gres stool by miguel milá, 60 years of a mediterranean design icon
This is the story of a stool. But not just any stool. This is the fascinating story of a unique rattan stool named Gres, born sixty years ago from the genius mind of Miguel Milá and reborn several decades later at the expert hands of Expormim’s craftsmen. This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Gres rattan stool and we are really proud to continue the story of Gres stool and to preserve Miguel Milá’s design legacy.
Beyond nostalgia: Expormim’s commitment to design culture
The fact that Miguel Milá—one of the pioneers of industrial design in Spain and well known for having championed rattan since his early days—turned to Expormim to reissue one of his most beloved designs was more than flattering for us. Beyond the opportunity to market the product, Miguel was entrusting us with the mission of reclaiming his figure when he was no longer around and of course, preserving his precious legacy.
By committing to promote Miguel Milá’s memory as not just a key figure in the history of Spanish design, but as a revolutionary who changed the way of understanding design and a forefather of good design as we know it today, in Expormim we have also committed to promoting a very specific design culture, connected to our Mediterranean roots and long-standing tradition and to the values we both considered essential for creating a classic: quality, timelessness, and soul.
original gres barstool
original detail gres barstool
The tale of the traveling stool
Legend has it that when Miguel Milá and his son Gonzalo were traveling back and forth between Barcelona and Moixent in the midst of the process of developing Gata rattan chair with Expormim, they happened to bring along a very special object: it was none other than the original Gres rattan stool. It dated back to the 60s, to Miguel’s younger days, when he was first captivated by rattan and decided to move to Gata de Gorgos, epicentre of the cane and wicker craftsmanship, where he would learn firsthand the ancestral lore of rattan.
Miguel knew we would fall for it. And we did. The little stool resembled an old countryman wearing a beret and resting on a cane. It was so humble and yet so lovable, it immediately struck a chord with us. And just like that, while still immersed in the creation of Gata, we embraced the task of updating Gres rattan stool and having it ready to be launched together with the chair, as two chapters of the same rattan story.
Gres reedited: one stool, two versions
The 2017 reedition of Gres rattan stool was a success. The traditional wrappings of the original version were removed to build a cleaner structure around the concept of tangent lines. These four lightweight frames supported a cushioned round seat that still looked like a beret, but far more contemporary thanks to the exquisite upholstery and wide range of available colours.
There was more to it, however. We imagined a higher version of the stool that could be freed from the constraints of domestic use to conquer all sorts of modern contract spaces, such as bars, restaurants and hotels. Gres high stool has thus become an almost staple in these environments and even the low stool has started to migrate to them too.
Classics are the elves of design: sixty years is a mere blink in the life of such an iconic piece of furniture. It is the magic of timeless objects: they endure through generations. Dear Gres, many happy returns of the day!
This is the story of a stool. But not just any stool. This is the fascinating story of a unique rattan stool named Gres, born sixty years ago from the genius mind of Miguel Milá and reborn several decades later at the expert hands of Expormim’s craftsmen. This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Gres rattan stool and we are really proud to continue the story of Gres stool and to preserve Miguel Milá’s design legacy.
Beyond nostalgia: Expormim’s commitment to design culture
The fact that Miguel Milá—one of the pioneers of industrial design in Spain and well known for having championed rattan since his early days—turned to Expormim to reissue one of his most beloved designs was more than flattering for us. Beyond the opportunity to market the product, Miguel was entrusting us with the mission of reclaiming his figure when he was no longer around and of course, preserving his precious legacy.
By committing to promote Miguel Milá’s memory as not just a key figure in the history of Spanish design, but as a revolutionary who changed the way of understanding design and a forefather of good design as we know it today, in Expormim we have also committed to promoting a very specific design culture, connected to our Mediterranean roots and long-standing tradition and to the values we both considered essential for creating a classic: quality, timelessness, and soul.
original gres barstool
original detail gres barstool
This is the story of a stool. But not just any stool. This is the fascinating story of a unique rattan stool named Gres, born sixty years ago from the genius mind of Miguel Milá and reborn several decades later at the expert hands of Expormim’s craftsmen. This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Gres rattan stool and we are really proud to continue the story of Gres stool and to preserve Miguel Milá’s design legacy.
