Our interview with Fabio Moroni, owner of Moroni Gomma

Where does the love for rubber come from?

Moroni Gomma first opened in 1919 in the premises of the Pirelli warehouse in Via Montenapoleone, which was acquired to set up a specialised rubber shop, from technical and sports articles to clothing and toys. In the immediate post-war period, the shop moved its headquarters to Corso Matteotti 14, which remained our base until 2020 when we moved to our current location in Corso Garibaldi 123. Over the years, the shop has developed into a concept store that offers original and sought-after homeware objects, favouring proposals with a high component of whimsy, functionality, and obviously design. For convenience, the retail of technical articles, rubber and plastic has been located into a separate shop, which used to be in Via Giusti 10 and since 2014 has been moved to Via Varesina 80, where it is more accessible to commercial vehicles and has a dedicated parking.

In addition to your own products, you have also the exclusive distribution of international brands in Italy, which are the most popular and what do they produce?

Moroni Gomma's distribution is characterised by proposals that are different from commercial chains, with exclusive and stimulating ideas for those who are looking for something different and unusual, in a mix of tradition and innovation: new ideas for the home and the person that are the result of our creative eye, our intuition and continuous research in all directions and all over the world, without forgetting our best sellers that have been accompanying us for a while. Among the most interesting new products launched in recent years we have the original Lunch Boxes by the English brand Black+ Blum, which revolutionised the lunch break of Italian people, the eco-friendly cardboard stools by Dutch Design Brand, the fancy eyeglasses and sunglasses by the French brand Izipizi, up to fashion accessories such as the clutch and tote bags with floral prints designed by the Spanish brand Wouf, or the street-style of the backpacks-bags by Notabag. There is also plenty of room for domestic greenery, with small Click and Grow indoor greenhouses for true enthusiasts.

What are the most successful products?

One of our greatest accomplishments is the collaboration with Izipizi, with whom we celebrated our 10th anniversary. The brand, founded by three young Parisian childhood friends, Xavier Aguera, Charles Brun and Quentin Couturier, after shocking the world with its pedestal glasses and then with magnetic glasses, has now expanded its collection by launching a fancy series of sunglasses and eyeglasses in different shapes and colours. United by the passion for design and with the mission to make people smile, last June we celebrated our 10 years together with an installation by Serena Confalonieri, which was designed to engage and entertain audiences of all ages.

Research for new objects and new brands has always been in the company's DNA, which of them represent you the most?

The component of irony, which is always present in the proposals by Moroni Gomma, together with everyday suitability and affordable price: this is the philosophy that distinguishes us and that we express through the Moroni Gomma Collection, the collection of placemats, carpets, and objects with our brand name. Our newest products are the placemats: thanks to the classic checked pattern evoking the typical Italian table, the ability to create a pleasant retro and cosy atmosphere, and the design of the plate with the golden edges apparently painted by hand, the collection takes inspiration from ironic stereotypes, the typical personalities of the Milanese scene with whom everyone has had to deal at least once in their life or, why not, with whom one can identify.

Which new products and brands will you be presenting at Milano Home?

At the fair we will present the new products by international brands distributed in Italy: the fun and imaginative collection by the Spanish brand Doiy, the new collection of sunglasses and eyeglasses by the Parisian brand Izipizi, the new record players by the American brand Crosley, the new wall-hanging subjects designed by TheLine, and the collection created by Simone et George, the beach accessories specialists. Without forgetting the new placemats and customised objects by Moroni Gomma, which will be also presented internationally in English and French versions after their début of last September at Maison&Objet.

The public can have a closer look at these proposals also at our Milanese shops in Corso Garibaldi 2 and Corso Garibaldi 123: 'the home' of accessible, useful and ironic design by Moroni Gomma.