For more than 60 years, Milan-based Kartell has been one of the most recognizable names in architecture and design. Founded in 1949 as a manufacturer of automobile accessories, the company branched into home furnishings in 1963, embracing the mandate to help “introduce plastic to the home.” Today, Kartell specializes in plastic furniture, accessories, and lights. Their products are sold in more than 96 countries at 120 flagship Kartell stores.
Kartell has earned a deserved reputation as a world authority on luxury furnishings derived from plastics. Company founder Giulio Castelli—a chemical engineer—was able to use his comprehensive knowledge of this revolutionary material to establish one of the principal design trends of the twentieth century. The company continues to “explore the versatility of plastics and redefine the shapes and functions of its own articles,” an objective that has elicited collaboration with premier designers throughout the decades, including Philippe Starck, Tokujin Yoshioka, and Patricia Urquiola.
Kartell continues to lead the industry in artful, innovative, and clever uses for transparent polycarbonate. Continuing its tradition of attracting the best contemporary design talent, the company has recently partnered with Rod Arad, Antonio Citterio, and Patrick Jouin. The architecture and design community’s high esteem for Kartell is evinced in the company’s multiple awards and accolades, including nine Compasso d’Oro awards, as well as multiple medals at both the Triennale di Milano and the Cologne Furniture Fair.
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