieces. Looking ahead, Longhi aims to continue developing high-end products that are made in Italy and meet the evolving needs of discerning customers around the world.

“The challenges and difficulties of the last few years have been faced by developing and investing in our products and our brand from an international perspective, and all with a view to achieving greater long-term success,” adds Andrea Longhi. “Our aim is to continue along this path, giving voice to a genuine style with a clear identity, year after year, with every collection and every product.”

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Visit Longhi at the Salone del Mobile in Milan from 17 to 22 April 2018

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