130 YEARS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP
What kind of mattress do you sleep on, Marie? I sleep on an Arpège mattress, the softest model in our range. I’ve just changed to its semi-firm version. I love the way it surrounds you and gives good back support. Do you have a favourite bed model ? I really like the legacy model designed by Paris-based interior architect Pascal Desprez. It has something of a Japanese feel, with a lacquered wood headboard resembling stacked sabres, along with a metallic finish fabric. I love the contrast here: it’s a sophisticated, carefully designed and yet unpretentious model. I think it’s a pity it didn’t catch on – perhaps it was just a little too ahead of its time. I do think customers could be a bit more daring in their choices sometimes! Beds can easily be upgraded: changing the fabric is easily done in our workshops, and it can completely change the atmosphere of a bedroom.
Typically, we sew mattress handles and do quilting by hand, using knowhow that’s passed on in our workshops. Genuine excellence is all about the details. I want us to grow, but to do so whilst remaining faithful to our values. That also involves innovation so that we continue to improve the comfort of our products, anticipate needs and adjust to the expectations of future generations. We regularly work with graduate schools to inform our thinking and explore new avenues. This research dynamic has also led to the development of exclusive springs; these are at the heart of our bed systems, in fact it’s one of our greatest strengths: designing our own springs allows us to push back the boundaries of comfort and most importantly, stand out from the competition. What values did your parents pass on to you ? I think my guiding principle is respect for others. I don’t have a very top-down vision of corporate relations. I see relationships between people as quite horizontal; we move forward together, motivated by a common aim.
The next most important things for me are sustainability and authenticity. We urgently need to return to a more authentic, sustainable way of life for the sake of our planet’s future. You were eleven when your father, François Pugliese, bought Elite in 2006. Has that changed your life ? Not really; he’s always been somebody who’s worked hard. What’s changed is the scope of his responsibilities. Becoming an entrepreneur means carrying the weight of a company and its future on your shoulders. At the same time, being at the helm is something he enjoys. I feel very much the same way. Seeking new developments and improving processes isn’t a chore for me, it’s a pleasure. I think that’s precisely the energy we need to nurture for the future of Elite. Our workshops are proud of what they do and delighted to be able to show it off at open-doors events. If an entire company believes in what it’s doing, the whole entity moves forward; that’s how I see Elite and I believe that’s what gives us our strength.
April 2025: Opening of a new showroom in Chongqing, China.
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