Back to the roots of luxury.
A short history of luxury
Historically, luxury items were truly rare – crafted by master artisans who dedicated their lives to perfecting their craft. These weren't items produced on assembly lines; they were unique pieces that represented the pinnacle of human skill and creativity.
In the late 20th century, enormous conglomerates acquired traditional luxury houses and scaled them beyond recognition. This fundamentally altered the essence of luxury. What was once exclusive and artisanal became standardized and mass-produced.
Consider this paradox: How can something be truly luxurious if it's manufactured in the thousands, or even millions? True luxury, by definition, must be special and rare. When we see the same branded bags on thousands of arms in every major city, we're not witnessing luxury – we're witnessing mass-produced goods at inflated prices. Mass production, even at high price points, often leads to compromises. When products are designed to meet quarterly sales targets rather than achieve perfection, it shows. The emphasis shifts from craftsmanship to efficiency, from excellence to adequacy. The soul of luxury – that connection between maker and object, between craft and creation – disappears.
In the late 20th century, enormous conglomerates acquired traditional luxury houses and scaled them beyond recognition. This fundamentally altered the essence of luxury. What was once exclusive and artisanal became standardized and mass-produced.
Consider this paradox: How can something be truly luxurious if it's manufactured in the thousands, or even millions? True luxury, by definition, must be special and rare. When we see the same branded bags on thousands of arms in every major city, we're not witnessing luxury – we're witnessing mass-produced goods at inflated prices. Mass production, even at high price points, often leads to compromises. When products are designed to meet quarterly sales targets rather than achieve perfection, it shows. The emphasis shifts from craftsmanship to efficiency, from excellence to adequacy. The soul of luxury – that connection between maker and object, between craft and creation – disappears.
Our story
In the late 2010s, designer Mario Gagliardi witnessed how a renowned workshop he was working with was taken over by a conglomerate. Skilled artisans lost their jobs, manufacturing was moved to huge factories, and only the brand remained of this once proud family-owned company: a whole local culture was destroyed. Then and there Mario decided to go against this flow and create his own company in order to bring luxury back to its roots, with sustainable, lasting, handcrafted design objects. To make his vision real, Mario moved to India, where he started working with accomplished master craftspeople. This was the beginning of Mario & Casa.
Back to the roots
Mario & Casa is all about bringing back the soul of luxury. Our objects are individually handcrafted with heritage techniques and materials from ethical sourcing. In our ateliers, accomplished master rug artisans, cabinetmakers and metalcrafters bring unique rugs, furniture objects and accessories to life with skill, passion and fine natural materials: New Zealand wool, exquisite raw handspun silk, brass, silver, Ash and Birch.
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Made for personality
We think that luxury is about true value and feeling valued as a unique human being. Therefore true discernment isn’t about mass culture trends, but about embracing the authentic and extraordinary. Exceptional interiors impress with personality and character. That is why our collections can be discovered according to historical styles,
design patterns and inspirational themes to perfectly fit the character and mood you envision, from bold floral designs such as Paradiso to modern graphical motifs such as Linea. Create personality-driven spaces by blending bold colors,
intricate patterns and nature-inspired textures.
Objects such as our Metamorfosi dining tables, the Storie del Giappone or Meraviglie collections reflect our narrative-driven approach, blending historical and cultural motifs with modern aesthetics.
From the classical Traliccio line, offered in many color combinations to suit every shade of elegant interiors, to Minimali, artistic and minimalist rugs for contemporary spaces, our collections highlight meticulous craftsmanship.
For professionals working with contract and residential projects, we offer bespoke services for rugs and fine furniture.
For professionals working with contract and residential projects, we offer bespoke services for rugs and fine furniture.
A life of design
Mario & Casa founder Mario Gagliardi is not a newcomer in the world of design and luxury: After his studies under legendary designers Alessandro Mendini and Richard Sapper he designed luxury accessories for Bergdorf Goodman in the US and Takashimaya in Japan. As chief designer at LG in South Korea he was the creative force behind one of Asia's most successful luxury cosmetics series, The History of Whoo. He also was design consultant for Samsung, CEO at Qatar Foundation, and taught as design professor in Korea and Denmark. Years later, Mario opened his own design studio.
For Mario, design is a universal language to connect people with values and narratives. Mario is the grandson of Eugenie Malanotti De Caldes, an Italian family having manufactured fine fabrics since the 1300s. Mario continues his heritage as design director for De Caldes, currently offering a collection of over 150 artisanal rugs which are available here at Mario & Casa.
For Mario, design is a universal language to connect people with values and narratives. Mario is the grandson of Eugenie Malanotti De Caldes, an Italian family having manufactured fine fabrics since the 1300s. Mario continues his heritage as design director for De Caldes, currently offering a collection of over 150 artisanal rugs which are available here at Mario & Casa.
Our commitment
We create interior objects with integrity, joy, soul and passion on the fundament of centuries of craft tradition. For us, design is not only the artefact, but the fabric of relationships between times and places, individuals and communities. With every product, Mario & Casa reflects on the fundamental question of quality. We think that true quality can only be expressed in products made by hand.
We are committed to create innovative, aesthetic, long-lasting and responsible objects for living. From the first design sketch to the last finishing touch by the hands of our artisans, De Caldes rugs and Mario Gagliardi furniture objects come to life through creativity, ingenuity and skill.
