09/20/2024

Vergés

Furniture that engages in a dialogue between tradition and modernity

Vergés was founded in 1970 by Silvestre Vergés and Palmira Picart. In its early years, the company was mainly dedicated to manufacturing wooden chairs with bulrush seats, a material typical of the Alta Garrotxa, the region where the company is located. Subsequently, with the consolidation of the project, the original modest workshop was expanded, and the manufacturing was adapted to new machinery and resources. Today, it has a spacious, dynamic, and modern factory.

At the management level, Joan and Esteve, the sons of the founding couple, have been steering the company through a new phase with fresh challenges and projects, while staying true to its origins, craft, and the tradition that defines the company.

A turning point in the company's trajectory came in 2018, when a collaboration began with Emiliana Design Studio. Since then, they have been responsible for the artistic and creative direction of the brand: "Working with them hand in hand has greatly helped us evolve and establish our position on both the national and international spheres", company sources indicate.

Today, most of its collections are designed by leading figures in design, and the company has become a benchmark for architects and interior designers seeking high-quality contemporary furniture and chair collections for the hospitality industry and public spaces. In addition, for each interior design project, they offer specific solutions and customization of finishes for any model, using high-quality fabrics and a wide palette of materials and colors.

Engaged with the local community

The company likes to say that "Vergés is closely linked to the territory, and this connection to the land helps to understand the company’s philosophy, our values, and our way of being and working". Being located in the Garrotxa, in the province of Girona, halfway between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, in a unique rural area with a volcanic-origin orography that shapes the landscape and vegetation, including spectacular beech forests, defines the firm's DNA.

This noble material, which originates from the surrounding nature, forms the basis of their collections. "We are passionate about wood because it is a material that is familiar, alive, warm, and sustainable. Woodworking is what we do best." They tell us.

Although they preserve many traditional techniques in the manufacture of their seats, in recent years they have also evolved, presenting chairs that introduce significant technological and construction challenges. In addition, they are committed to recovering the manual stringing and taping techniques with which their parents started, in order to preserve traditional practices and convey the value of a job that requires time, patience, and dexterity. "We want our collections to reflect craft, tradition, and attention to detail. That's why we maintain a constant dialogue between tradition and modernity, where innovation goes hand in hand with quality in design, materials, and hand-finished details".

On the one hand, their collections aim to have a distinctive identity, while also being neutral enough to integrate smoothly into any environment. They also focus on ensuring the furniture is robust and timeless, "we want the pieces to age well, and when necessary, the chairs and armchairs can be repaired or reupholstered so that they provide service for a long time," they say.

The importance of collaborating with designers

For the company "Working with external designers has been a valuable aspect of the brand for many years, allowing for the exchange of knowledge and experience, as well as mutual growth in each collaboration. The development of each product is based on an ongoing dialogue with us, and our technical office approaches each project as both a technical and conceptual challenge. We have surrounded ourselves with designers who know how to interpret our company philosophy and provide us with functional, timeless, and honest designs." 2

Vergés began its relationship with external designers in the 1990s, actively collaborating with Italian designer Werther Toffolini and Nancy Robins, (the renowned American designer based in Spain). Soon after, the designs of Yago Sarri were introduced, and from 2015 onward, they began working with Lázaro Rosa-Violán, Sandra Tarruella and Ricard Trench, and Andreu Carulla. When Emiliana Design Studio joined Vergés as creative directors, they also contributed new designs to the catalog and gradually proposed other renowned designers, including Estudi Manel Molina, Ramos & Bassols and the Finnish studio Tolvanen Studio.

Among the notable collections created by these designers is BOGART, designed by Estudi Manel Molina, a piece that was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vergés and is inspired by the first boga chairs they manufactured in their early days. And at the latest edition of the Salone del Mobile in Milan, they presented the new line of inclusive furniture VERGÉS CARE, designed by Emiliana Design Studio, and the RENTO family of armchairs, created by Julie and Mika Tolvanen, which offers a fresh take on the classic waiting and lounge chair. The VERGES CARE collection pays special attention to accessibility, ergonomics, comfort, robustness, and safety, and is designed specifically for people with reduced mobility. "We understand that everyone is unique, with different skills and abilities. We embrace diversity, which is why we offer furniture with an inclusive vision, so that people of all ages and physical conditions can feel comfortable" company sources say.

Marketing

The company works with a network of agents and distributors covering most of Europe, the United States, Latin America, and Australia. Its market primarily focuses on the contract sector, and these types of projects are typically overseen by interior designers or architects.

Although the online market is not their primary segment, they are present on digital platforms such as Archiproducts, which provides them with new business contacts.

Internationalization

Vergés exports around 55% of its revenue. Its main markets outside Spain include France and Portugal. The United Kingdom is also a key market where they are actively developing, and gradually they are focusing more efforts on the United States, where they expect to see growth in the coming years. At the European level, other important markets for the company include the Scandinavian countries, where they are starting to develop new projects.

In terms of projects, they are collaborating with prestigious national and international interior designers such as Sandra Tarruella, Jordi Vayreda, Jordi Ginabreda Studio, Astet Studio, Lagranja design, Lázaro Rosa Violán, Trenchs Studio, Verno Design, Luchetti Krelle, among others.

In Spain, several restaurants renowned for their haute cuisine (some of which have been awarded Michelin stars) have furnished their spaces with Vergés chairs and tables. Notable examples include Casa Cacao by the Roca brothers, Restaurant Ca l'Enric, Restaurant Les Magnòlies, Restaurant l'Aliança d'Anglès, Lobito de mar or Tragabuches. They are also present in the Hotel Mim in Baqueira Beret, Casa Seat, the conference areas of the Hotel Pulitzer in Barcelona, and the Bocoy restaurant in Bilbao.

Internationally, they have long been involved in the hotel and catering sector in France. They have also furnished the restaurants of the Telefèric Barcelona group in Los Gatos (California) and Los Angeles. Additionally, they are present in José Andrés' 'Little Spain' market in New York, Jordi Roca's ice cream parlor Rocambolesc in Houston (USA), and in the recently opened Hurricane's Grill & Bar in Sydney (Australia).

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