Le Bambole's 50th Anniversary

Created by Mario Bellini, the Le Bambole is an icon of design It’s cozy plushness, gentle harmony, and playful informality remains a protagonist of Italian and international design

Now introduced as a radically renewed version, it has evolved to be even more comfortable and sustainable than its original 1970s counterpart.
Designed in 1972, a time that included pivotal changes in women’s rights and laws, Mario Bellini sought to present an image of an emancipated woman. One who is in full control of her own seductive strength and independence, mirroring cinema, music, art, and fashion of the same period. A great societal and cultural movement was globally expanding. Street demonstrations were attended by thousands of women, laws were enacted pertaining to careers, initiatives were created for family law, and referendums on divorce and abortion rights resulted in success.

The first campaign for Le Bambole launched at the 1972 Salone de Mobile, featuring Andy Warhol’s Factory model Donna Jordan, beautifully photographed by Oliviero Toscani. The topless, relaxed, and happy figure lounging on Le Bambole was instantly censored. However, this did not deter the design from receiving recognition and being regarded as highly memorable. Le Bambole won the Compasso d’Oro in 1979, exploding with success in it’s first years before going on to be a permanent feature in the B&B Italia catalogue.
Perhaps it was the company’s trademark of an equally solid interior metal frame softened with generous polyurethane padding that enchanted the public. Or maybe the specially designed upholstery that provided elasticity and support. Either way, Le Bambole impressively captures the look and feel of generous, curvaceous, feminine shapes; the new design evoking a more contemporary style, revised elements, and environmentally conscious fabric options.
Mario Bellini

“I feel the pleasure of revisiting this family again, because it confirms to me that it is anything but aged; on the contrary, it is enjoying a thriving and promising second life, a rebirth done in a big way, done with enthusiasm, ad breadth, with decorations and with the original flourishes. We have recovered its charm, its sumptuous floridity, its softness.”
Restarting from the basic elements: the Bambola armchair, the Bibambola two-seater sofa, the Bamboletto double bed, and the three-seater; adaptions in the shape have been made to meet today’s needs without any loss of comfort.
The three-seater sofa, upgraded to the title Granbambola, now has a deeper seat area for plenty of lounging room. The original metal structure has been replaced with recycled polyethylene, elements are shaped by polyurethane foam and thermoplastic elastomers provide the definition of comfort and breathability. The sustainable nature of the developed Le Bambole means the entire structure can be disassembled, allowing for easy and efficient recyclability.

A new range of upholstery fabrics begins with Sila. With the option of eight different colors, the sable fabric is irregular, yet amplifies the effect of softness due to its three-dimensional nature that disguises the orthogonal appearance of warping. Manila fabric is introduced as a dreamy and humorous floral print. This surprising outfit for Le Bambole is classically decorated in large roses, a limited edition run available in white or black versions. As a high-quality option, Kasia leather satisfies touch and sight, a soft and naturally marked full-grain leather sheathes Le Bambole in a cloak of refined elegance.