In the early twentieth century, the Galimberti family operated a modest artisan workshop in Brianza, crafting sofas and armchairs with traditional Italian skill. But it was 1959 when brothers Romeo, Pietro, and Agostino Galimberti formalised their ambitions, establishing "Flexform di Galimberti" in Meda—the furniture heartland north of Milan, where craftsmanship runs deeper than anywhere else in Italy.

What distinguished the Galimbertis was their willingness to evolve. By 1967, they'd transformed their artisan workshop into Flexform S.p.A., an industrial firm ready to collaborate with Italy's emerging design talents. The timing proved fortuitous—Brianza was becoming the engine room of contemporary Italian furniture, and Flexform positioned itself at the centre of this creative explosion.

The 1960s brought collaborations with architects who would define Italian design: Cini Boeri, Joe Colombo (whose Tube Chair now resides in MoMA's permanent collection), Asnago-Vender, and Rodolfo Bonetto. In 1969, Flexform commissioned graphic designer Pino Tovaglia—fresh from creating Pirelli's brand identity—to develop their visual language, establishing an aesthetic that balanced tradition with modernity.

But the relationship that would define Flexform arrived in the early 1970s. Antonio Citterio, then twenty-three and still studying architecture at Milan's Politecnico, approached the company through a school friendship with one of the Galimberti children. "Let's do something together," he suggested casually. That informal beginning launched what would become one of furniture's most productive partnerships—nearly five decades of continuous collaboration.

Citterio didn't merely design individual pieces; he orchestrated complete collections with architectural rigour. His philosophy centred on "normality"—furniture that felt inevitable rather than styled, where innovation emerged through evolution of proportion, construction, and type rather than dramatic gestures. This approach yielded the brand's defining aesthetic: understated elegance, generous proportions, and comfort that feels effortless.

In 2001, Citterio created Groundpiece—arguably Flexform's most revolutionary design. The sofa eliminated legs entirely, placing plush cushions directly on the floor and liberating the piece from its traditional position against walls. "My idea was that a sofa could be somewhere to eat and to work, as well as to relax," Citterio explained. Initially, people didn't understand it. The design seemed too simple, too unconventional. But Groundpiece redefined domestic life, transforming the sofa from static furniture into the flexible, multi-functional centrepiece of contemporary living. Twenty years on, it remains a bestseller—a testament to design that anticipated how we actually live.

Other Citterio icons followed: Soft Dream, with its enveloping comfort; Gregory, with hand-woven leather straps; A.B.C.D. armchair (which earned inclusion in the 2015 ADI Design Index); Cestone, with its checkerboard cowhide back; and numerous modular systems. Each piece exhibited Flexform's signature: balanced proportions, premium materials (sustainably sourced oak, walnut, linen, cotton, cashmere), and timelessness that transcends fashion.

The company expanded methodically throughout the 1970s-80s, first into German-speaking Europe, where its understated aesthetic resonated powerfully, then overseas to the Americas, Asia, and Australia. Today, Flexform operates in ninety countries with twenty-two flagship stores and over one hundred shop-in-shops, remaining rigorously family-run into its third generation. The Galimbertis maintain production exclusively in Meda—135 employees across 30,000 square metres—preserving the "Made in Italy" authenticity that defines their identity.

In 2001, Flexform launched Flexform Mood, a collection with international and retro styling initially coordinated by American designer John Hutton, further diversifying their offer for emerging markets. Yet the core philosophy never wavered: create furniture that embodies "effortless style"—pieces that feel composed, never contrived.

At HFOC, we specialise in sourcing authentic second-hand Flexform pieces—from Citterio's Groundpiece and Soft Dream to classic armchairs and dining systems, from outdoor collections to bedroom furniture. Each represents over sixty years of Italian craftsmanship, offering discerning buyers the opportunity to acquire furniture that defines contemporary living at accessible prices.

Flexform doesn't chase trends. It perfects quiet luxury.