Italian leather sofas CALIA ITALIA
Luxury seating furniture
CALIA ITALIA manufactures modern luxury furniture, specifically leather and fabric sofas, armchairs, recliners and lounge chairs. Thanks to its quality products and cutting-edge design, it is one of the leading manufacturers of leather sofas in Italy. The company was founded in the mid-1960s when the founder , Liborio Vincenzo Calia, retired from his career as a carpenter and began designing and manufacturing upholstered sofas. And it was a really great idea! At the beginning of the 1980s, CALIA ITALIA switched to the machine production of sofas and gradually began to expand into international markets, namely 60 countries. Now the company is run by the second generation, Saverio Calia and Giuseppe Calia.
About the brand CALIA ITALIA
CALIA ITALIA manufactures sofas in two factories located in Matera and Macchia di Ferrandina and employs around 400 people. Every year, it introduces over 50 new models of designer sofas in many leather and fabric options. Leather sofas account for 90% of total production. Its warehouse is the largest automated warehouse in Europe, with a capacity of over 20,000 seats.
A word from the founder CALIA ITALIA
History of CALIA ITALIA
Calia Italia was born in 1965 in the ancient quarter of Matera called Sassi. This place is unique in the world, it is made up of a dry landscape into whose rocks are carved dwellings. Living in such difficult conditions has cultivated in the local inhabitants a deep sense of solidarity, community maintenance and neighbourliness. Sharing spaces together in the tufa rocks, narrow streets and small squares, the local people appreciated every opportunity to make their lives a little more comfortable. The historic centre of Matera is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Liborio Vincenzo Calia (the company's founder) was born in 1926, the only son in his family, and began working as a craftsman at a young age. He trained as a carpenter and started his own business when he was only 18 years old. In 1965, he initially immersed himself in a research project, but ended up designing and manufacturing one type of product - upholstered furniture. Since then, Calia has been making sofas, armchairs, lounge chairs, bringing comfort to people and with it, magical moments inspired by Matera's deep-rooted values.
From the artisan workshop to the international market
With a constant focus on its homeland and its values, while investing in research, technology and logistics development, the company has become one of the world's best-known upholstered furniture brands under the leadership of Creative Director Saverio and Marketing Manager Giuseppe. Thanks to the efforts of more than 1,500 people, Calia Italia can guarantee the production of over 1,000 pieces of seating furniture per day.
CALIA ITALIA's vision and values
The Calia brand values guarantee affordable and charming comfort made with the greatest care and attention to detail in Matera. In its long history, the brand has managed to overcome quite a few crises and has been forced to adapt its strategies and dynamics to new situations several times. But it has never abandoned its values: transparency, solidarity, flexibility, reliability, responsiveness, respect for family, natural resources traditions and the culture of its homeland. Calia also cares about its human capital. The brand places particular emphasis on supporting young talents who are just entering the workforce. From design to material selection and fine-tuning of details, each has a unique task. But they also excel in the technology sector. Since 2002, the entire production system has been computer-controlled, and a few years later the warehouse, one of the most modern in Europe, was automated. The entire production process is therefore controlled automatically. The machines precisely cut off pieces of fabric, thus preventing waste and contributing to the overall sustainability of production. In addition, energy and water consumption is constantly monitored and optimised in this modern workshop.
Discover the secrets of production
The sofas are upholstered with natural fabrics of either plant origin (most often cotton, linen, hemp), animal origin (silk, wool) or synthetic fibres. All of these materials are chosen for their unrivalled adaptability as well as for their aesthetic appeal. All the fabrics used must pass a series of quality tests and be certified, and should be able to withstand a certain amount of stress, both physical and in the form of UV or infrared radiation.
Leather processing in CALIA ITALIA
The leather is carefully selected and treated in a gentle way that also ensures that the leather retains its natural characteristics. Each fold is checked with a Veslic friction test to check the durability of the fabric. The polished leather undergoes a treatment to further strengthen its surface. This leather is easy to clean and very durable, so you can keep it even in busy areas of the house. All-leather products are painted with a thin protective layer. Each seat is unique, so stains, dots or marks may be visible on the leather. This is not a defect, but a naturalness on the animal's skin that makes the final product even more original and distinctive. All skins have a natural feel and are captivatingly soft to the touch. Aniline hides are not subject to surface treatment, so the material still has all the characteristics of cowhide. Here, marks, wrinkles, colour and tone differences are clearly visible, which is also proof of the leather's authenticity.
Other quality materials
The wood that Calia Italia uses to construct its products is carefully selected, with local carpenters examining every inch of it to make sure that a particular type of wood will suit the project. Beech wood is the most widely used. In addition to wood, metal is also used, mainly to make the bases, which are designed using modern modelling software and then printed in a 3D printer. It is also important to think about the mechanics of the individual components, such as the mechanisms for reclining or adjusting the position of the seat cushions, which can turn the seat into a comfortable bed if required.
The padding is the heart of any sofa. They are central to guaranteeing the highest level of comfort. This is why Calia chooses several types of natural or artificial padding that are used, sometimes in combinations, on different parts of the sofa. Polyurethane foam is light and durable, guaranteeing the highest comfort when sitting. This type of foam is also able to lose its shape under pressure and then immediately regain it. Memory foam easily reacts with the weight of the human body and its heat. Once deflected, it returns back to its original shape within seconds. The polyester fibres give the sofa a harmonious and compact look, especially the armrests or armrests look fluffy and comfortable at first glance.
