Design Matters
KETTAL vice president goes into detail on running a family business, maintaining high standards, and creating timeless pieces
ounded by Manuel Alorda in 1966, Spanish furniture company KETTAL has come to be one of the best when it comes to outdoor design. Having been around for 50 years now, it remains to be a family venture, capably run and managed by Manuel and his son Alex. All products are manufactured at their Bellvei factory in Tarragona, where they are able to pay utmost attention to quality and oversee the production process to the last detail. This results in a timeless, functional piece that can be handed down from generation to generation. What are some of the most important lessons that you have learnt from your father? Work, common sense, and the concept of inheritance and timelessness. The terms Why choose to concentrate on outdoor furniture? We present a practical solution for our customers. Many have used our pieces indoors because our materials are low maintenance and easy to clean. What are some of the most memorable collaborations you’ve had? Our first designer item was Oscar Tusquets’ chair, but the biggest step forward came in 2006 with Patricia Urquiola’s Maia collection. She reinvented outdoor furniture with this collection, producing a new interwoven design with energy, character, and a three-dimensional feel. It marked the start of a new phase for our garden furniture catalogue. How does KettAl keep up with the growing demands of the design industry? We try to be a global brand, so our designs need to be global as well. We want to maintain our design and quality standards, creating pieces that are beautiful today and will still be in 30 years.