Toyota Harrier and a Masterpiece Sofa in Special Collaboration | Arflex

Arflex

The "Marenco" Sofa, Specially Crafted for the Toyota Harrier, is Born

The Iconic Sofa Features Exclusive Purple Interior Material from a Special Edition Vehicle

Toyota's crossover SUV, the "HARRIER," is adorned with a sophisticated, exclusive interior color.Special Edition PREMIUM "Style MAUVE"To commemorate its launch, a collaborative cafe, "TOYOTA HARRIER CAFE," will open from June 24th (Wednesday) to 28th (Sunday) at the Roppongi Hills Grand Roof Plaza in Tokyo. Here, a special sofa, "HARRIER MARENCO," crafted using the exclusive interior material, will be unveiled, a collaboration with "MARENCO," the signature sofa from furniture brand Arflex. What is the full story behind this special collaboration?

Photographs by KOBAYASHI Takashi (ITARUstudio)Text by YANAKA Tomomi

An Iconic Sofa, Unwavering in Popularity for 44 Years Since Its Debut

Arflex, a brand born in Italy in 1951 and established in Japan in 1969, is known as "Italian in origin, Japanese in upbringing." The collaboration features "MARENCO," the brand's masterpiece sofa, said to have been born from a sketch by Mario Marenco, a leading figure in Italian modern design, and named after him.

Since its launch in 1971, "Marenco" has captivated Japan. With its simple, unadorned, and distinctive form, resembling stacked cushions, and its exceptional comfort, durability, and ease of maintenance, it remains an iconic sofa, cherished for over 40 years since its release.Recent collaborations include dynamic and humorous textiles by Masaru Suzuki, demonstrating an unceasing pursuit to expand the potential of the Marenco sofa.

"We have made over 100 design modifications, but this has been less about changing the design to follow trends and more about nurturing it by incorporating cutting-edge materials and superior techniques of each era. This sofa comes with a 10-year warranty, but the idea of replacing the consumable covers (upholstery) was an innovation from Japan, which was then re-imported to Italy, becoming one of Marenco's distinctive features.

Collaborating with industries like fashion and automotive, which constantly update designs and functionality to the latest standards while embracing current trends, offers many learning opportunities," says Akira Kashiwagi, Executive Officer and General Manager of Retail at Arflex Japan.

An Unprecedented Partnership: Automotive Interior Material Meets Sofa Design

The special sofa "Harrier Marenco" is born from this collaboration between Marenco and Harrier. It utilizes the exclusive interior material in the "Steel Mauve" color, featured in the recently released special edition PREMIUM "Style MAUVE" with minor improvements.

Many of Arflex's sofa products sold in Japan are crafted by skilled artisans at the company's factory in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, a renowned furniture production region globally. The Harrier Marenco was also specially produced at this factory.

Regarding this original "purple" color, Kashiwagi comments, "Purple is an elegant and noble color, making it quite challenging to work with, but it has turned out beautifully. This is our first collaboration with an automobile, and the interior of a car is a very personal space where comfort is paramount. The desire to personalize one's space is the same whether it's a room or a car. I believe this Harrier Marenco has allowed the Marenco's individuality to shine anew, reflecting the Harrier's 'alluring yet formal' stance."

"Although Marenco has been loved for a long time since its debut in 1971, through this initiative, I hope it becomes a great opportunity for younger generations and discerning individuals who appreciate the coolness of driving an SUV like the Harrier in an urban setting to discover Marenco," he adds.

The Harrier's interior design team stated, "With the Marenco collaboration, we want many people to experience the interior space in Steel Mauve. We hope they feel that this subtle nuance of purple (Steel Mauve), inspired by global menswear collections, subtly expresses the Harrier's characteristic modernity, elegance, and a man's refined allure."

The resulting sofa exudes a chic and calm atmosphere with its original "Steel Mauve" color, a key element of the Harrier's interior. The stitching on the sofa uses "Dark Violet" to complement the Steel Mauve. Furthermore, an original logo is affixed to the front of the sofa, creating a special piece that embodies mature sophistication with meticulous attention to detail.

The Toyota Harrier Cafe Will Also Feature an Exhibition of the "Harrier Marenco"

At the limited-time collaborative cafe, "TOYOTA HARRIER CAFE", held from June 24th (Wednesday) to 28th (Sunday) at the Roppongi Hills Grand Roof Plaza in Tokyo, the Marenco sofa, in collaboration with the Harrier, will be on display. Placed on a purple carpet, the "Harrier Marenco" will allow visitors to experience the sophisticated world of Style MAUVE.

Additionally, at the venue, "Sarutahiko Coffee," a specialty coffee shop in Ebisu that has been a pioneer of the "third wave coffee" movement gaining attention in Japan since its founding in 2011, will offer an original signature coffee themed around purple, created exclusively for the Harrier. Visitors can relax on the special sofa while savoring this unique coffee.

This fusion of Toyota's carefully selected color and exclusive interior material for the Style MAUVE's world, with Arflex's masterpiece sofa, a representative of interior excellence. We invite you to indulge in this meticulously crafted sofa and its refined ambiance.

*The following event has concluded.

TOYOTA HARRIER CAFE
<Roppongi Hills Grand Roof Plaza Venue>
Location: 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Dates: June 24 (Wed) - 28 (Sun)
Hours: 11:00 - 21:00 *June 24 (Wed) from 18:00
Official HP: http://toyota.jp/harrier/cp/harriercafe2015/