Kartell is a Milanese furniture manufacturer founded in 1949. It specialises in high-quality plastic injection mouldings and the early fifties and was innovative in producing plastic objects designed by Gino Colombini. His aesthetic was aggressively modern, and his use of plastics did not imitate other materials. Since then, Kartell has made furniture to the designs of Joe Colombo and Marco Zanuso.
History
1949 the company started producing automobile accessories and later diversified into home furnishings in 1963. Kartell was founded by Giulio Castelli and Anna Castelli Ferrieri, with the latter becoming famous for her designs and architectural work.
In 1998, Kartell opened its first store in the United States on Greene Street in New York City. The U.S. division, led by Ivan Luini, opened more stores in various cities, including Miami, San Francisco, Atlanta, Boston, and Los Angeles.
Embed from Getty ImagesKartell’s retail marketing strategy involves keeping a wide range of items in different styles and colours priced to attract impulse buyers. The company earns an annual revenue of $100 million from its sales. In addition to its stores, Kartell products are sold by over 150 independent retailers in the United States.
Embed from Getty ImagesLuini was in talks with Philippe Starck for Kartell’s plastic furniture to be used in a hotel chain before he passed away. Kartell is a subsidiary of Felofin, with Claudio Luti serving as its chairman, CEO, and president. (Kartell – Wikipedia, 2018).
Sources
Conran, T., & Bayley, S. (1985, January 1). The Conran Directory of Design. Villard. https://doi.org/10.1604/9780394546988
Kartell – Wikipedia. (2018, November 18). Kartell – Wikipedia. Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartell
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