Beyond nostalgia: Expormim’s commitment to design culture
The fact that Miguel Milá—one of the pioneers of industrial design in Spain and well known for having championed rattan since his early days—turned to Expormim to reissue one of his most beloved designs was more than flattering for us. Beyond the opportunity to market the product, Miguel was entrusting us with the mission of reclaiming his figure when he was no longer around and of course, preserving his precious legacy.
By committing to promote Miguel Milá’s memory as not just a key figure in the history of Spanish design, but as a revolutionary who changed the way of understanding design and a forefather of good design as we know it today, in Expormim we have also committed to promoting a very specific design culture, connected to our Mediterranean roots and long-standing tradition and to the values we both considered essential for creating a classic: quality, timelessness, and soul.
original gres barstool
original detail gres barstool
The tale of the traveling stool
Legend has it that when Miguel Milá and his son Gonzalo were traveling back and forth between Barcelona and Moixent in the midst of the process of developing Gata rattan chair with Expormim, they happened to bring along a very special object: it was none other than the original Gres rattan stool. It dated back to the 60s, to Miguel’s younger days, when he was first captivated by rattan and decided to move to Gata de Gorgos, epicentre of the cane and wicker craftsmanship, where he would learn firsthand the ancestral lore of rattan.
Miguel knew we would fall for it. And we did. The little stool resembled an old countryman wearing a beret and resting on a cane. It was so humble and yet so lovable, it immediately struck a chord with us. And just like that, while still immersed in the creation of Gata, we embraced the task of updating Gres rattan stool and having it ready to be launched together with the chair, as two chapters of the same rattan story.
Gres reedited: one stool, two versions
The 2017 reedition of Gres rattan stool was a success. The traditional wrappings of the original version were removed to build a cleaner structure around the concept of tangent lines. These four lightweight frames supported a cushioned round seat that still looked like a beret, but far more contemporary thanks to the exquisite upholstery and wide range of available colours.
There was more to it, however. We imagined a higher version of the stool that could be freed from the constraints of domestic use to conquer all sorts of modern contract spaces, such as bars, restaurants and hotels. Gres high stool has thus become an almost staple in these environments and even the low stool has started to migrate to them too.
Classics are the elves of design: sixty years is a mere blink in the life of such an iconic piece of furniture. It is the magic of timeless objects: they endure through generations. Dear Gres, many happy returns of the day!
gres stool by miguel milá, 60 years of a mediterranean design icon
This is the story of a stool. But not just any stool. This is the fascinating story of a unique rattan stool named Gres, born sixty years ago from the genius mind of Miguel Milá and reborn several decades later at the expert hands of Expormim’s craftsmen. This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Gres rattan stool and we are really proud to continue the story of Gres stool and to preserve Miguel Milá’s design legacy.
Beyond nostalgia: Expormim’s commitment to design culture
The fact that Miguel Milá—one of the pioneers of industrial design in Spain and well known for having championed rattan since his early days—turned to Expormim to reissue one of his most beloved designs was more than flattering for us. Beyond the opportunity to market the product, Miguel was entrusting us with the mission of reclaiming his figure when he was no longer around and of course, preserving his precious legacy.
By committing to promote Miguel Milá’s memory as not just a key figure in the history of Spanish design, but as a revolutionary who changed the way of understanding design and a forefather of good design as we know it today, in Expormim we have also committed to promoting a very specific design culture, connected to our Mediterranean roots and long-standing tradition and to the values we both considered essential for creating a classic: quality, timelessness, and soul.
original gres barstool
original detail gres barstool
The tale of the traveling stool
Legend has it that when Miguel Milá and his son Gonzalo were traveling back and forth between Barcelona and Moixent in the midst of the process of developing Gata rattan chair with Expormim, they happened to bring along a very special object: it was none other than the original Gres rattan stool. It dated back to the 60s, to Miguel’s younger days, when he was first captivated by rattan and decided to move to Gata de Gorgos, epicentre of the cane and wicker craftsmanship, where he would learn firsthand the ancestral lore of rattan.
Miguel knew we would fall for it. And we did. The little stool resembled an old countryman wearing a beret and resting on a cane. It was so humble and yet so lovable, it immediately struck a chord with us. And just like that, while still immersed in the creation of Gata, we embraced the task of updating Gres rattan stool and having it ready to be launched together with the chair, as two chapters of the same rattan story.
Gres reedited: one stool, two versions
The 2017 reedition of Gres rattan stool was a success. The traditional wrappings of the original version were removed to build a cleaner structure around the concept of tangent lines. These four lightweight frames supported a cushioned round seat that still looked like a beret, but far more contemporary thanks to the exquisite upholstery and wide range of available colours.
