You may or may not have seen some of Zanotta’s design pieces before, but let me tell you, they’re pretty hard to miss. Bolstered with a pioneering approach and inspired by radical ideas, the long-standing Italian brand is a big name in the design world when it comes to innovative products.
Born from the wild and free intuition of Aurelio Zanotta back in 1954, the brand has built its daring identity alongside a vision focused on the future, contemporary culture, and a little touch of irony. Even though its roots started in tailored upholstery, the brand quickly evolved, investing more time and energy into objects and furnishing accessories from the early ‘60s, now with its most famed pieces housed in cultural landmarks like the MoMA and Centre Pompidou.
From its iconic Sacco beanbag and Maggiolina chaise longue to its Tweed tables and Pianoalto sofas, Zanotta has turned the idea of traditional furniture on its head, essentially breaking the limits of possibility within design. There’s also Zanotta Edizioni, a limited selection of collectible pieces that bring together design and applied art.
So the brand’s goal is pretty simple: it wants to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary - every day.
If you needed another reason to give in to the Zanotta zeitgeist, then get this. Every single Zanotta product is entirely made in Italy, mainly in the Nova Milanese factory, another place of inspiration and discovery for the brand. Inside Zanotta HQ, mini exhibition spaces fill the floors, paying tribute to its rich history and offering visitors a special experience into the Zanotta world.
Since its inception, the brand has collaborated with some of the greatest designers in the world, like Gae Aulenti, Philippe Nigro and Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. The latter duo were actually the masterminds behind our limited edition Zanotta x Highsnobiety Mezzadro stool that we unveiled during Milan Design Week in the new Zanotta flagship store.
This year marks Zanotta’s 70th anniversary, so naturally, we had to celebrate it during Not In Milan. Inaugurating its new showroom on Via Durini, a prestigious spot in the heart of Milan’s design district, we hosted an opening night where the Mezzadro was on full display in all its red and black glory. Guests were able to explore not only the Mezzadro but multiple other Zanotta products, too, from dining tables and desks to vases, lamps, and mirrors. Natural wines were flowing thanks to servers from the popular Bar Paradiso, focaccia stacked with salami and cheese flew around the 500 square meter multi-level establishment, and, of course, music came from none other than our very own Highsnobiety Soundsystem.
That’s a wrap on Milan Design Week from us, but don’t forget to find out more about Zanotta and its eye-catching designs here. Ciao!
