Indoor and outdoor furniture brand Paola Lenti, a prominent name in the design world known for its use of colour and material combinations, was founded in 1994 by Paola Lenti after a career in graphics and set-ups. Initially focused on porcelain and glass objects, the company gained recognition with wool felt rugs and furnishings. Over the past 30 years, the company has achieved significant milestones. We interviewed Paola Lenti to learn more about these milestones and her inspiration and passion.
Paola Lenti and the Metamorfosi collection at Milan Design Week.
Can you tell us about the history of Paola Lenti? How was the company founded?
'For years, I have been involved in graphics and set-ups as a consultant for various companies. I found myself in a role that was tight, limiting me, so I invented a job that I managed alone for some time.
I consider 1994 as the inception year of Paola Lenti company. I started by designing and having Limoges porcelain and glass objects produced. I've always liked working with materials, especially fabrics: it was indeed one of these, the wool felt used to produce rugs and furnishing accessories, which made the company renowned.
The year 2000 was the decisive turning point for me: the management of an industrial activity is very demanding and that year my sister Anna decided to step in the company and turn it into a true business entity. By firmly taking on the management, Anna allowed me to devote all my efforts to research and creativity. Although we work in different fields, we evaluate everything together and for this reason we always manage to go in the best direction. It is an essential partnership for the growth of the company. We made our way with the strength of our ideas, without following paths already marked by others and without compromising.'
Where does your passion for outdoor products and interior design come from?
'My parents were naturally attracted by beauty and they educated me to appreciate beauty. It was an important value: I remember my father, in particular, who took me along when he went to paint, as a hobby, in the countryside and made me appreciate the beauty and the colours of the nature.'
There are numerous other brands; what sets you apart from the rest? And how does that manifest itself?
'The capability of combining colours and materials, creating the right alchemies, is no doubt the first identifying mark of the company and this make us immediately recognisable. Our collections, however, do not focus exclusively on aesthetics, that we consider an integral part of a wider substantial content. And here we enter a less evident nonetheless essential area, which concerns the research on materials and the sustainability of the production processes.
Since the inception, we have made precise choices, certainly demanding from an economic point of view and use of energy, which pay off in the long term. Our technical fabrics guarantee ever higher performances and our products are made of recycled or recyclable materials, assembled so that it will be possible to separate the components at the end of their life, guaranteeing an optimal disposal and supporting their recycling. We pay the utmost attention to limit consumption, to select non-polluting processes and support local suppliers: we want to be as sustainable as possible, in the belief that beauty cannot and should not be separated from ethics.'
What are some significant milestones for Paola Lenti?
'I would say that the greatest achievement in these 30 years is that our efforts, past and present, to ensure the highest quality of materials, the sustainability of the product life cycle, and the ethics underlying each of our creations are now recognised. We work every day to guarantee the highest standards, and our daily challenge is to persist in this endeavour into the future.'
More information:
Paola Lenti
Via Po 100 A
Meda, 20821 (MB) Italy
0039 0362-344587
[email protected]
www.paolalenti.it