The weather gods haven't been kind as I arrive at the Mara factory on the outskirts of Brescia. If you think Italy, certainly in the design industry, it's usually all sun-bleached locations, where an Aperol Spritz is only ever seconds away.
But climatic conditions are, quite frankly, the only thing the Italian furniture manufacturer doesn't have control over. Founded in 1960 by the current managing director Laura Marchina's grandfather, Camillo – who was an experienced metal-worker in the production of, of all things, gun barrels – the company, like the family itself, keeps everything close to home. Very close, in fact. The Mara story is not just 100% Made in Italy, it's 100% Brescia. (Fun fact: the company name is a contraction of 'Marchina Arredamenti' or 'Marchina Furniture'.)
What happens in Brescia…
It's a tale of two movements, as it were. As the brand expands beyond its long-established office-furniture focus, adopting a bold, resolutely design-first strategy evinced in collaborations with the likes of Michele De Lucchi, Ferruccio Laviani, Christophe Pillet and Marcello Zilian, it has doubled down on the ownership of its production and supply chains. 'We have control over all parts of our industrial process,' says Marchina. 'The aim is to control costs, of course, so we can be competitive in the market. And to be as sustainable and circular as possible. But it's also about having a complete vision. From R&D and prototyping to manufacturing, finishing and shipping.'
We are the robots
Whether it's the company's multi-million-euro investment in state-of-the-art, automated machinery for three-dimensional laser-cutting, bending and welding, its commitment to sourcing its materials from the locality (Brescia happens to be Italy's steel-manufacturing capital), or the fact that Mara produces more energy that its operation requires thanks to its own, rooftop solar farm, near trumps far.
'With state-of-the-art machinery and locally sourced materials, our external designers love the fact that they can experiment with us as everything they need is on site. Including our expert technicians'
'We manufacture on demand,' explains Marchina, as she guides me through the production halls, 'meaning that we aim to deliver, even on large orders for contract, within four weeks. What's more, our external designers love the fact that they can experiment with us, as everything they need is on site. Including our expert technicians.'
Metal heads
And, my word, are those technicians expert. And incredibly friendly. My Italian is (how shall I put this?) woeful, but each of the workers I encounter as I tour Mara's production facility exude a pride, generously explaining to me what they do. Working metal is, simply put, their passion.
The result of Mara's expertise in working metal: seating, tables and storage that is light while possessing durability, with minimized material usage
'Everything ultimately comes from a metal tube or a metal sheet,' explains Marchina. 'Sometimes, once the product is completed, you can't believe it's been made from these elements alone.' Indeed. Mara's industrial alchemy sees said tubes and sheets bent, cut, rounded and welded into designs that look like they've come out of a mould. The result: seating, tables and storage that is relatively light while possessing durability. It also means a minimizing of material usage. Less being better. And, true to Mara's keep-it-local philosophy, any waste is recycled at a facility a mere 10 kilometers from the factory.
As I'm shown a box containing small metal pins that are deployed during the production process but which are later discarded (recycled, naturally!) and am told that they, too, are produced in-house, I chuckle to myself. As a man of a certain age, it reminds me of the 1970s self-sufficiency movement. Do it yourself. But there's nothing DIY, at least in an aesthetic sense, about Mara's portfolio. 'We're constantly innovating to create sophisticated products that anticipate trends,' says Marchina. 'Our goal is to bring the functionality of the office into the home and the comfort and warmth of the home into the office, always putting the person and their well-being at the centre via an attention to ergonomics, materials and finishes.'
You heard the woman. Brescia is calling.
Mara at Salone del Mobile.Milan 2025:
Dates: April 8-13, 2025
Location: Hall 14, Stand C26
