Flexform Biography
Flexform (1959 - ) is a family story. Now in its third generation, Flexform was born in the furniture production district of Brianza, in northern Italy. Here in the 1960s the unique phenomenon in the world that is Made in Italy design originated. A territory where the history of many small artisan workshops that have been working wood, metal and upholstering sofas since the beginning of the twentieth century is intertwined with that of the great masters of Italian design who study at the University of Architecture in nearby Milan. The history of Flexform fits into this historical context. In 1959 the Galimberti brothers started an artisan workshop which they called Flexform di Galimberti. They opened the first street showroom where they displayed sofas and armchairs which ended up in the buildings of Milan after the Second World War, in the villas overlooking Lake Como, and even furnished the foyer of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The children transformed the laboratory into an industry and in 1967 Flexform became SpA. The intuition led the family to avail itself of the collaboration of the greatest designers of the moment: Joe Colombo, Asnago-Vender, Cini Boeri, Rodolfo Bonetto and many others. In the same years, with the young architect Antonio Citterio, the company embarked on a path of professional growth that has lasted uninterruptedly for over forty years to this day. The 70s witnessed a decisive turning point in the way of conceiving the product. Having abandoned the tracing of styles from the past, the product becomes increasingly original and contemporary. In the 70s the family also understood the importance of opening up to new markets by crossing national borders. It faces Europe where especially German-speaking countries, Germany first and foremost, show great interest in sober, elegant and comfortable sofas. Growth also becomes constant and unstoppable overseas where Flexform conquers space in the most exclusive furniture stores in America, Asia and Australia until, in the new millennium, it launches an internationalization program which involves the opening of flagship stores dedicated exclusively to Flexform.
