Latest news with #Ponti
India Today
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
The hot seat
Ready to grab a slice of design history? The Dezza armchair isn't just any chair—it's a timeless legend in Poltrona Frau's storybook. Crafted by the iconic Gio Ponti back in 1965, Dezza marked a fresh chapter for the brand after they settled in Tolentino (they still call it home). Sixty years later, Poltrona Frau is celebrating Dezza's anniversary with a limited edition of just 60 exclusive pieces. Each one is draped in sustainable Pelle Frau ColorSphere impact less leather, in dreamy shades inspired by Ponti's famed Sorrento hotel interiors. But here's the kicker—the upholstery flaunts a playful, previously unseen Ponti illustration featuring 26 unique stylised hands like 'the gloved hand' and 'the fortune teller's hand'. It's a nod to the craftsmanship and 'intelligence of the hands'. These numbered beauties come with a metal tag and certificate of authenticity. Sit down, and you're literally resting on a masterpiece.
Fashion Value Chain
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Value Chain
Poltrona Frau Unveils ‘The Five Seasons' 2025 Collection
Italian luxury furniture brand Poltrona Frau unveiled its 2025 collection titled 'The Five Seasons', blending the essence of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter with a unique Fifth Season — a metaphorical space for personal expression, harmony, and sensory connection. Celebrating six decades of Gio Ponti's iconic Dezza armchair, the brand releases a limited edition of 60 pieces, each upholstered with exclusive digital prints derived from Ponti's original illustration. Key introductions include the Blisscape sofa by Ludovica Serafini & Roberto Palomba, offering adaptable comfort and the brand's first foray into bedroom systems with the DressCove Night System, a sophisticated modular wardrobe line. New collaborations mark the season: a Fidelio Multimedia Cabinet for Leica's Cine 1 laser TV, and a Fornasetti capsule reinterpreting the 1919 armchair and Isidoro trunk, adorned with whimsical illustrations. The Pelle Frau® Soulful leather collection expands sustainable luxury through its Impact Less tanning, complemented by a refreshed 2025 Textile Collection that introduces new fabric families and modern tones. In seating, updates include modular extensions to the Parka sofa, the GranTorino line, and new versions of the Archibald and Downtown Lounge armchairs. Dining evolves with additions like Mesa Ellipse, new belt-inspired chairs, and an elegant Duo Bed series co-designed with Ceccotti Collezioni. Lifestyle design is amplified through the Beautilities collection: lamps by digital artist Six N. Five, Sebastian Herkner's Nymph floor lamp, travel accessories by Carlotta Fortuna, and games crafted in leather and wood in collaboration with Giobagnara. CEO Nicola Coropulis affirms the brand's vision: 'The Fifth Season is about deeper human connection through nature, design, and innovation.' With a holistic approach, Poltrona Frau's 2025 collection stands as a masterclass in sustainable craftsmanship, comfort, and artistry.
CNN
30-06-2025
- CNN
This hilltop town is one of Europe's smallest — and most unusual — countries
From the endless beaches of Rimini to the culinary corridor of Bologna, Modena and Parma, visitors to northeastern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region have plenty to explore. They might also accidentally stumble into another country entirely. Tucked away in the hilly countryside just a few kilometers from the Adriatic coast is one of the world's smallest nations — the centuries-old republic of San Marino. There are no frontiers or checkpoints marking the border of this tiny state, just a sign along the highway welcoming arrivals to the 'Ancient Land of Freedom.' Those who make the journey may think themselves in just another picturesque Italian hilltop town, but despite its diminutive size and the fact that locals speak and eat Italian, it's an entirely separate country, with a long and determined history of independence. Founded in the fourth century, San Marino is actually the world's oldest republic. It covers an area of just 23.6 square miles (61.2 square kilometers). Although bigger than the European city-states of Monaco and the Vatican City, it is the continent's smallest democratic nation. It has its own heads of state — unusually, two at the same time — its own surprisingly successful national soccer team, its own flag, and a population of 34,000 'Sammarinesi' who proudly cling to their identity and traditions. It's a quirky place, full of contradictions, that attracts curious outsiders but relatively few Italians, most of whom have never seen it and don't know how it came to be. 'What's special about San Marino is its uniqueness,' Antonia Ponti, an official San Marino tourist guide, tells CNN. 'This republic has been independent and free for centuries, and although the local dialect and food are typical of Italy's Romagna (sub-region), never call locals 'Italians' because they'd feel insulted. 