There was more to it, however. We imagined a higher version of the stool that could be freed from the constraints of domestic use to conquer all sorts of modern contract spaces, such as bars, restaurants and hotels. Gres high stool has thus become an almost staple in these environments and even the low stool has started to migrate to them too.
Classics are the elves of design: sixty years is a mere blink in the life of such an iconic piece of furniture. It is the magic of timeless objects: they endure through generations. Dear Gres, many happy returns of the day!
This is the story of a stool. But not just any stool. This is the fascinating story of a unique rattan stool named Gres, born sixty years ago from the genius mind of Miguel Milá and reborn several decades later at the expert hands of Expormim’s craftsmen. This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Gres rattan stool and we are really proud to continue the story of Gres stool and to preserve Miguel Milá’s design legacy.
Beyond nostalgia: Expormim’s commitment to design culture
The fact that Miguel Milá—one of the pioneers of industrial design in Spain and well known for having championed rattan since his early days—turned to Expormim to reissue one of his most beloved designs was more than flattering for us. Beyond the opportunity to market the product, Miguel was entrusting us with the mission of reclaiming his figure when he was no longer around and of course, preserving his precious legacy.
By committing to promote Miguel Milá’s memory as not just a key figure in the history of Spanish design, but as a revolutionary who changed the way of understanding design and a forefather of good design as we know it today, in Expormim we have also committed to promoting a very specific design culture, connected to our Mediterranean roots and long-standing tradition and to the values we both considered essential for creating a classic: quality, timelessness, and soul.
original gres barstool
original detail gres barstool
This is the story of a stool. But not just any stool. This is the fascinating story of a unique rattan stool named Gres, born sixty years ago from the genius mind of Miguel Milá and reborn several decades later at the expert hands of Expormim’s craftsmen. This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Gres rattan stool and we are really proud to continue the story of Gres stool and to preserve Miguel Milá’s design legacy.
Beyond nostalgia: Expormim’s commitment to design culture
The fact that Miguel Milá—one of the pioneers of industrial design in Spain and well known for having championed rattan since his early days—turned to Expormim to reissue one of his most beloved designs was more than flattering for us. Beyond the opportunity to market the product, Miguel was entrusting us with the mission of reclaiming his figure when he was no longer around and of course, preserving his precious legacy.
By committing to promote Miguel Milá’s memory as not just a key figure in the history of Spanish design, but as a revolutionary who changed the way of understanding design and a forefather of good design as we know it today, in Expormim we have also committed to promoting a very specific design culture, connected to our Mediterranean roots and long-standing tradition and to the values we both considered essential for creating a classic: quality, timelessness, and soul.
original gres barstool
original detail gres barstool
The tale of the traveling stool
Legend has it that when Miguel Milá and his son Gonzalo were traveling back and forth between Barcelona and Moixent in the midst of the process of developing Gata rattan chair with Expormim, they happened to bring along a very special object: it was none other than the original Gres rattan stool. It dated back to the 60s, to Miguel’s younger days, when he was first captivated by rattan and decided to move to Gata de Gorgos, epicentre of the cane and wicker craftsmanship, where he would learn firsthand the ancestral lore of rattan.
Miguel knew we would fall for it. And we did. The little stool resembled an old countryman wearing a beret and resting on a cane. It was so humble and yet so lovable, it immediately struck a chord with us. And just like that, while still immersed in the creation of Gata, we embraced the task of updating Gres rattan stool and having it ready to be launched together with the chair, as two chapters of the same rattan story.
Gres reedited: one stool, two versions
The 2017 reedition of Gres rattan stool was a success. The traditional wrappings of the original version were removed to build a cleaner structure around the concept of tangent lines. These four lightweight frames supported a cushioned round seat that still looked like a beret, but far more contemporary thanks to the exquisite upholstery and wide range of available colours.
There was more to it, however. We imagined a higher version of the stool that could be freed from the constraints of domestic use to conquer all sorts of modern contract spaces, such as bars, restaurants and hotels. Gres high stool has thus become an almost staple in these environments and even the low stool has started to migrate to them too.
Classics are the elves of design: sixty years is a mere blink in the life of such an iconic piece of furniture. It is the magic of timeless objects: they endure through generations. Dear Gres, many happy returns of the day!
