Zanotta Talks Versatility, Popular Products, and Little-Known Facts
“We design for real people. If we end up in museums, it’s not our fault.”
The above quote was one of several that hung on the walls of Zanotta’s Design Dome 2022 booth—a playful but earnest response to having hundreds of products collected by some of the world’s most prestigious museums. Zanotta’s airy, eclectic, and cozy display successfully embodied part of the brand’s identity that had longed for more recognition: Zanotta belongs in people’s homes.
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We sat down for a chat on the snug Pianoalto couch with Sun Yi from JP Concept, Zanotta’s representative in China. Answering our questions, Sun Yi shared some interesting facts about the 68-year-old brand and its multi-talented designer Carlo Mollino, the name behind three of the featured products: the Ardea, Gilda, and Reale. Keep scrolling to learn more through the Q&A!
Q&A
What’s the demographic you’re trying to reach through this exhibition?
“That’s a really interesting question- Zanotta is not a brand about lifestyle. You can see that we are not proposing an exact lifestyle in some way. But we have many interesting products that can help the clients—the end user—and let them create and make their own lifestyle. So you can really have different kinds of lifestyle with the product. We don’t have a special demographic, but I think one thing that we can say is that our clients, Zanotta’s fans, are young people. Not just young in age, but young at heart. If in your heart you find something interesting, something that is in line with your spirit, Zanotta is for you—and with Zanotta you can have the kind of lifestyle you are looking for. We don’t like to follow any style. We hate style, unless it’s yours… That’s the motto.”
Which of the pieces you’re exhibiting have been drawing the most attention?
“I think it’s really our very best seller set, the one over there; the William sofa and the Maggiolina armchair. William is our best seller sofa, it’s really, really comfortable. Three layers, different comfort. So more than (a regular) kind of sofa. And the Maggiolina is a very interesting design piece from 1947, made by Marco Donoso, a famous Italian architect. And that’s why it’s also wonderful. What’s interesting is, many times during the fair, after lunch time, visitors start to sit on the Maggiolina and they start to fall asleep. It’s really, really comfortable. Perfect. It’s perfect. It’s also my favorite.”
Could you share a fun fact about any of the products on display?
“I’d love to share something about Carlo Mollino, who is also a very interesting architect in the Italian architecture history. We have three products that are homage to Carlo Mollino. We have this Ardea armchair; we have that table, Reale table, with the glass top and the very perfect wood structure; and we also the Gilda armchair, another one with the wooden armrests.”
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“We never just talk about the products, the materials. We also care about the designer, the history, and the interesting stories behind them. If you know about Carlo Mollino, you will know that he was really an interesting person. He was not just doing design, doing architecture, but he could also do chic fashion. He could do racing cars, he designed some racing cars. He was also a professional pilot. He had a pilot license.
He also took pictures, perfect shapes of women. So he has really interesting hobbies. These characters, they are reflected on the products. So you can see very wonderful details. He was really, really good at making wood. So you can see some curves and details; the conceptual and physical elements.”
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Anything you want to share about Zanotta’s next projects in Southern China?
“Southern China, of course, is a is a very important market in China. And we are here already with some very credible partners, but we are looking for new partners who believes in Zanotta, and also some design companies. We know that there are many interesting design studios here. They are very talented, so we look forward to collaborating with them.”