'They have their own flag, coat of arms, and passport; they have adopted the euro though they aren't part of the European Union.' Ponti admits that San Marino may be rivaled by other locations in surrounding Italy — 'it surely isn't the most beautiful place in the world…' — tourists are lured by the prospect of seeing what this tiny country within a country is all about. 'San Marino is just like any other walled hilltop Italian town you'd find in Tuscany, Latium, Marche or Umbria, but it has a special history-rich vibe and boasts unique views thanks to its geographical position,' says Ponti. But, in the same way visitors want to explore tiny European principalities like Liechtenstein or Monaco, San Marino seems to attract people enchanted with the idea of a microscopic republic. Once there, they're often delighted by its medieval architecture, Ponti adds. 'Many foreign tourists who visit Emilia-Romagna, mostly to indulge in its iconic recipes, often decide to hop over and visit San Marino. At the end of the tour, they never thought they'd discover such a charming place packed with ancient monuments, artisan boutiques and traditional performances,' she says. The country's main highlights and monuments are concentrated in the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site perched on the panoramic rocky Mount Titano, where views stretch to the Adriatic coast and on clear days across to Croatia. It's like walking in an open-air museum. The imposing medieval stone walls enclose the original settlement, a car-free maze of narrow cobblestone alleys. There are three massive towers linked by a path that runs along the ridge of the mountain. Once used as military lookouts to ward against enemy invasions, the towers are open to the public and feature dungeons, a museum of historical weapons and the so-called 'Witches' Path' walkway that offers great views. San Marino was, legend has it, founded in 301CE by a stonemason called Saint Marinus, an early Christian native of the island of Rab in Dalmatia, now in modern-day Croatia. He's said to have fled to Italy and climbed Mount Titano to escape from the Christian persecutions of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Bone relics purportedly of the saint are kept at the basilica, which also contains what is claimed to be the 'rock bed' where he slept, and which is believed to have healing powers. Marinus' masonry profession was continued by subsequent generations of Sammarinesi, according to Ponti. 'Stone cutting from the flanks of Mount Titano has been the main business here for centuries, and families were poor,' she says. 'Then after the Second World War, progress led to the flourishing of different artisan industries such as pottery, tiles, furniture and paper.' As they live on such a small patch of land the sense of community is strongly felt among the Sammarinesi, who stick together and are proud of their centuries-old identity as 'free people,' adds Ponti. Ancient protocols and rituals survive. San Marino's parliament, the Public Palace, is open to visitors and hosts a grandiose hourly changing of the guard ceremony daily during summer. It's a spectacle: the guards wear multicoloured medieval uniforms with red pants and striking pom-pom hats. The country has other ancient and unusual institutions. There are the two heads of state. Known as Captains Regent, these have been elected every six months since 1243. Held each year, on April 1 and October 1, elaborate appointment ceremonies are regulated by a strict protocol that has never changed over the centuries. Despite its size, San Marino's democratic principles reach right down to the grassroots. The country is divided into nine districts known as castelli, each headed by a captain also elected on a regular basis. Ponti explains that all these checks and balances, which may seem paradoxical in a tiny republic, were put into place to ensure that no single leader in the hierarchy could limit the power of the others. Visitors can get a sense of these different geographical jurisdictions by taking a panoramic cableway down from the old town to the castello of Borgo Maggiore, at the foot of Mount Titano. Another attraction, back in the old town, is the Stamp and Coin Museum which displays commemorative medals, historical stamps and the first Sammarinese coins, dating from to the 19th and 20th centuries. As well as its fairy-tale-like ancient center, San Marino is surrounded by nature and mountain trails. It's ideal for trekking, cycling, rock climbing and archery. And, as you'd expect from somewhere surrounded by some of Italy's best food destinations, the culinary traditions of San Marino closely resemble those of the neighboring Romagna and Marche regions. That means all kinds of homemade pasta and piadina stuffed flatbreads. It's also known for its liqueurs, like amaretto and pistacchione made with pistachios. Traditional desserts include Torta Tre Monti, or 'Three Hills Cake' — named after the city-state's three towers — made with layers of thin wafers sandwiching chocolate and hazelnut cream. For day-trippers who overindulge, luckily the trip back to Italy is all downhill.
