Italian design company Giobagnara was founded by Giorgio Bagnara, translating the concept of "tailored dress" in the field of furnishings and interior accessories. At the end of the nineties, after realising that leather, widely used in the fashion industry, was not considered in relation to the production of objects and furnishing accessories, Giorgio was fascinated by the idea of bringing the concept of leather present in fashion to the world of interior design. Since then the company has worked with several established names in the field of interior decoration, furnished countless yachts all around the world and gained international recognition. We talk to Giorgio to gain more insights into the brand and their recent participation at Salone del Mobile in Milan.
Giorgio Bagnara.
What distinguishes Giobagnara's approach to designing leather home accessories from other brands in the industry?
'Giobagnara can be considered a unique brand thanks to its continuous search for new objectives and its fundamental role in the production of tailor-made pieces and exclusive projects, combining art, luxury and craftsmanship with the quality of the materials.
Already in 2015, we were defined as "The luxury leather goods encyclopedia". Having obtained international recognition as an exponent of the excellence of Italian craftsmanship, Giobagnara is continuously seeking uncompromising perfection. This translates into meticulous attention to detail, a potentially infinite offer in the customisation of pieces (from material to colour, from stitching to special finishes) and in the creation of truly tailor-made items that aim to satisfy every taste and need. The company's catalog boasts an extremely broad collection with a varied design, made with the highest quality materials and with the utmost attention to the functionality of each article: the goal is to give life to creations capable of giving added value to every environment, whether from an aesthetic and practical point of view, in a perfect combination of art, luxury and craftsmanship. This results in an inimitable style and a subtle balance between precious and everyday objects, traditional values and an openness towards the modern world.'
Giobagnara at Salone del Mobile.Milano.
Can you discuss the significance of the Genoa location for Giobagnara's design studios and workshops, and how it has influenced the brand's aesthetic and ethos?
'Genoa has a long history as a centre of economic and cultural exchange, due to its strategic position and its extremely varied geographical conformation. In the 17th century, the city quickly took on the role of a European financial centre and the nobles of the great families exerted a strong attraction on artists. This has meant that a rich heritage of works has been created and, in particular, architecture has taken on a prominent role with splendid buildings.
In this scenario, Giobagnara first established its design studio and its main production site in the Old Port of Genoa, and now moved, after two years of restoration, in a grand facility near Genoa's Marina, in a renowned historical building conceived in 1904 by the renowned Italian architect Gino Coppedè.
The new headquarters do not only serve as a workspace: on one side, they house the intricate machinery of the company's operations — offices, workshops, and logistics seamlessly integrated into a symphony of efficiency; on the other side, they unfold into a majestic showroom, a curated space where clients and enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the tangible elegance of Giobagnara's creations. The larger facility will therefore accommodate the company's growing operations, allowing to double its production capacity and significantly increase the customer service, all while providing a canvas for creative exploration and an enhanced client experience.'
Stéphane Parmentier x Giobagnara.
You recently participated at Salone del Mobile in Milan. What products were on show there?
'Every new exhibition we bring our latest release, which usually count a large number of creations, as well as, of course, our bestsellers. This time, we had several new launches:
- Giobagnara Main Collection, with the Structura mirrors, made of walnut or wenge wood and decorated either with leather inserts or juxtaposed sole leather stripes.
- Giobagnara — Glenn Sestig Collection: With the new Lloyd shelving units in wood, leather and colored travertine.
- Giobagnara x Poltrona Frau: with a complete new line for the office and one for dining, which add to the already consolidated Games and Fitness collections. We brought the complete collection, from stunning gym weight sets to the popular backgammon and chess game sets and exquisite desk accessories.
- Giobagnara — Stéphane Parmentier Collection: the enlarged iconic Oblivion collection with a special artistic bronze casting edition and inedited lighting creations in burnished bronze and woven rattan. This time, we wanted to give a special attention to this collaboration, so aside from having a few select pieces at Salone, we set up a temporary exhibition at Fuorisalone. The space aimed to highlight the latest iconic creations, as well as the whole collection, designed by the renowned French designer Stéphane Parmentier for Giobagnara and outlined a context that combined classic beauty, contemporary language and accents that look into the future. Images of ancient architecture rendered with a pixelated effect have been used as background for the pieces. The further the observer stood, the better the eye reconstructed the images in their entirety, while getting nearer would make the printed subjects gradually appear more abstract, allowing to focus on the showcased creations.
Stéphane Parmentier x Giobagnara.
What does the future hold for Giobagnara?
'In September we will take part in Maison&Objet in Paris, and the Monaco Yacht Show in Monte Carlo. Then we'll start the New Year with January edition of Maison&Objet in Paris and, in April 2025, Salone del Mobile will follow again! We are very consistent with our participation in trade fairs. New technologies paved the way for countless virtual opportunities, but real life experience still plays a primary role in our business: the audience gets to directly engage with our creations, see things with no filters or distortions, feel the quality and textures.
We also always work to anticipate what will be the new trends in a few years. Right now we are fully focused on the ongoing joined venture with Poltrona Frau. The aim of this collaboration is to define a new chapter in the field of luxury home accessories. The collection is bound to keep growing and we'll expand the offer to other ranges of interior decoration with stunning pieces. We'll also keep working with leading personalities in the sector such as Stéphane Parmentier (who, in 2017, was entrusted with the creative direction of the company for three years, paving the way for new experimentations and a new awareness), Glenn Sestig, Francesco Balzano and Simone Fanciullacci.
Finally, our continuous dialogue with a cosmopolitan clientele helps us create products that are well appreciated worldwide. In conclusion, we are used to dreaming big and, as the saying goes, the sky is the only limit!'
More information:
Giobagnara
Genova, Italy
Via Luciano Manara, 2
16153
(+39) 0102518989
[email protected]
www.giobagnara.com
