Milano Collection by Naustro Italia: Now Available at FCI London

Few brands combine aesthetics and functionality with as much grace as the Milano Collection by Naustro Italia.

The Naostro Italia Story

The company was founded in 1965 by Liborio Vincenzo Calia. From a young age, Calia had taken a keen interest in artisanal furniture and attended a workshop where he learned the process of furniture manufacturing from scratch, the difference between wood types and materials, the various techniques, tools and skills that made all the difference in a product’s aesthetic.
His first-hand observation in the ways of manufacturing and passion for high-quality furniture meant that he was ready to enter the world of furniture at the young age of 18 in 1944 when he started his own business. He has said, “People need to feel comfortable and relax, they love to close their eyes and dream. Our work involves mind and hands. Machines help us, but the most important role is played by man.” By 1965 he initiated a research project that led to the production of luxuriously plush upholstered furniture which has become the trademark for Milano Collection by Naustro Italia.

Since then, the Calia family has continued to stay just as passionate as Liborio in their pursuit of creating the highest quality furniture that offers optimum comfort, “Keeping in line with our fundamental values, we look at the future with dynamism and a spirit of innovation, strengthened by the same ambition handed down by our founder, Liborio Vincenzo.”
In later years, Saverio Calia and Guiseppe Calia combined their knowledge of design and market respectively to take the company to even greater heights to reach international recognition as makers of high-quality upholstered furniture. They invested a lot of time and effort into researching the different and newer technologies that would enhance their manufacturing process and make them capable of supplying their unique furniture all over the world.

The company has covered a lot of important milestones throughout its 50-year history. In 1986 they attended the Milan Furniture Exhibition which assisted them to enter global markets, and they became the quintessential furniture manufacturers for France’s elite. In 1990 they ventured into Calia Cultura – a program aimed at supporting the art and science behind furniture with a strong sense of social responsibility. The next year, they set up Centro Studi Italia with the aim of research and development of modern technologies through experimentation and prototyping.
Over the ensuing years, they obtained several certifications and awards including the Premio AIRC Aziende Attive in 2000, the Premio Guggenheim Impresa e Cultura Regione Veneto in 2001 and again in 2003, the Sodalitas Social Award in 2004, the Trophée de l’Innovation in 2014 and the Premio Azienda Longeva in 2015. In 2016 they received the Premio Eccellenze del Design nel Lazio and the Confindustria Basilicata with the Bollino di Qualità (BAQ) and Premio 100 Eccellenze Italiane in 2018. These numerous awards were awarded to the company for a number of reasons; their revolutionary product designs, their social and environmental efforts, their innovative measures and their contribution to the Italian furniture market for over five decades.
Their automated warehouse in Matera was set up in 2005 as one of the largest of its kind across Europe. It has the capacity of 10,000 slots and supplies furniture to over 80 countries. Today, their brand has more than 1,500 employees who contribute to the production of about 1,000 seats in a single day. Every year they produce new, eye-catching models in a vast range of over 40 upholstery options available in over 400 colours. These impressive numbers are a testimony to the years of development that stand behind the brand.

One of the distinct features of the company is their production process. The brand combines human expertise with technological efficiencies to create seats that are produced with minimal wastage of time and material. Yet, they still have the artisanal touch of expert craftsmen. The minimum wastage also extends to energy and water consumption which makes their products stand out for the eco-friendliness among other manufacturers.
Coming towards the production process, first, their expert designers at Centro Studi Calia carefully examine the latest trends and even perceive newer ones to design one-of-a-kind products. The frame, webbing and padding are then completed, which gives it shape and structure. Then, the furniture needs to be covered – fabric cuttings are done entirely by machine whereas delicate leather has to be handled and cut by human hands only. The covers are then carefully sewn following the technical sheets. Finally, the structure is upholstered using the expert craftsmanship of experienced and skilled workers equipped with the latest tools. All products pass through rigorous quality control to ensure that each customer gets the guaranteed quality the brand is known for.

Milano Collection by Naustro Italia has a wide range of products, specifically related to seating and comfortable living. These are divided into three different collections: The Premium Collection has some of the brand’s most sought-after and replicated designs. These models are chic and elegant enough to modernise homes, offices and cafes alike. The Superior Collection has more avant-garde models allowing the designers to fully explore their creative talents. The collection has products taking inspiration from a wide range of stimuli that often have an intriguing story behind them which is reflected in their conceptual designs. The Modular Collection is all about revolutionising the functionality of furniture. The modular and extremely adaptable products allow clients to play with the products around their interior spaces in any way that they choose.

These collections include a variety of items including sofas, footstools, poufs, chairs, armchairs and sofa beds. They cater to a number of tastes and have models that are sophisticated and luxurious to ones that are inventive and bold such as poufs inspired by macaroons or shaped like a ‘pile of scraps’. A number of their designs have gained recognition across the globe such as ‘Magic’ and ‘Transatlantic’ which cemented the brand’s reputation in its early years. Their gracefully curved ‘The Hotel’ armchair was reproduced a lot for its exceptional design. Their ‘Lazy’ modular sofa won the German Design Award for its functional and yet stunning design. These exceptional designs are the result of having an exceptional team of designers including Daniele Della Porta, Luciana, Apulia and more.