The Brianza furniture manufacturing district of Northern Italy is a place where its heritage of small artisan workshops of wood, metal and upholstery dates back to the early 1900s. This history intersects with that of the great masters of Italian design where in 1959, the Galimberti family established the celebrated furniture brand, Flexform di Galimberti.

For over six decades, Flexform tells the story of a family business. Initially a small-sized workshop, the company was transformed into an industrial facility and within 10 years later, incorporated it as Flexform SpA as it is known today.

“Flexform is determined to uphold what is fondly known as the ‘we attitude’”, expresses Export Sales Director & Board Member, Giuliano Galimberti. “This is the awareness that the real player is the team – and therefore, the brand – not the individuals.” Galimberti believes that the company’s success lies within the outstanding talents of the names that have contributed to shape the brand into what it is today.

Now in its third generation, the brand has continuously evolved throughout the years from collaborations with leading designers such as Joe Colombo, Asnago-Vender, Cini Boeri, Rodolfo Bonetto and long-lasting partnership with architect-designer, Antonio Citterio. Flexform SpA’s collaboration with Citterio has been an everlasting tribute to the family-owned brand’s success for more than half a decade.

As a company that’s always ready to evolve and improve, its constant lies within the human-centric furniture that continues to enhance our everyday experiences. “Flexform’s mission is to firmly uphold the promise of superior quality, aware of the fact that if the home environment is an aesthetic expression, then the beauty of a sofa can enhance the quality of life,” Giuliano adds.

And this year, the release of the first Outdoor Collection by Flexform SpA does no less.

Leading Flexform’s 2020 Outdoor Collection is the Vulcano Sofa by Antonio Citterio. Boasting superior compositional flexibility, Vulcano is highly customisable to suit your needs. To ensure optimum performance outdoors, the sofa base is made of marine plywood, with the armrest and backrest structures crafted in austenitic stainless steel – a super alloy designed for exterior settings.

Featuring the woven pattern that has inspired many products in the indoor collection, Flexform continues this story to the outside – acting as the distinctive motif in the Vulcano seating system. Made of polypropylene fiber or polyurethane rubber, the woven upholstery comes in a range of elegant and earthy tones and encased in a special breathable water-repellent fabric, resistant to the effects of weather, chlorine and salt water.

Citterio continues the story with the Oritigia Outdoor armchair. As the alfresco version of the eponymous family of indoor elements, the Ortigia is reinterpreted with a contemporary charm. Compromised entirely of solid iroko material, the armchair pays homage to the artisan – their meticulous craftsmanship and history-long tradition of Italian design. The backrest is entirely hand-woven upholstery in polypropylene cord or polyurethane rubber; available in an array of colours.

Refined with a welcoming personality, the Oritigia family is the perfect touch.

To accompany your lounging experience, the Fly Outdoor has everything you would want in an outdoor table. Extremely versatile and sophisticated in style, the Fly tables and side tables have been revamped into a custom-crafted version for outside entertainment. The austenitic stainless steel base combined with the rectangular or circular stone top demonstrates a sense of restrained elegance in Citterio’s brilliance.

Purity and the utmost practicality of design is imbued across the Fly range – taking your outside décor to the next level.

The Phuket and Bangkok ottoman pieces by Design Center adds another layer of comfort to Flexform’s outdoor collection. Functional and uncluttered, their cubic frames are playful and versatile in character. Sitting perfectly as an all-purpose statement piece or pulled up as a seat alongside the lounges and side tables; their unmistakable charisma can’t be missed.

Designed in 1939, the Moka chair by Mario Asnago and Claudio Vender has been part of the Flexform SpA collection since 1985. In 2020, Flexform SpA brings it back in a revitalised outdoor edition.

Honouring the original design, the modern interpretation is striking with its innovative weather-resistant materials and sophisticated structure. The backrest features an X-design, continuing the frame into the comfort of the seat woven in polyester fiber or polyurethane rubber.

“There have been many highlights, but one of the milestones over the last few years has been the launch of our first Outdoor Collection,” Galimberti notes. “It was a new creative and technical challenge for our team, but I proudly say that the informal, timeless elegance and unrivaled comfort that have consistently distinguished Flexform’s interior deco products are now reflected in a collection of outdoor furnishings.”

Throughout the generations, The Galimberti pride themselves on their ability to create a feeling of comfort and familiarity that has given them the trust and recognition that they are renowned for. Evoking a warm, enveloping feeling, Flexform invites you to step outside, sit back and relax in their new Outdoor Collection.

Flexform SpA is available in Australia through Fanuli. 

Photography courtesy of Flexform SpA.