Kartell Shop Fano: History of an Italian Brand
Kartell: Company History
The company Kartell was founded in Noviglio, Milan, in 1949 from an idea by Italian Giulio Castelli — the first, crucial steps toward creating a design brand that has proudly represented Made in Italy around the world for over 70 years.
In the late 1980s, Castelli’s son-in-law, Claudio Luti, took over the company. Coming from the top fashion houses, having worked for Versace, he was able to create an unprecedented fusion of fashion and design thanks to his influence.
The greatest names in architecture and design were invited by Claudio Luti to contribute to the creation of products that would become symbols of the brand: from Piero Lissoni to Philippe Starck, from Alberto Meda to Patricia Urquiola. But the story continued, with internal revolutions as well. Leveraging its high quality and advanced techniques, Kartell began experimenting with cutting-edge raw materials, becoming the first company in the world to use polycarbonate to create furniture — in 1999.
This led to the creation of La Marie — a transparent polycarbonate chair with a minimalist design — which was followed a few years later by the Louis Ghost: the product destined to become the company’s best-seller.
The Brand: Key Features
Kartell has redefined many established principles of furniture design over the years, creating a line with aesthetic foundations that are still cutting-edge, in constant pursuit of a perfect balance between form and material — like a cloud. Solid and functional, in line with pure design principles, yet creative and at times futuristic thanks to its extreme innovation and lightness.
Its hallmarks? The material it pioneered — polycarbonate — and its unique concept of transparency. Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic material discovered in the 1920s, previously used only in commercial sectors. It had never been used, before 1999, for aesthetic purposes or furniture design.
When Philippe Starck designed La Marie, the transparent minimalist polycarbonate chair, it immediately became a symbol of the brand. First presented at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, its debut was a huge success: it was displayed on a pedestal and repeatedly struck by Fiat-branded machinery — without breaking.
This is the true definition of design meeting functionality — giving rise to an extremely durable product that appears light as air, almost non-existent. From this first milestone came the Louis Ghost — the best-selling designer chair in the world.
Today, Kartell remains an undisputed symbol of Italian excellence in the global markets of design, architecture, and furnishings. Its production of sophisticated industrial design objects made of plastic is broad and complete — suitable for furnishing every type of space. Absolute beauty, lightness, sleek and well-defined lines that almost seem to disappear — a brand that remains an icon of Made in Italy, as it was then and still is today.
Casarredo offers its clients an exclusive opportunity: Kartell products are available in our Kartell Shop in Shop Fano — perfect for furnishing your space in an innovative, elegant, and unique way.
