Le Bambole is a true legend of 1970s design! Designed by the brilliant Mario Bellini in the early '70s, it even snagged the prestigious 'Compasso d'Oro' design award in 1979. Impressive, right?

The concept behind this gem was all about creating a seating experience where the cushions and fabric take the spotlight. It's all about maximum comfort and feeling like you're lounging on a big, plush pillow. Mario Bellini himself described it that way!

But here's the juicy part: The marketing campaign for Le Bambole was a game-changer. The mastermind behind B&B Italia, Piero Busnelli, brought in photographer Oliviero Toscani to create some seriously eye-catching visuals. They even had the iconic Donna Jordan, muse of Andy Warhol, posing in daring and rebellious ways. It definitely turned some heads, although some poses had to be toned down due to being too provocative. But hey, it created quite the buzz and made this incredible sofa even more sought after.

And guess what? Le Bambole is still in production today, with a few minor updates to keep up with the times. It's a timeless piece that has maintained its allure throughout the years. So, if you're in the market for a touch of vintage elegance and a nod to the past, Le Bambole is definitely worth considering

Mario Bellini Sofa Le Bambole Sofa — original ad from the period. Vintage Le Bambole sofa now available at www.designitalia.com

Excerpt from B&B Italia website explains the concept wonderfully:

'“The original idea was that of a bag containing amorphous material which, resting on the ground, would squash to model its contents. Following research carried out by the designer together with the company's Research and Development Centre, the idea was moved towards the shape of a cushion. In this way, between 1970 and 1972, LE BAMBOLE was born. The search for a new type of upholstered product: a large cushion that was soft all over. From the very beginning, the project involved the development of a whole range of products, from armchairs to beds, all with the same look. Disassembling LE BAMBOLE into parts gave even more cushions, i.e. a natural "free" form, difficult to summarise into a design drawing but easy to perceive and analyze. Inside there was a "framework", i.e. vertical corners or elastic membranes that combined form and fabric to create a balance between action and reaction. LE BAMBOLE products, according to Bellini, are not covered in fabric, but rather built from fabric, using special strong materials, the fruit of research into technical and military applications. Icon of the Seventies and winner of the Compasso d'Oro in 1979, LE BAMBOLE never gets old. What makes the design special is the apparent lack of a load-bearing structure, the extreme naturalness of the shapes, and the combination of comfort, softness, and elasticity that the pieces clearly communicate.