Brand Spotlight: Ligne Roset

What strategies, programs have you implemented to keep Ligne Roset relevant? What tenets/attributes of the brand remain evergreen in this regard?

 A.R.: Our brand values such as creativity, nonconformist design, and timeless elegance are seen in each newly released collection, developed with top design minds from around the world. Our work with these talents is full of collaborative experimentation, building upon our rich savoir-faire to create something distinct and remarkable. At the same time, we also honor our heritage as the cornerstone of the Ligne Roset brand. This summer, we opened Studio 1860, a rehabilitation of the historic Montagnieu industrial site acquired by my great-great grandfather and company founder in 1892. It now hosts a museum, education space, showroom, workshop, garden, and more. We welcome our customers and the public here to experience Ligne Roset in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region where we’ve been for over 160 years.

S.V.Z.: One exceptionally successful program is Ligne Roset’s development is our school and apprentice program that allows us to pass on our know-how—seamstress and upholstery craft—to the next generation. This ensures the expertise is preserved and that new master tailors emerge. This celebration of savoir-faire is a core tenet of the brand. Notable designers will seek us out because they know that we still adhere to the high-standards of artistry and skill.

Talk about how the Togo was a game changer in the sofa typology; reflecting the social and cultural changes of the time. How does the design remain influential when it comes to the development of unconventional furniture?

A.R.: Most people don’t realize that it actually took three years for the Togo to gain popularity. An iconic piece of design history, it was designed in 1973 by Michel Ducaroy, head of our design department at the time. Born from an intense spirit of innovation, it redefined seating, proving that there were endless possibilities when it comes to shape and working with high-quality foam; carving this material as if it were a block of marble. It’s the perfect symbiosis between comfort, function, and durability. For the rest, there’s a bit of magic that we can’t divulge and it is better like this. 

S.V.Z.: A design like Togo goes beyond a time and place. It was revolutionary at its launch since it resembled the changes in social behaviors of the 1970s. It questioned the status quo during a time when furniture was more formal and conservative. Its longevity can be attributed to its non-conformist design, its playfulness, certainly its comfort and durability, and the flexibility it allows with its modularity. Togo has been a best-seller for over 50 years and will become even more valuable in the future. The craftsmanship in the design, quality, and unique process by which it’s made become even more important and rare in times of fast fashion and fast design, where products are made without any thought to their lifespan or ecological impact. Togo remains steadfast and timeless in this regard; the result of manufacturing processes refined and ever-innovated over the generations.

How has the U.S. market responded to Ligne Roset as not just a furniture company but also a lifestyle brand?

A.R.: We often say that we’re more than our products, and the U.S. market has really responded positively to that notion. We have stores around the country, most of which are independently owned as special environments for their customers to experience the Ligne Roset lifestyle. We invite our clients to unleash their creativity with our bespoke capabilities – especially for contract furniture, with which we’ve outfitted everything from five-star hotels, to corporate campuses, cruise ships, and more.

S.V.Z.: I credit our in-house interior design and sales teams with helping the U.S. market fall in love with the bold and beautiful lifestyle we offer. Incorporating rugs, seating, accessories, lighting, storage, bedroom furnishings, and more all in one place can feel like a lot but helps our customers get a sense of context and what’s possible. It helps to have a trusted guide for projects of any scale, someone who cares as much about the lifestyle setting the pieces will go into as the lifestyle they create.

What’s next in terms of these various endeavors? 

A.R.: This year is another big one for Ligne Roset. We just announced and will roll out the first blockchain certificate for furniture, a digital passport to render every Togo sofa (for starters) verifiable for originality and ownership, made with post-purchase traceability and data firm Trust-Place. We will also launch the first products made with MycoWorks’ eco-friendly leather alternative Reishi; extend our new Made of Icons campaign into print media; open key stores around the world; and continue to surprise our customers with meaningful experiences we have yet to dream up.  

S.V.Z.: This year is going to be all about serving our customers in the best ways possible. We opened a new store on East 57th Street in New York City in November and are undergoing renovations at our Park Avenue locale, which will reopen later this year, giving us two flagship locations in one of our largest U.S. markets. We will be debuting new innovative seating collections by Erwan Bouroullec and Sebastian Herkner this spring. We’re also increasing our discount for interior designers who are part of Ligne Roset’s trade program. For those coming to ICFF in May, we’ll have an exciting installation of our “l’appartement” concept that we can’t wait to unveil. 

If you are curious to discover more about Ligne Roset, check out their website, HERE
Follow Ligne Roset on Instagram, and if you wish to meet the team, make sure to connect with them at ICFF, May 18-20, 2025