The Iconic Togo Sofa: Why Is It So?
Designed by Michel Ducaroy in 1973, the iconic Togo sofa was a revolutionary seating concept that took the design world by storm. It’s slouchy, wrinkled silhouette has captivated comfort-seekers and design-devotees for over 50 years.
The Togo sofa was dreamed up especially for afternoon siestas and lazy evenings spent in the greatest of comfort. Inspired by a humble tube of toothpaste, Ducaroy’s body-hugging, award-winning design is now one of the most collectable items in the world.
In fact, 1973 was not only the year Togo was born. It was the very same year Ligne Roset, the French manufacturer behind Togo, was also launched. Ever since, the Togo has been handcrafted in their provincial factories of Briord.
Why is the iconic Togo sofa a cult classic when it comes to collectible and coveted couches? Here we break down the key facts about this iconic sofa.
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Who designed the Togo sofa?
Michel Ducaroy is the savvy designer behind Togo. Ducaroy came from a family line of designers of contemporary furniture. He possessed an intense spirit of innovation and embarked on a quest for new seating concepts. Always fascinated by shape, he studied sculpture at École Supérieure Nationale des Beaux Arts de Lyon.
What inspired the Togo sofa’s shape?
The iconic Togo sofa was famously inspired by “a tube of toothpaste folded back on itself like a stovepipe and closed at both ends”. With the advent of new materials (foams and polyester quilting) and production techniques in 1960-70, Ducaroy was fascinated.
As a result, he created several all-foam seating concepts and experimented with this new know-how, before conceiving the Togo. Designs such as Adria, Kali (1970), Safi and Marsala (1971) paved the way, feeding his intense drive towards innovation.
However, it was Ducaroy’s subsequent incarnation – Togo – which has become a fashion behemoth.
Has the Togo won awards?
The Togo ‘seat cushion’ was presented at the Salon des Arts Ménagers in Paris 1973. This moment in time earned Michel Ducaroy his celebrity.
According to Ligne Roset insiders, “It was here that the Togo’s crumpled, newborn, appearance and Shar-Pei-like wrinkles earned it more than a few doubtful looks from professionals and public alike”.
However, organisers of the fair were sufficiently impressed. They awarded Ducaroy the 1973 René-Gabriel prize. This prize recognised ‘innovative and democratic furniture’ that is, furniture items which offered a good price to quality ratio.
Is the Togo couch comfortable?
The Togo sofa is ergonomically designed and incredibly comfortable. It is crafted from three different types of polyurethane foam, each with a different density.
The Togo does away with springs, base, feet and armrests to create a sofa that sits low to the ground. Its all-foam cushion seat has no hard points at all and its unassuming sturdy structure ‘hugs’ the body.
Why is the Togo sofa iconic?
Taste-innovators and trend-setters of the 1960s and 70s found the distinctly shaped Togo very appealing. Togo’s shape, design and casualness went against the ‘norm’ and challenged what a traditional sofa represented.
“With social attitudes evolving, the hippie generation quickly seized on the Togo as a place to curl up and enjoy their new idleness and aspirations to being different,” reveals a Ligne Roset source.
Togo gradually built its reputation as a cult item, emblematic of this revolutionary modernity. Adding to its allure is that the characteristic design complements both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Why is the Togo chair famous?
The iconic Togo chair and sofa have been a fashion behemoth for over 50 years. Its highly sought-after, unique appearance, meticulously handcrafted construction and array of leather and fabric covering options have helped built the cult-following of Togo. The Togo Fireside Chair is an unparalleled design piece.
With Togo, one may create an individual, personality-filled sofa that is also a comfortable spot to repose in a home. Limited edition upholstery collaborations with renowned artists and designers like Paul Smith, Philippe Nigro and Liberty of London further enhance Togo’s appeal as a collector’s item.
Being both design savvy and practical, Togo has turned up in many iconic and influential spaces:
Celebrities: Legendary rocker Lenny Kravitz, French DJ Bob Sinclair, Guns ‘n’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum. Also French actor Florence Foresti, electronic musician Marc Rebillet, actor/director Colman Domingo and many others.
Style influencers: Lucy Feagins, Tash Sefton, Pernille Teisbaek and more.
Hotels: The now, sadly closed, iconic Standard Hotel, Hollywood, USA. Mi Hotel, Lyon, France.
The Togo’s distinctive soft, pleated form continues to seduce today. With over 1,500,000 lovingly made Togo pieces homed around the world, it’s easy to see why it’s been an iconic sofa for over two generations. In fact, buying a Togo means you are buying a piece of design history.
The iconic Ligne Roset Togo sofa is available exclusively in Australia at DOMO, alongside the extended collection of Small Settee, Large Settee, Corner Seat, Footstool and Mini Togo.
Stocking only the finest international brands, DOMO is Australia’s leading curator of luxury furniture, lighting and homewares.
