Alba bookcase

Arflex changed how furniture felt. Founded in 1947 by a group of Pirelli engineers working alongside a young architect named Marco Zanuso, the Italian brand pioneered the use of foam rubber in upholstery, winning a gold medal at the 1951 Milan Triennale for the now-iconic Lady armchair.

That spirit of innovation continues through designers including Cini Boeri, Claesson Koivisto Rune and Vincent Van Duysen, whose pieces bring the same quiet confidence into homes today.