Formitalia’s David Overi on crafting a luxury furniture collection inspired by DC’s Bruce Wayne

David, it’s great to connect. Before we explore your Bruce Wayne furniture collection, for anyone new to Formitalia, how would you describe the company’s approach to design?
From our great-grandfather – who produced cement, built houses, designed roofs and invented the modern joist floor – to our father, who started out producing textiles and went on to open woodworking and polyurethane companies until he put it all together and made finished products… We precisely design products.

This new range is inspired by Batman himself, Bruce Wayne. What aspects of the character did you lean on when designing the line?
We were simply inspired by Bruce Wayne’s lifestyle… His penthouse, his beautiful properties and his taste for beautiful things, including art, sports cars, haute couture and design. We thank the WB and DC managers who supported us. Their trust stimulated me, my brother Gianni and my son Duccio and our collaborators to give their best.

Why do you feel the character worked as the inspiration for a furniture collection?
Luxury cars, tailored clothes, beautiful homes, fabulous women… He boasts a unique and enviable lifestyle, and we tried to make Wayne Enterprises’ interiors a part of that lifestyle.

“Our goal was to create environments that would represent a Bruce Wayne style – without bats flying around!”

The range looks great and strikes a neat balance of being subtle, but the Wayne-connections are there if you know! For example, the lights look like bats from a distance… The rug design is actually a map of Gotham… How did you strike that balance between designing items that captured the character, but weren’t too ‘in your face’ with the references?
Thank you for the compliment, I, my brother and our collaborators also like the line very much and I hope our customers do too. Our goal was to create complete environments that even without big brand names showing – or ‘bats’ flying around! – would ideally represent a Bruce Wayne style and emanate its spirit.

After we signed the agreement with WB, the emotion was great – and so was the responsibility we felt! We couldn’t make a mistake. Then we looked around at who could be the right designer for the style we wanted for Wayne Enterprises… Gabriele Chiave of Controvento was the right ‘key’ to get into the spirit of the Bruce Wayne character and thus enter into what would be the imagery of a ‘Bruce’ house.

Other designers have come up with concepts that we will develop soon… Dainelli, Carlos Osman and Woody YAO of Zaha Hadid Design Studio and Klaus Busse of Stellantis Design are among those from whom I would like to have some ‘special’ designs for the WE collection.

A lot of what we are presenting has been designed by Formitalia Design Studio and elaborated on by our incredible craftsmen… Eco-sustainable precious leathers, recyclable materials, metal accessories, precious marbles and a lot of passion have made this dream possible…

Alongside furniture, the range also includes some fantastic light sculptures…
Yes! The icing on the cake… The gift given to us by Marco Lodola. Marco is a fan of DC Comics and he is a great contemporary artist, famous for having enriched the windows and facades of all Dior stores in the world. He’s someone with whom we have collaborated for over 20 years. When he heard about Warner Bros, DC Comics and Wayne Enterprise he immediately started working and has developed incredible light sculptures, of great effect and value. They are a tribute to characters who made Bruce Wayne even more important – but it’s only the beginning… You’ll see.

Nicely teased! Now, what’s the key to crafting authentic licensed furniture?
Meet the expectations the public has of the brand and, if possible, exceed them… Bring the brand into the world of lifestyle and design, without abusing the brand or diminishing its value. Instead, where possible – in our own small way – we want to increase it.`

Before I let you go, I wanted to ask about the future of this collaboration. It sounds like more launches are on the way?
This is only the beginning. We hope to continue to present new collections that are appreciated by the public… Ranges that somehow make them dream of being superheroes in their homes or in their offices, whether in downtown Manhattan, Los Angeles or in our Florence makes little difference…

Great stuff. Thanks again David.