Harnessing nearly a century of expertise in leather making, Frag looks forward to its next chapter by exploring innovative new ways of using the material on armchairs, tables and even bookcases
Like many furniture manufacturers in Italy, Frag is a storied house, opening its doors in 1921 as an artisan workshop specialising in leather shoes. The humble shop gradually widened its scope, producing other leather products including belts and wallets, before venturing into furniture making.
Helmed by Italian CEO Franco di Fonzo, Frag celebrates its rich heritage by specialising in leather furniture. Every collection contains an element of the material—be it tables made with leather marquetry or plush sofas upholstered in the finest hides.
His family continues to be heavily involved in the management of the company; his daughter Federica is the firm’s marketing director, while his son Michele works as the firm’s designer and product and research development director.
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“The brand started 40 years ago and no one knew it (then),” he shares. “It was not easy because it’s a niche product; we grew because people understood the quality of the production as well as the design.”
The CEO was recently in Singapore as part of the AR_T workshop, a creative initiative that invited eight local designers and architects to reinvent the Ele chair that was first designed by Michele.
Featuring a feminine silhouette, the chair backrest narrows in the middle, appearing like a slim waistline. Here, he chats about the origins of the company and his hopes for the future of the firm.
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