


Made in Italy

In 1947 a group of technicians, Aldo Bai, Pio Reggiani, Carlo Barassi, and a young architect named Marco Zanuso began to experiment the use of foam rubber and elastic tapes for furniture brand.

In history and life of a company there are events and moment of special meaning, which are awards for merit acknowledged by anybody. Those first memorable moments in the history of Arflex coincide with the company's creation, in modest premises in Milan's Corso di Porta Vittoria. It was there that the first manufacturing and sales team was formed, but the Arflex company was only presented to the public for the first time in 1951, at the IX Triennale in Milan after two years of experimentations. This early contact with a wider audience in the context of an avant-garde artistic event is intensely significant in the company's history, because it showed the will of this group of collaborators to create high technological and esthetical level products, based on deep research and experimentation. The Gold Medal at the IX Triennale assigned to Lady armchair was the recognition of this manufacturing philosophy of Arflex.  



Between 1951 and 1954 Arflex produced various models of a car seat designed by Carlo Barassi ('MilleMiglia' and 'Sedile Lettino' suitable for 'Fiat Topolino'). These could be fitted into the vehicle instead of standard production seats and offered outstanding comfort, thanks to the use of foam rubber and elastic tapes. The covers could be removed and the seatbacks were adjustable. Arflex strove to make its contribution to the comfort of those Italians who were beginning to travel.

In 1969 the new factory in Limbiate was built and the showrooms were renewed, from the one in Rome to the historical seat in Milan's Via Borgogna.

In 1966 Arflex with Cassina, Tecno and Bernini founded the magazine, Ottagono, which became one of the most important architectural magazines.


In 1995 the trademark became the property of Seven Salotti spa, who reopened the showroom in Milan's CorsoEuropa (cured by Pierluigi Cerri 2001), and restarted the production of a series of products belonging to the historical archive not only for mere re-edition, but also because of the very modern functionality.

The new Arflex productive plant of 35.000 sqm is situated in the new industrial area in Giussano. The project has been realized by Arch. Felice Capellini and Carlo Colombo and it consists of two parts: the bigger houses the production, warehouses, the prototypes and photo-shoot rooms; in the second part there are the spaces of showrooms and offices and the Arflex museum was created, showcasing the original pieces as well as the photographic archive.

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