THE PEAK OF TAILORED STYLE
With a unique skill in blending the tradition of craftsmanship and innovation, Cantori has become a hallmark brand, designing furniture for environments where flexibility and high quality are essential
by Marta Bernasconi - ph. courtesy by Cantori
Italian company Cantori is renowned for its furniture proposals and deeply appreciated for its unique ability to create quality products that upholds a firm tradition of expert craftsmanship and a keen propensity for tailored production. The brand’s driving soul is illustrated by Federica Cantori, the brand’s marketing manager who, alongside her brother Marco as general manager, has led the company to become a global presence. “Next year, Cantori will celebrate its 50th anniversary, after half a century of never straying from its family structure. From the very start, the aim has been to create beautiful objects, and this aspiration still guides us today. We are lucky, because we live in a region where there are master craftsmen who can share and keep our vision alive.”
Each piece is made using Italian-sourced raw materials and by local craftsmen, and it is precisely this artisanal soul that makes this company competitive in the sphere of bespoke production. Over the years, Cantori has structured itself specifically to respond to this type of demand, which, as Federica Cantori points out, is quite challenging. “Our
In this photo, an outdoor setting by Cantori: the Thomas round table (design by Luca Roccadadria), the Miss steel chairs (design by Daniel Rode), the Cloud sofa (design by Maurizio Manzoni). Opposite page: the Oasi Cabinet (design by Maurizio Manzoni) powered by Aura System
flagship innovation is total production flexibility, which allows the company to manufacture each product from the moment the order is placed without having to make stock, meaning each item can be tailored to taste, with coverings, finishes, materials, or sizes as needed by the interior designer”.
In recent years, Cantori has developed outdoor collections and consolidated its involvement in the yachting sector. “We have worked in the sector for over 20 years, with ten-year collaborations alongside some of the most important Italian yards. This has allowed us to develop specific skills that allow us to produce all the items in our catalogue with the typical characteristics and requirements for the yachting sector.” In fact, the ‘Dalla Terra al Mare’ contest (‘From land to sea’ - see box) was founded to challenge some of the most interesting studios in the Milan area to design the main deck of a yacht according to the sector’s own strict requirements, customising Cantori products.
Custom designs occupy a large part of the company’s production. “We work with industry-leading yards so a high level of quality is demanded of us with a healthy dose of problem-solving skills and flexibility”. This may be a challenging production method but, for Federica Cantori, it is also a source of great satisfaction: “I am proud of our capacity to produce beautiful items for beautiful places.”
Above, left, a portrait of Federica Cantori, marketing manager of the Marche-based company; right, an onboard setting with sofa and armchairs from the Twist collection (design by Castello Lagravinese Studio).
Below, the Willow table (design by Luca Roccadadria Opposite page, the Samira outdoor seating designed by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas to appear moulded by the desert wind. The structure is in AISI 304 stainless steel, guaranteeing durability even in humid or particularly saline environments
CANTORI DESIGN CHALLENGE: FROM LAND TO SEA
Last May 2025, Cantori’s Milan showroom hosted the launch of the “Cantori Design Challenge: dalla terra al mare” (“from land to sea”), an innovative project linking home design to the maritime world, stimulating in-depth reflections on the crossovers that can exist between interior design and mobile architecture. In collaboration with Cantiere delle Marche, a well-known builder of luxury Explorer Yachts, Cantori has selected ten Italian architecture and interior design studios, all taking their first steps into the yachting sector, to reinterpret the interiors of three symbolic areas of a Cantiere delle Marche yacht: the Owner’s Cabin, the Main Saloon and the Terrace. The studios involved are: Barreca & La Varra, Fabric, Flaviano Capriotti Architetti, Lombardini22, Nick Maltese, Monica Gasperini + Ambra Piccin, Progetto CMR, Spagnulo & Partners, Studio Marco Piva, and WIP Architetti. The teams have until mid-July 2025 to deliver an interior concept inspired by one of four iconic couples proposed as hypothetical owners. A technical jury will choose three winning projects, the creators of which will be awarded at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, taking place from 24th to 27th September 2025.