A French furniture brand offering iconic designs in NZ
Written by
10 July 2022
•
4 min read
A few years ago, couple Monica Tischler and Matt Dickson shared with each other what their dream career path looked like, and it very closely matched what they’re doing now.
“It was all very serendipitous that this opportunity came about – a lot of Ligne Roset pieces filled our home even before we were distributing the brand,” shares Monica. “The floor was open for someone in New Zealand to be the exclusive distributor, so we applied and were successful, and the rest is history.”
Before this, the pair had worked together – first meeting through their day jobs prior to opening Ligne Roset’s Grey Lynn showroom.
“People say not to work with your spouse, that it ruins your relationship, but that hasn't been the case at all,” laughs Monica.
Despite having a two-month-old in tow and opening the showroom only days before Auckland’s lockdown in August last year, Ligne Roset’s furniture designs – including the Togo sofa – have been popular with New Zealand homeowners and designers.
“The designer, Michel Ducaroy, was inspired by the folds of a tube of toothpaste in his bathroom; it was very forward-thinking for the time when it was first imagined in the early 1970s,” says Monica.
By far his most famous and iconic creation, today the original Togo design is still handmade in-house at Ligne Roset’s workshops in France – with six hours of work required to produce just one Togo settee, one stitch at a time.
The meticulous craft is an art form that the brand is committed to, determined not to mass produce items off shore using automated machinery.
What is a Togo sofa made of?
Lightweight and portable, the Togo chair has a foam structure and is upholstered in beautiful, thick folds of fabric.
“It really pushed the boundaries at the time of its design; it’s so comfortable and relaxing to sit in because it was designed with afternoon siestas and lazy evenings in mind.
“It really evokes a sense of comfort and I think that’s so important with furniture, first and foremost it has to be comfortable. And then it’s a bonus that it also looks incredibly beautiful.”
Every colour is so different and beautiful in its own right.
Bold design
The design has certainly caught the eye of many across the globe, with more than 1.3 million Togo now sold across 70 countries worldwide.
When it comes to colours and fabric choice, Monica says that the top seller is a bright yellow colour called ‘Curry’ in the Alcantara fabric – a micro suede that’s durable and “virtually indestructible”.
“But there are more than 1,000 different colourways, and every colour is so different and beautiful in its own right. I’ve never seen a Togo upholstered in something I haven’t liked.
“They’re timeless and evoke a different way of thinking. It’s nice to be able to challenge people about what they might think that they want for their home.”
As Ligne Roset’s New Zealand showroom prepares to celebrate its first birthday in August, Monica reflects on the journey so far: “I love being able to share with New Zealanders this beautiful selection of furniture that they now have access to – I love being able to inspire homeowners and interior designers with our pieces. It's true what they say, if you love what you do, and if you believe in the product, it doesn't feel like work.”
It's true what they say, if you love what you do, and if you believe in the product, it doesn't feel like work.
Explore Ligne Roset's stunning range of furniture on ArchiPro.
Words by Cassie Birrer