Flos

Flos – Italian lighting design since 1962

The Italian lighting manufacturer Flos has been a leading name in lighting design and lighting architecture for decades. Working alongside established designers and emerging talents, Flos continually explores new possibilities in light, material and technology. Designer luminaires from Flos may be provocative, yet they never come across as heavy-handed; instead, they are always imbued with a touch of poetry. In this way, the company strikes an elegant balance between art and design, craftsmanship and mass production.

We provide an insight into Flos’s company history, showcase five iconic designer luminaires and the Flos portfolio, and explain how to buy Flos luminaires and seek advice online or in-store.

► Flos – From artisan workshop to international design manufacturer
► Five iconic designer lights from Flos
► The Flos range – designer lights for different lighting atmospheres
► Flos and its collaboration with international designers
► Discover Flos at smow

An elegant interior featuring the Aim pendant light and the Gatto table lamp by Flos

Flos – From a small workshop to an international design manufacturer

The Italian lighting manufacturer Flos was founded in Merano in 1962 by Dino Gavina and Cesare Cassina. Shortly afterwards, the designers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni as well as Tobia Scarpa and Sergio Gandini joined the management team. In 1964, the company relocated its headquarters to the outskirts of Milan, followed in 1971 by the opening of its first international branch in Germany.

An important milestone came in 1972 with the exhibition ‘Italy: The New Domestic Landscape’ at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Flos was represented there with several luminaires, mainly designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. The exhibition helped the company gain international recognition as an avant-garde player in Italian design. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Flos continued to grow and further consolidated its position in the international design world.

In the 1980s, Sergio Gandini met the then-young French designer Philippe Starck. Their collaboration resulted in the Miss Sissi table lamp, whose innovative design brought it great success. In the decades that followed, Flos remained open to new design approaches and technological developments. From the 2000s onwards, LED technology in particular opened up new possibilities for lighting design.

Today, Flos’s portfolio encompasses both experimental luminaires and modern design classics. These include the Arco arc lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the Glo-Ball collection by Jasper Morrison and the IC luminaires by Michael Anastassiades. They exemplify the creative breadth of the company, which has shaped the development of modern lighting design since its foundation.

The Arco floor lamp was featured in the 1972 exhibition ‘Italy: The New Domestic Landscape’ at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York

Five iconic designer lights by Flos

Whether table lamps, pendant lights or floor lamps: five iconic designs showcase what makes Flos’ lighting design so special – from striking shapes to sophisticated constructions that present light in ever-changing ways.

The Flos range – designer lights for a variety of lighting atmospheres

Whether table, pendant, floor or wall lights: Flos’ designer lights define spaces in different ways. Some models, with their sculptural forms, make a striking statement as interior design pieces, whilst others take a more understated approach, making their impact primarily through the light they emit. A defining feature of Flos luminaires is always the interplay between striking design, sophisticated construction and innovative lighting technology. In the home, luminaires such as the Arco floor lamp or the Viscontea pendant light become defining elements of the interior, whilst in offices, hotel lobbies and other commercial spaces they create a luxurious atmosphere and highlight architectural features. The diversity of Flos lighting is evident in the varied ways in which they influence the ambience of spaces.

A varied and individualistic interior design featuring the Snoopy table lamp and the 265 wall lamp by Paolo Rizzatto

Discover Flos at smow

Discover designer lighting by Flos in the smow online shop and in our smow stores. Whether for living spaces, offices or a bespoke interior design project – we’re happy to support you with personalised advice and bespoke planning when selecting and designing with Flos lighting.