Experimentation lies at the heart of all Paola Lenti’s collections, explained Anna Lenti, the CEO of the Italian furniture company. Through the investigation of sustainable materials, the invention of fibres, the weaving of unconventional materials, the exploration of colours and collaborations with artisans, the company pushes the boundaries of furniture design.
During a recent visit to Melbourne and Sydney, Anna Lenti spoke with Adair Winder about the evolution of Paola Lenti and its latest Australian collection, now available at Dedece. Paola Lenti’s affinity for vivid colors and hand woven materials once again emerges in the latest collection through the introduction of new designs, colour variations, patterns, weaving techniques and materials. The range comprises indoor and outdoor furniture and objects.
Pod slouch chairs and Vespucci 1 lounge by Paola Lenti.
Image: Sergio Chimenti
ArchitectureAU: Firstly, how long has Paola Lenti been collaborating with Dedece?
Anna Lenti: Paola Lenti is now in its 30th year and we have been collaborating with Dedece for more than 15 years. We are both family-run businesses; I run Paola Lenti with my sister and Dedece is led by brothers. This commonality immediately created a connection between us. Beyond that, we are both similarly aligned and share a common focus for delivering high quality products.
AAU: What can you tell me about the launch of this latest collection in Australia? It has been available in Europe for some time but this is the first time we’re seeing it in Australia.
AL: Our collections always start with material. For this latest collection, [released in Italy in 2023] we really worked on developing new fabrics for our outdoor furniture collections.
We started our first outdoor collection 25 years ago. Since then, we have been producing quality fabrics for outdoor settings, however, these fabrics were not as soft as the fabrics applied to indoor settings because outdoor furniture needs to be more resistant to weather conditions. Now, what we have finally able to achieve was to create a new outdoor fabric that is very thin, it’s very practical and it’s very, very soft. This latest collection features outdoor furniture in a broad variety of colours that is of the exact same quality as indoor furniture.
We are also very proud to have started a new collection made from semi-petrified wood. It’s very ecological and we were actually able to weave the wood.
We always evolve with every collection and last year [2023] we introduced a lot of new patterns and colour variations, as well as new uses for leftover materials. For example, we have released a table crafted from leftover tiles from a different table that we have reused.
Sciari Mottainai 3 table by Paola Lenti.
Image: Sergio Chimenti
AAU: Sustainability seems to be very important to Paola Lenti.
AL: Sustainability is no longer a choice. For us, it has been very important since the beginning of Paola Lenti. Everything is made from materials that are recycled or can be recycled, even the padding inside of our cushions. Another example: some of our pieces are made from recycled plastic bottles found in the ocean.
Sustainability is also in the everyday operation of the company. We have banned all plastic … such as polystyrene for packaging in the factory. Our goals for sustainability are not just in the products we sell, but in everything we do.
Tobit Mottainai 2 by Paola Lenti. Image:
Sergio Chimenti
AAU: Paola Lenti collections are often characterised by vibrant, colourful pieces that evoke memories of a European summer. Do these pieces translate well in Australian projects?
AL: Definitely, because we have nearly 100 different shades of colour. We start from a base colour library of about 70 solid colours and then from there we experiment and blend to create different shades. The colours all undergo testing to ensure they are suitable for outdoor environments, particularly in Australia where climate conditions are quite tough.
We are known for bright shades but we also have a lot of neutral colour variations as well.
AAU: What do you think is most appealing about the Paola Lenti brand?
We do not create a single product, we create a lifestyle. And of course, there is our colour range, which is broad, ensuring that we have the appropriate colour for every environment.
Paola Lenti is in the process of developing a new range, which is anticipated to be introduced at Dedece toward the end of 2024. Visit the website to find out more about the collections.
