Founded in 1994, Paola Lenti's eponymous company specializes in outdoor furniture and rugs with a focus on the innovative exploration of both natural and synthetic materials. Sourcing both traditionally produced fabrics of the highest quality as well as adapting contemporary, technologically-advanced textiles, her products are unlike any others on the market. The pieces comprising Lenti's lines have become new classics that can be seamlessly integrated within the domestic landscape, bringing sophisticated elegance to exterior as well as interior environments. Extremely resistant to the elements and maintaining their integrity from season to season, each collection features both materials and colors developed by Lenti, and which are exclusive to her company.
Paola Lenti was born in Alessandria, Italy, where she focused on classical studies before moving to Milan. Graduating from the Politecnico di Milano, she initially worked as a graphic designer and art director for event and fashion companies. In the 1990s, Lenti decided to produce her own objects, experimenting with both pieces in Limoges and biscuit porcelain as well as Murano glass vases. Creating her first collection of rugs in 1995, Lenti turned to felt, which would become one of her signature materials and inspire her first foray into furniture design. Soon beginning her fruitful collaboration with designer Francesco Rota, their Linea lounge chair garnered the 2003 Compasso d'Oro Award's Mention of Honor. During the same year, after three years of research and development, Lenti launched Rope, a high-performance yarn that became the basis for her outdoor collection Aqua. Ground-breaking in the arena of outdoor furniture and comprising both furniture and rugs, her Island series went on to receive the 2004 Compasso d'Oro Award's Mention of Honor. In 2005, Rope earned Wallpaper* magazine's award for best fabric and for 2006/2007, the rug Crochet was named "best flooring" by Elle Décor. Recent material investigations include Aquatech, a durable, synthetic yarn similar in appearance to straw and the innovative Cabanne, a modular structure comprised of wood, steel and Lenti's textiles that can be configured in a number of ways to define exterior space.
Luminaire is thrilled to welcome Paola Lenti in 2015 for it's upcoming DESIGNLIVES series at Luminaire Lab in the Miami Design District. The evening will include an enlightening DESIGNLIVES session and "Weaving Spaces" book signing celebrating Paola Lenti's 20th year anniversary. During the DESIGNLIVES session, Anna Lenti will share the company’s philosophy, emphasis on technology and collaborations.
January 2015
