Fermob History
Fermob—founded in 1890 in Thoissey, France—gets its name from the French words “fer” (iron) and “mobilier” (furniture), fittingly named as they were the forerunners of metal outdoor furniture in the late 19th century. Today they continue to be the leading specialists in colorful patio furniture for personal and public spaces. There are two notable collections that helped Fermob make its name, Bistro and Luxembourg, both of which have rich histories.
The iconic Bistro sets seen at cafés and restaurants around the globe were originally designed as a way for business owners not to have to pay a fee for a permanent patio space as the chairs and tables could be easily folded and stored away at the end of the day. Fermob’s Bistro Collection is actually designed from the original “Simplex” patent registered by Edouard Leclerc in 1889, the same year the Eiffel Tower was unveiled. In 2014 Fermob commemorated the 125th anniversary of both the Eiffel Tower and their iconic Bistro Chair by creating a miniature (43 feet tall) statue of the Eiffel Tower out of 342 red metal Bistro Chairs.
Several decades after the success of the Bistro chair, came the origins of the Luxembourg Chair which was initially named SENAT when it was created for the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris in 1923. Years later in 1990 the French Senate called for Fermob to provide nearly 2,000 SENAT chairs to be used in the Luxembourg, Tuilleries, and Palais-Royal gardens. In the early 2000’s, now a staple of Parisian garden furniture, the SENAT once again needed an upgrade, so Fermob commissioned designer Frédéric Sofia to reinterpret the original designs into what we now know as the Luxembourg Collection. The result of Sofia’s work is a designer furniture line with greater comfort, iconic forms, and practicality seen in light stackable frames.
Fermob continues to amaze us year after year with their innovative designs and dedication to comfort, style, and functionality. Bon Marché is proud to have worked in tandem with them for over 14 years now!
