Italians are known to appreciate beauty more than most and this is reflected in everything they manufacture.
Italian craftsmanship in designing and manufacturing products ranging from furniture and marble to mechanical and electrical gadgets is renowned all over the world.
The UAE has been fortunate to have Italian companies marketing their exquisite products in the country for more than a decade. But it is in recent years that many Italian companies have established themselves as integral participants in the ongoing construction boom in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other emirates.
Interior designers of exclusive villas, apartments and commercial complexes already commissioned or coming up in the emirates are increasingly using high quality Italian furniture, fixtures and accessories that make their creations spectacular and comfortable at the same time.
Trendsetting designs
"I think the Italians are born into creativeness; it is all around them, from architecture to cooking. They are very family orientated people and therefore traditional skills are taught from generation to generation. It is bred into them to be team builders to create and get exactly what they want and need," says Tanya Wakeham, Manager of Selva Middle East.
Selva is a trendsetter in furniture retail and an internationally recognised hotel furnisher of exclusive establishments — from designer hotels to lodgings in time-honoured castles.
From a small family company founded by Peppi Selva in Bolzano, Italy in 1968, Selva has now grown into an internationally recognised brand with branches in the US, UAE, and Russia. In recent years Selva has proved its expertise in the area of custom solutions and turnkey projects. From handmade furniture to complete project management, it offers complete solutions from a single source.
"We have been in this market for nearly two years and already have very loyal customers, which include large companies such as Asteco and Nakheel, through to high end interior designers and many private clients.
"Many people still don't know us, but when they come to our showroom on Shaikh Zayed Road, near interchange four, both young and older customers fall in love with our hand crafted furniture as it covers a wide spectrum — from classical through to modern. We also have our own interior designer who can suggest free space planning layouts. We have over 1,200 furniture pieces to choose from; so there is something for everyone," says Wakeham.
B&B Italia has been a leading company in the field of contemporary furnishings since 1966. The company's ability to reflect contemporary culture, to sense and anticipate trends, to respond to changes in taste and living needs, has resulted in a collection of world-famous furnishings, which account for a crucial chapter in the history of Italian design. B&B Italia's success is based on a matchless alchemy of reliability, innovation and industrial skills, aimed at producing products 'lasting through time'.
In Dubai, B&B Italia partners with Baituti and has opened its first mono brand shop in the Mall of the Emirates. It showcases B&B Italia and Maxato Collections in their entirety and complies with the Arabian passion for the contemporary character of B&B Italia, a symbol of quality, innovation and research.
Form and function
Asteco, one of the oldest and largest property services company in Dubai, has a Design and Furnishing division working on the interior design of several high-end villas on the Palm Jumeirah and exclusive apartments in Dubai. When clients want to customise their properties, Asteco steps in to change the interiors to their liking. "We try to be innovative, sourcing quality products to suit all budgets for our kitchens and bathrooms.
Many of these products are made in Italy and have the harmonious combination of artistry, functionality, comfort and durability in them. I consider these products not only breathtakingly beautiful but also best for the use they are designed," says Kerrin Matthey, Head of Design and Furnishing Solutions, Asteco.
Boffi kitchens from Italy were the first to succeed in creating 'style' within kitchen furniture through a marriage of impeccable design and legendary quality.
Originality, in terms of constructive technology, shape and colour, is apparent in the entire Boffi award-winning kitchen design range and several of them have been installed in sophisticated homes around the country.
Supplying to the best
Al Otaiba Ferretti specialises in custom-designed kitchens and has a wide range of models, designed and produced at Ferretti's factories in Capannoli. A spokesman for the company has stated in a press release, "To date, Ferretti is the only European manufacturer to maintain a full presence in the UAE and provide the same service in the UAE as in Italy and Europe in general."
Over the past 26 years, Al Otaiba Ferretti has been a major supplier of kitchens, wardrobes and vanities to several residential and commercial projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The company enjoys the confidence of some of the best-known names in the construction and contracting industry in the region and has installed a vast range of products in many of the exclusive homes in the Gulf, including palaces for the royal families across the Middle East.
Whether it is the marble sunken bath, the floor and wall tiles or the faucets and fixtures featured in baths, Italian craftsmen have created exquisite pieces to adorn bathrooms in the UAE. Many companies are involved in providing bathrooms that spell class and leisure to users as well as viewers and most of them use Italian products.
Lifeline Group, based in Sharjah has recently added a range of designer bath solutions to its portfolio of products and services. "I admire Italian craftsmanship in engineering products such as water pumps and in their bathroom fixtures.
"They are truly the pioneers in water pump technology and most of the popular brands available here are Italian made. Bagno designer bath solutions include several Italian designed products in their range," says Sabeer Mohammad, Managing Director of Lifeline Group.
Cultural melting pot
As the land of greats such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci, it is no wonder that Italians have made their mark in everything artistic in architecture, interiors, technology, and so much more.
As Wakeham points out, "Cultures are learning to mix constantly as the melting pot rapidly increases due to the amount of people moving to the UAE. It means we are constantly learning about each other's cultures and adapting them to the way we live in this part of the world.
"Therefore people are changing their ideas and styles and are open to new suggestions." Manufacturers are adapting their products for this important market and Italian craftsmen are rising to that challenge.
