From the pioneer to the classic: buy designer furniture from Kartell online
Colourful, long-lasting, expressive and low-maintenance furniture – that’s what Kartell has always stood for. Back in the day, the company was a true pioneer as it made furniture from plastic. Today, it is an established label with many followers and well-known design classics. An armchair or light for the living room, a container system for the office - buy your favourites from Kartell conveniently in our online shop! Or find out lots more about the Italian furniture brand below.
The pioneer in the field of high-quality plastic furniture
Giulio Castelli was a chemist with a vision: he wanted to create furniture. But naturally not just any kind of furniture. No. Instead, it needed to be colourful, innovatively shaped and made using the latest technologies. The company founder broke new ground and chose plastic as the material for his furniture. In those days, it was a very progressive material that opened up a wealth of possibilities in terms of design: the exclusive Kartell furniture comes in an array of interesting shapes and colours. At the same time, it is robust and durable. This was the intention at the time when the company was founded in 1949, and remains so today. The Italian brand is a pioneer in the field of manufacturing plastic furniture. This company is one of the reasons why the material's image has changed so completely. Giulio Castelli recognised the potential of plastic early on and used it for his creations. Over time, his products developed into real best-sellers, with the advantages of the material becoming more and more apparent, making Kartell the pioneer of plastic furniture production. Stylish household objects, globally successful furniture series and an exciting cooperation with the designer Philippe Starck followed. Since then, the company has lost none of its exclusivity. Kartell continues to fight for equal opportunities for its characteristic material. With success! The chairs, bookcases, tables and living accessories made from - in some cases very colourful - plastic have become an inescapable part of the living and outdoor sector! This marks the company's transition from pioneer to established brand. Kartell furniture is still unique, despite its long tradition. Do you agree? Then buy your favourite pieces online at AmbienteDirect!
From household objects to chairs and coffee tables
Over half a century has passed since the company was founded - enough time for Kartell to develop a broad and varied portfolio. The company started out making household objects. Waste bins, storage tins, and so on, were given a very new, colourful look. The Italian label even made and marketed lights made out of plastic.
Giulio Castelli, being a chemist, was very familiar with research into new materials. After Castelli initially developed plastic components for cars and lights and replaced glass objects in laboratory equipment with plastic ones, designer furniture was also created in the 1960s. Thanks to new production methods for durable materials, this was now actually possible. Kartell ushered in the era of plastic furniture with its K4999 children's chair. This piece of furniture was designed in 1964 by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper. It was popular because it was weatherproof and stackable. From this point forward, Kartell's success story became unstoppable. Not even the crisis affecting oil prices in the 1970s, which led to higher prices, was able to stop it. The company also survived plastic's loss of image as a result of the environmental movement and emerged from it stronger than ever. This was due not least to its cooperation with Philippe Starck. He is already a design legend, and helped Kartell out of the crisis with his Dr. Glob chair and other creations. Even today, the company continues to use plastic. Ultimately, it makes products that are not just robust, but also durable. They are also still popular after many years because of their interesting design, which means they make for a worthwhile investment.
In addition to Philippe Starck, Kartell also works with other well-known designers, including:
Antonio Citterio
Maarten von Severen
Michele de Lucchi
Piero Lissoni
Patrick Jouin
Patricia Urquiola
Ron Arad
Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
Vico Magistretti
These and others make a key contribution to the Italian label's success. Giulio Castelli's wife, Anna Castelli Ferrieri, has also shaped the brand. She breathed life into functional products, creating colourful, cheeky and interesting designs. Discover the design classics below and order the furniture that would fit beautifully in your home today! There is something for every area of your home: the Kartell range includes products for living, dining and children's rooms as well as high-quality office and garden furniture.
The brand's design classics
Just as innovative as Kartell's materials are its designs: featuring futuristic, modern and trendy elements with intense colours, but being superbly functional at the same time. The particular bonus with Kartell products: tables, chairs, stools, containers and accessories are not only extremely robust and resilient, but they are also super-lightweight. Some Kartell furniture is also suitable for outdoor use. All in all, the manufacturer's products offer a unique character that makes them true pieces of art. You should be aware of the following classics:
Stacking chair 4867 by Joe Colombo
Stackable container elements 4970/84 by Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Mobile container system and Spoon series by Antonio Citterio
Dr. Glob chair, Louis Ghost armchair and Bubble collection by Philippe Starck
Masters chair by Philippe Starck and Eugeni Quitllet
Bookword bookshelf by Ron Arad
Over the years, Kartell has developed its reputation thanks to these and other products not just nationally, but also internationally. The company has been nominated for various design prizes countless times. Kartell has won the coveted "Compasso d'Oro" design award a total of nine times, including with its mobile container and Bubble Club Sofa.
Kartell is conquering the world of design from Italy
Anyone thinking of Italian furniture designers will immediately think of Kartell. The focus on plastic, the colourful and innovative style and the long-lasting quality inspire fans all over the world. Over the past ten years, Kartell has reinforced its position as the market lead in the field of interiors, furniture and outdoor design in plastic: today there are 120 flagship Kartell stores and 180 store-in-store shops. Kartell sells in a total of 96 countries. Find out for yourself how these functional works of art can enhance your interior design and order whatever you like most.
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