ITALY is famous for producing belle capolavori (lovely masterpieces) such as Michelangelo’s Pieta and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa during the Renaissance period.
The Italian furniture industry exemplified by Calligaris has also been inspired by the great Italian artists to produce elegant and quality products that have created a great impression among furniture lovers in the world. Starting in the 1960s, the Calligaris family decided to expand their market by going overseas.
Alessandro Calligaris, chairman of the Calligaris group and a member of the third generation, said it was a major step for the 92-year-old company to venture in the overseas market.
In a recent media briefing, Calligaris said the growth strategy of the company worldwide is to establish stores in major cities, mainly, the capitals because these are the growth centers.
He added that the Philippines has a good potential, as its economy enjoys continuous growth led by the remittances of the overseas Filipinos workers and the revenues generated by the business-process outsourcing (BPO). “Just look at the several construction activities in several areas of the country, like here in the Bonifacio Global City [BGC],” Calligaris said in a recent interview during the opening of its showroom in Taguig City.
Calligaris, along with Florence Ko, managing director of Gruppo Mobili Philippines Inc., the distributor of Calligaris in the Philippines and also the parent company of luxury home store Furnitalia, custom closet and kitchen crafters Space 2000, and lighting specialist store Lucem, welcomed the media and guests. “We’re very excited with the launch of Calligaris’s new home and showroom at BGC,” Ko said. “Calligaris is a global Italian brand known for its stylish modern aesthetic, quality craftsmanship and smart design. Calligaris is perfect for young, upwardly mobile professionals looking to furnish their condos or houses with designer furniture at reasonable price points,” Ko shared.
The Marocca chair, distinctive for its sturdy wooden frame, handwoven rush seat and slightly curved legs, was the first product developed by the company. Since then, Calligaris has grown and developed a strong niche in home furnishings, expanding its range with complete furnishing solutions, including chairs, tables, beds, sofas, storage units and decorative accessories. While its woodpecker logo symbolizes the tireless worker with a passion for wood, Calligaris also utilizes metal, plastic, leather and glass in its creations.
Among the many innovative Calligaris furnishings are the Gamera chair, made from one-piece polyamide shell suitable for indoor or outdoor use; the Lam table, a harmonious amalgam of metal and wood available in fixed-length or extending versions; and the modular Urban sofa, which offers multiple configurations to fit unique needs. In addition to its signature items, there is also Calligaris CODE, a capsule collection of extraordinary and surprising furniture designed by Italy’s young avant-garde artists. The Manzano-based Calligaris is distributed in 90 countries but maintains its Italian heritage at its core, with its designs proudly stemming from the analysis of form and function, using combinations of materials, experimentation and continuous innovation. The Calligaris brand offers products suitable for every corner of the house—from dining and living room to bedroom, kitchen and home office, whether the unit is a condominium or a regular house.