Special Feature
Creating SophiStiCation, inSpired by tradition The century old, high-end Italian furniture brand Poltrona Frau offers living solutions that meet the emotional and aspirational needs of a refined and elegant international clientele. Team TIHG spoke to Amit Pai, Country Head for Poltrona Frau India to know how the brand plans to stamp its authority in India
Tell us more about Poltrona Frau and its history in Italy? In 1912, Renzo Frau founded Poltrona Frau in Turin, Italy. From 1926 onward the brand was appointed as the supplier of furniture to the Italian royal family, the Savoia dynasty. Since then, Poltrona Frau has furnished the homes of numerous prominent people, grand hotels, the interiors of the Expo Turin 1928, and the lavish transatlantic Rex(ocean liner)-pride of the Italian Navy, among others. The brand consists of three divisions residential, interiors in motion and contract. While the residential division has been a part of Poltrona Frau since the beginning, the interiors in motion division was founded in 1984. Poltrona Frau creates interiors for trains, yachts, helicopters and airplanes and has collaborated with award winning airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Alitalia and Etihad Airways. Furthermore, the most prestigious projects of the contract division include
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the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Jockey Club Innovation Tower in Hong Kong and the Macro Museum in Rome; and most recently the Jio World Centre (Dhirubhai Ambani International Convention & Exhibition Centre) in Mumbai. How has Poltrona Frau’s journey in India been so far? What sets you apart? India has been a long and fruitful journey for Poltrona Frau. Our foray in India dates back to 2009 and it was in the form of an equity joint venture with the TATA Group. We set up our first showroom in 2010 in Mumbai and subsequently in 2013 in New Delhi through the joint venture route. The significance of our brand and the credibility of the TATA Group
