Design masterpieces
Food. Fashion. Fast cars. Furniture. The Italians are the undisputed masters of all things beautiful in those categories. And when it comes to the furniture, one of the greats in the Italian canon of modern design is Flexform. Founded by the Galimberti brothers in 1959, Flexform is still run by the second and third-generation members of the family, who continue the passion their forefathers had for furniture. Deftly balancing tradition and modern innovation, Flexform has evolved from a business based on artisan skills to an industrial model, setting the benchmark for ‘Made in Italy’ with no less than 27 flagship stores across the world.
In the last quarter of 2017, Flexform, in conjunction with Malaysian-based retailer of designer furniture Studio 216, officially launched its first mono-brand store in Singapore. Spread across two levels, this 3,000 sq.ft space with a generous frontage along the upscale Newton area showcases a special vision of the Flexform world, that of renowned designer and longtime Flexform collaborator, Antonio Citterio.
A contemporary take on La Dolce Vita, the store espouses the brand’s trademark refined and contemporary elegance. “A flagship is the best way to approach the Flexform collection because when you enter a mono-brand store, you enter the Flexform world where our pieces are shown in the context of our identity,” explains Giuliano Galimberti, third generation owner and global manager of Flexform. “We have our own identity and are very proud of it, so we speak this language wherever we go through our flagship stores. When you are appreciated by so many countries who all have different ways of living, I believe it means that they really like Flexform.”
Indeed, having another flagship so soon after the Flexform flagship in Kuala Lumpur opened in 2015 (also spearheaded by Studio 216) reflects a burgeoning market for fine Italian design. “We believe it’s not just about the economic effect but a maturation of taste. There is now a kind of client here who is looking for more than just functional furniture pieces; they want products which please their needs in terms of quality and design and they know how to recognise a brand which covers these factors,” enthuses Giulano.
Pietro Galimberti, the second-generation owner and architect of Flexform’s collaboration with Citterio sums it up best: “There is a culture of beauty in our DNA even in the small things. For example, we don’t say a delicious plate of spaghetti but say a beautiful plate of spaghetti. The Italians have always had a sense of beauty and style of living which now is envied and recognised by the world.”
