We are often asked how our seats are created and what values underpin our company. When we answer that we are a historic Italian company that has chosen not to relocate and to continue producing in Italy, our interlocutor often looks at us with surprise. Today, we want to explain why we continue to believe that Made in Italy is a value that must be defended.
We are often asked how our seats are created and what values underpin our company. When we answer that we are a historic Italian company that has chosen not to relocate and to continue producing in Italy, our interlocutor often looks at us with surprise. Today, we want to explain why we continue to believe that Made in Italy is a value that must be defended.
The Beginnings of Sem
Let’s start from our origins. The brand Sem was born as a branch of Milani, a company that since 1975 has been creating office chairs and more. The goal of the newborn brand was to meet the needs of a constantly evolving and increasingly complex market, offering functional, high-quality, ergonomic, innovative, and last but not least, sustainable products.
On one hand, we wanted to continue with our consolidated activity, that is, the creation of chairs with a strong Italian tradition; on the other hand, we wanted a simpler product, suitable also for a very young audience, design lovers and at the same time aware of the importance of quality and its impact on human well-being.
The Values That Distinguish Sem Seats
Our chairs, drawing on the experience gained with Milani, are therefore designed to guarantee comfort and well-being for the user, as well as proper ergonomics in compliance with European standards, and in some cases also with American ones.
We therefore offer six different lines of Sem seats, simple yet functional, suitable for various usage contexts. First, there is the office environment, followed by shared spaces such as waiting rooms and hotels, and finally the domestic environment. Within the Sem catalog, you will find office chairs, managerial chairs, operational chairs, the visitor line (dedicated to waiting rooms), stools, benches, and sofas.
All our products are the result of extensive research, both in terms of functional design and high aesthetic value, as well as sustainability. Not by chance, plastics, fabrics, leathers, and coverings are subjected to strict tests that identify them as high-quality, sustainable products suitable for a demanding audience.
This is how Sem was born, initially as a pilot project that confronted us with a great challenge, but which then pushed us to believe once again in the possibilities of Made in Italy design.
The Evolution of Sem
When many companies in our sector were already relocating to countries offering more favorable economic conditions for business development, we chose to differentiate ourselves and continue playing this game at home. Yes, because it’s not really just a game. Quality, comfort, design, and sophistication have always been our values, and at the same time, they are the key principles on which the concept of Made in Italy is founded.
Among the reasons why many companies, not only large and medium-sized, relocate, there is above all the reduction of labor costs and business expenses. These conditions are often very appealing to entrepreneurs who see costs decrease and profits increase, sometimes at the expense of product quality.
Covid-19 has taught us a lot regarding this aspect as well. It showed us how important it is to produce in Italy, shorten delivery times, control the product, be independent from external market factors, and much more.
Our choice is confirmed today as even more correct: preserving Made in Italy (the real one) means defending Italian companies.
Italy has a long-standing design tradition, and enhancing this aspect means first of all preserving it, defending it, and promoting it. The quality of Italian products can be seen and felt—fabrics, finishes, attention to detail—these are aspects that are never secondary in our sector, and this is a value in which we want to continue believing.