The Legacy
and Future
Of Women In
Furniture Design
Celebrating visionary designers represented at Elte
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the legacy and future of women in furniture design – visionaries like Charlotte Perriand and Cini Boeri, who shaped the industry, and Patricia Urquiola, Paola Navone and Federica Biasi, who are redefining it today.
These designers, represented at Elte, have challenged conventions for decades, shaping how we live and pushing design forward through innovation, craftsmanship, and a distinct point of view.
Charlotte Perriand working in Japan, 1940s.
Designed by Perriand in 1972, the Ventaglio table is formed by 14 expertly joined planks – its unconventional, multifunctional shape reflecting her visionary approach to design and living.
Interior of Le Corbusier’s Unité d’habitation (1929), designed by Perriand.
Designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1927 and later credited to Le Corbusier, Jeanneret, and Perriand, the 7 Fauteuil Tournant introduced a modern, ergonomic vision of comfort with its curved steel frame and precise proportions.
Ombra Tokyo, designed by Perriand in 1953. Influenced by her time in Japan, where she was deeply inspired by the country’s craftsmanship and minimalism, Perriand created the chair from a single piece of cut, bent, and curved oak plywood. Its sinuous lines evoke the delicate art of origami, blending Japanese tradition with modern design.
Tabouret Berger, designed by Perriand in 1947. Inspired by the milking stool used by shepherds in a French mountain town, Perriand’s deep connection to architecture and mountain life led her to reclaim simple materials and basic shapes to create this functional, timeless piece.
Serpentone Sofa, designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex in 1971, was a radical rethinking of modular seating – sold by the metre, it could be cut to fit any space.
Bobo, designed by Boeri for Arflex in 1967. Pioneering the use of foam as a primary material, the design features a sculptural, modular form with smooth, organic curves, exemplifying Boeri’s innovative approach to ergonomics.
Botolo, designed by Boeri for Arflex in 1969.
Strips System, designed by Boeri for Arflex in 1968. A modular seating system featuring flexible, upholstered strips, the design allows for endless configurations.
Crafted from a single piece of molded foam, the sculptural Boborelax lounge chair was designed by Boeri for Arflex in 1973.
Tufty-Time, designed by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia in 2005, is among the brand’s most notable pieces.
Babar, designed by Patricia Urquiola for Glas Italia in 2024, is a collection of round and oval tables crafted from a unique conglomerate of 100% recycled glass grit and shards.
Sengu Collection, designed by Patricia Urquiola for Cassina in 2020, draws inspiration from the ritual reconstruction of Japanese shrines. Uniting generous proportions with a rich material palette, the collection’s sofas, tables, and low tables embody a warm, contemporary elegance.
Dudet, designed by Patricia Urquiola for Cassina in 2021, reinterprets 1970s design with a playful, curvaceous form.
Lud’o, designed by Patricia Urquiola for Cappellini in 2020, is a playful lounge chair with removable, interchangeable covers. Its innovative design invites customization, blending comfort and personal expression.
Yelek Armchair, designed by Biasi for Gervasoni in 2022. Inspired by the tailored elegance of haute couture, the chair features a shell-shaped backrest with a subtle coulisse detail, allowing the padded shell to softly reveal the wooden core.
Samet Sofa, designed by Biasi for Gervasoni in 2022. A study in modularity and materiality, this versatile design blends craftsmanship with industrial precision. Inspired by Thai design traditions, its low, multifunctional form embodies both comfort and adaptability.
Brise Armchair, designed by Biasi for Gervasoni in 2022, literally translates to “breeze.” Inspired by Art Nouveau, its fluid, ornamental lines are inspired by nature to harmonize with it.
Brise Table, designed by Biasi for Gervasoni in 2022.
Nuvola, designed by Paola Navone for Gervasoni in 2018.
Ghost, designed by Navone for Gervasoni in 2004, is defined by comfort and versatility. Its loose, draped upholstery creates an inviting silhouette, with the white version evoking the ethereal presence of a ghost.
Ghost Sofa designed by Navone for Gervasoni in 2004.
Loll, designed by Paola Navone for Gervasoni in 2020, embodies contemporary comfort. The collection’s signature overlock stitching traces its soft, essential geometries, while the use of channelled goose down and pocket springs in the cushions ensures a nest-like embrace.