French nerves

The Roset family has been making furniture in their own factory in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region east of Lyon since 1860. Perhaps the self-confidence and security comes from this genuine experience. Maybe it's the fresh Alpine air. Or simply a matter of attitude. In any case, few other companies - if any - at the highest international level are as clearly driven by a lust for design, strength of ideas and craftsmanship as Ligne Roset. The key word is creativity. And courage. Collaboration with both established designers and young talents is a high priority. This is the start of a journey of discovery that often results in innovative expressions and solutions. Out of pure and obvious curiosity, we asked a number of designers to tell us about their experience of working with Ligne Roset.

"...we mostly whine and complain, are sceptical about what the other person says, are not at all enthusiastic... but even if we don't believe in it very much at first, we still manage, somewhat reluctantly, to make really nice furniture..."

INGA SEMPÉ

My experience with Ligne Roset is linked to their historical knowledge of upholstered furniture. The factory is far from Paris, 50 miles from Lyon. It is the only French one I work with and I work for hours there. But before we reach the prototype stage, when a project has been selected for production, there are those very French moments when Michel Roset and I have meetings, which are like a parody of French character: we mostly whine and complain, are sceptical about what the other says, are not enthusiastic at all... but even if we don't believe in it much at first, we manage, somewhat reluctantly, to make really nice furniture... Manufacturing begins with me trying to carve a first model in the prototype workshop from the idea I have in my head. The sewing is also special. The 4x4 metre sewing machine is computer-controlled but is adjusted by seamstresses who can see directly on the computer whether the ideas can be implemented in the end. So there is a very direct communication between prototypes and production - everything happens there and then.

ANDREAS KOWALEWSKI

Ligne Roset is always interested in objects that are not only inviting and functional, but also have unique, personal expressions. Great emphasis is also placed on the craftsmanship and detail work. I really appreciate that. It made our collaboration both easy and fun.

LAURA VÄRE

Ligne Roset saw the Edvin flower table at Salone Satellite in Milan in 2019. They immediately said they wanted to produce it and six months later I saw the pictures of the first prototype. It was all a quick, decisive process and a joyful collaboration. I couldn't be happier with the final result.

NICK RENNIE

For me, working together has been a wonderful experience that has grown into a great friendship. I feel like part of the family. As I'm based in Australia, we are mostly in touch via email, but Mr Roset and I also often meet halfway, in Tokyo, a city I love, to discuss different projects.

So far, we have developed eight products together. The first was a series of glass tables, Saldo, which was a wonderful introduction. As a designer, the idea that the manufacturer wants to drive the project to achieve the highest quality is so exciting. At one point, Mr Roset told me how they had tested that the joints in the glass table were durable enough. Everything depended on the strength of the joints. They had tried a number of methods without being satisfied. Then one day they succeeded," smiled Mr Roset. He had asked one of the employees to load the latest prototype into his van and take it home for the weekend, driving through the cobbled streets outside the factory in Briord - the worse and bumpier the roads the better. Monday morning came, they opened the back doors of the van and there was the glass prototype in perfect condition. A simple way to determine strength, but so poetic! That is still one of the highlights of my career!

The wonderful thing about working with a company like Ligne Roset is that you become part of its history. The feeling of developing your ideas with such skilled craftsmen is simply amazing. They use all their collective experience and knowledge to produce things that often exceed your expectations. This is the core of their success: the incredible staff who nurture your idea as their own under the supervision of Mr Roset.

MARTIN HIRTH

Even as a student, I saw Ligne Roset as a benchmark for high quality. It was a dream to work with such a company one day. And even then it was close to happening. Ligne Roset became interested in a table lamp that I was exhibiting, but at the time I had just agreed with another company to manufacture it. After that, I proposed a number of other ideas to Ligne Roset, but it didn't take off. Until 2015. And a year later, the Cinétique floor lamp and the Mirror Clock, a combined mirror and clock, were presented. Since then, we have made two series of vases. The production itself is fast and two things are clear: Ligne Roset's long experience in the craft and its openness to new ideas and solutions. Another special thing is the direct contact with the leading in-house stores - that kind of feedback is an important skill for designers to have.

PAOLA SABOURIN

I was looking for a bedside table for myself in early 2016 but didn't find anything I liked, so I made one myself - Pavane. In June 2016, I contacted the purchasing manager at Ligne Roset. The upcoming collection was already decided, but she still showed the bedside table to Michel Roset who liked it. Even though I was living in the Netherlands at the time, the collaboration with the prototype went smoothly. Pavane passed a second round of selection and was presented at the Maison & Objet fair in January 2017 - that's when I met the Ligne Roset team for the first time!

GREGOIRE MOINARD

It's a great team that works closely with us designers to find the right solutions. In particular, Ligne Roset has confidence in young talent that they want to release and give a chance. This happened to me in 2017 with the Coupole lamp - my first product produced on a large scale. That's a commitment that makes a big difference.

"Suddenly Michel Roset poked his head into our little stand. [...] When we were brave enough to go up to him, he said 'I want this table.'"

SEBASTIAN ALBERDI IN THE GROUP OUTOFSTOCK

Ligne Roset will always have a special meaning for us. It was the first company to give us a chance as young designers. We were exhibiting at the Satellite section of the Milan Fair in 2009. Suddenly, Michel Roset poked his head into our little stand. He stopped in front of the Black Forest side table. When we were brave enough to approach him, he said "I want this table. Bring it over to our stand on the last day of the fair and we'll take it and make it." We couldn't believe it but went over to the Ligne Roset stand with the table on the last day of the fair. Less than a year later, Ligne Roset presented Black Forest at imm cologne in Cologne and Maison & Objet in Paris. Since then, we have also collaborated on the Hues table and the Vanity mirror shelf.

Written by Rikard Lind

Products featured in the post

Saldo

Ligne Roset