Designed by Michel Ducaroy and released in 1973, Ligne Roset’s Togo sofa celebrates its 40th birthday this year. We asked the brand’s creative director, Michel Roset, to explain what makes this iconic design so timeless and unique.
Why do you think the Togo has been such an enduring success?
When Togo was created in 1973 it broke the ‘code’ of design. It was totally new, something that had never been seen before. Since then, it has become an icon, representing a time of radical change in the way we understand our living environment and the use of our furniture, the way we welcome friends and family in an informal way, the way we sit, read, and relax. Togo represents a liberation of lifestyle, aesthetics and comfort.
When Togo was created in 1973 it broke the ‘code’ of design. It was totally new, something that had never been seen before. Since then, it has become an icon, representing a time of radical change in the way we understand our living environment and the use of our furniture, the way we welcome friends and family in an informal way, the way we sit, read, and relax. Togo represents a liberation of lifestyle, aesthetics and comfort.
Has the Togo changed at all since 1973?
The comfort, concept and construction have remained the same with only some advances in foam technology adding to the Togo’s durability and comfort. Over the last 40 years only our most skilled upholsters have worked on the Togo as it demands a unique traditional skill for which the human hand remains irreplaceable, executing the precise movements that produce the famous folds which give each piece its character and personality.Michel Ducaroy’s ground-breaking design must have seemed outlandish in the early 1970s. Was it considered a big risk at the time?
Michel Ducaroy was extremely close to the Roset family and shared our values and ambitions. As head of the design department he became the spearhead of change and innovation. At the time there was a quest for new seating concepts, encouraged by swift changes in in social attitudes. The advent of new materials such as foams, quilting and thermoformed plastics drove Jean Roset and Michel Ducaroy to develop new production techniques. This quest for new designs, designers, materials and techniques has become the cornerstone of Ligne Roset and the driving force behind the company for the past 40 years.How have you kept the Togo fresh and contemporary despite it having been around for 40 years?
The best designs are characterised by their ability to cross generations, time and age. The product itself is timeless and not linked to a specific fashion era. It shares the same qualities as a Le Corbusier recliner or a Charles and Ray Eames chair, which will remain timeless.What is the most unusual fabric you’ve been asked to make it with?
The pixel fabric created by Cristian Zuzunaga was extremely interesting. This digital-meets-analogue pixel design was the perfect example of how the current and modern can be applied to a product as the Togo to make it as at home in the digital age as it was in 1973.
The comfort, concept and construction have remained the same with only some advances in foam technology adding to the Togo’s durability and comfort. Over the last 40 years only our most skilled upholsters have worked on the Togo as it demands a unique traditional skill for which the human hand remains irreplaceable, executing the precise movements that produce the famous folds which give each piece its character and personality.Michel Ducaroy’s ground-breaking design must have seemed outlandish in the early 1970s. Was it considered a big risk at the time?
Michel Ducaroy was extremely close to the Roset family and shared our values and ambitions. As head of the design department he became the spearhead of change and innovation. At the time there was a quest for new seating concepts, encouraged by swift changes in in social attitudes. The advent of new materials such as foams, quilting and thermoformed plastics drove Jean Roset and Michel Ducaroy to develop new production techniques. This quest for new designs, designers, materials and techniques has become the cornerstone of Ligne Roset and the driving force behind the company for the past 40 years.How have you kept the Togo fresh and contemporary despite it having been around for 40 years?
The best designs are characterised by their ability to cross generations, time and age. The product itself is timeless and not linked to a specific fashion era. It shares the same qualities as a Le Corbusier recliner or a Charles and Ray Eames chair, which will remain timeless.What is the most unusual fabric you’ve been asked to make it with?
The pixel fabric created by Cristian Zuzunaga was extremely interesting. This digital-meets-analogue pixel design was the perfect example of how the current and modern can be applied to a product as the Togo to make it as at home in the digital age as it was in 1973.
The Togo has appeared in a lot of notable places over the years. Where have you been proudest to see it?
I am a great lover of music, film and sport and some of my favourites are in the homes of Avril Lavigne, Lenny Kravitz, Thierry Henry and Gerard Depardieu. Looking at this list of names shows again how the Togo has crossed borders, generations and tastes.