Fashion Value Chain
26-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Poltrona Frau Marks 60 Years of Dezza with Rare Reissue
Poltrona Frau pays tribute to one of its most iconic creations with the release of a limited-edition reissue of the Dezza armchair, originally designed by the legendary Gio Ponti in 1965. The commemorative collection, limited to just 60 individually numbered and certified pieces, celebrates six decades of design excellence and marks a pivotal moment in the brand's legacy. The Dezza armchair was the first product to define Poltrona Frau's new identity post its move to Tolentino in 1962. Known for its geometric minimalism blended with subtle curves, the armchair remains a hallmark of timeless modernist design. This exclusive 60th anniversary edition is upholstered in Pelle Frau® ColorSphere Impact Less leather, reflecting the brand's sustainability ethos introduced in 2022. Available in sophisticated Panna and Iris shades, the palette recalls the serene coastal interiors of the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Sorrento—also designed by Ponti. The standout element of this re-edition is a unique pattern based on a previously unpublished illustration by Gio Ponti, featuring 26 stylized hands, each named and imbued with whimsical identity—from 'the gloved hand' to 'the fortune teller's hand'. This motif symbolizes the craftsmanship and 'intelligence of the hands' central to Poltrona Frau's values. Each of the 60 pieces includes a metal tag with its edition number and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, reinforcing its status as a collectible design object. Poltrona Frau CEO Nicola Coropulis said, 'This limited edition not only honors Gio Ponti's creative vision but also enriches its cultural value through material innovation and a deeper design narrative.' Available online in select European markets from February 13 to April 1, the Dezza limited edition will then be made available through selected Poltrona Frau stores worldwide. The reissue not only revives a design masterpiece—it also bridges past and future, celebrating a legacy of craftsmanship with a sustainable, contemporary spirit.
New York Times
01-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Piaget Revisits the Trapezoid
At the annual Watches and Wonders fair in Geneva this week, few brands are expected to introduce new designs. Luxury watchmakers recently have been consolidating collections around classics, reducing the number of models and focusing on best-selling ones. Some analysts have called it a 'flight to quality' as the industry battles declining sales. One brand plans to buck that trend, though. At the fair, Piaget is to introduce Sixtie, a small trapezoid bracelet watch inspired by one of its designs from the late 1960s. Piaget's chief executive, Benjamin Comar, said he believed the unconventional shape would attract new buyers. 'Some customers will discover Piaget through it and how distinctive we are in this market,' he said. Stéphanie Sivrière, Piaget's artistic director, described the 29-millimeter Sixtie as 'the little sister of the Andy Warhol watch,' referring to the larger cushion-shape Piaget that the Pop artist wore in the 1970s and that Piaget reintroduced, with the Warhol name, as a low-volume 45-millimeter piece late last year. She added that the two could be considered 'a couple offer of vintage Piaget watches: his and hers.' Sixtie, the brand hopes, will sustain the momentum that Piaget generated last year during its 150th anniversary. (Richemont, Piaget's owner, does not disclose the revenue of individual brands.) 'It was a very good year for us to connect with the customer about the identity, culture and history of Piaget, which was a bit forgotten,' Mr. Comar said. 'With products like the Polo 79, the high jewelry collection and the Andy Warhol collection, we showed what Piaget is about. That was what we wanted to do.' Mr. Comar said the battery-powered quartz Sixtie had a specific role to play. 'There is space in our range for a more daily watch,' he said. 'Sixtie is still very sophisticated, but it's a daily watch in the jewelry watch section.' The entry-level model, at $11,500, has a stainless steel case and bracelet and a bezel set with 51 brilliant-cut diamonds. While the name may be new, the Sixtie design is derived from one created by Jean-Claude Gueit, the celebrated designer who took control of Piaget's design department after his employer, the goldsmith Ponti, Gennari & Co., acquired the brand in 1967. He revitalized Piaget's design story, playing with asymmetry and precious stones to create the style it is still known for today. At Piaget, Sixtie's trapezoid shape was first seen in 1969 in both wristwatches and sautoirs, the long, decorative necklaces that sometimes featured multiple watch pendants. The new Sixtie collection is to include a gold sautoir set with a single watch pendant set with diamonds (expected to be about $300,000). Picking up on the recent trend of men wearing small watches, Mr. Comar said Sixtie was not explicitly aimed at women. 'We think it will be mostly women buying this watch,' he said. 'But our customers are free to wear what they want, so I don't say it's a women's watch: it's a small model watch.' Mr. Comar said he was confident of the model's success, even while the watch market was forecast to contract again this year. 'It's not a gamble,' he said. 'When you launch a line, it's not for one year, it's for a long time.'
