Interview: G. Gervasoni
Photo: Giovanni and Michele Gervasoni
Gervasoni is a family firm from Udine, Italy, that was founded in 1882 and initially had its core expertise in the manufacture of high-quality rattan furniture before expanding its production activities to a wider range of furniture. The firm steadily increased its sales by manufacturing furniture on an OEM basis. The arrival of Paola Navone as designer and, shortly afterwards, Art Director, marked what was probably the most important step in the company’s evolution towards an independent design brand. Gervasoni entered the international arena with premium design items. Today the label with the elegant, casual charm of the Italian way of life is a regular at all the major design fairs. Giovanni Gervasoni, who studied in Germany and runs the business together with his brother Michele, realised the German market’s importance for ...
With Paola Navone, you opted for somebody whose designs have an extremely sensual character. How do you decide which designer is a good fit with your brand?
The fortunate decision to collaborate with Paola Navone enabled us to work with a very far-sighted and extremely capable person. Pressing forward in the design world with her means being confronted with a very strong artistic character whose taste, culture and competence we hold in very high esteem. Since 1998 she has also been Art Director at Gervasoni. The marriage between her genius and our know-how and experience has led to an abundance of collections and products with a style and character that meet with international acclaim.
You’re a regular at the imm cologne. How important is this participation for you and what’s special about the German furniture market?
Germany is one of our most important export markets because the German public is particularly design-oriented and looks out for the “made in Italy” label. Design and quality are very important to German customers and we always strive to achieve the highest-possible level of quality. For us the Cologne fair is particularly important as a way of presenting our new products to the German market.
Author: Frank A. Reinhardt
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Giovanni Gervasoni in an interview about:
- His recipe for success on the German market
- The combination of nature and design
- Italian designer Paola Navone
- New products at the imm cologne 2010
Further Information:
- Title: “The German public is particularly design-oriented.”
- Company profile Gervasoni1882