Every now and then, there’s a piece that manages to outlive the trend cycle, becoming a truly timeless design icon. And for the past 50 years, this ‘it’ piece has been Ligne Roset’s Togo Sofa.
The sofa’s distinctive lines and pillowy silhouette is instantly recognisable, having taken the design world by storm ever since it was designed in 1973 — the same year the French brand behind the Togo was also launched.
Believe it or not, designer Michel Ducaroy was famously inspired to create Togo by ‘a tube of toothpaste folded back on itself like a stovepipe and closed at both ends’. After experimenting with new materials including foams, polyester quilting, and innovative production techniques throughout the 60s, he finally dreamed up the now-famous Togo.
It was perfectly 70s, but today it still strikes just the right balance between retro and contemporary. In Australia, Ligne Roset’s Togo is stocked exclusively at DOMO, in an extensive range of fabric options like buttery soft leathers, luxurious velvets, and in almost every colour you could dream of from neutrals to bold tones. And we’ve seen it styled in so many TDF home tours over the years!
In interior designer Leigh Ellwood’s 1930s apartment, it’s a dreamy lilac hero piece amongst her mash-up of ‘old and new’ design, while Frank Body co-founder Bree Johnson’s tonal family home shows the Togo’s modular options in a moody, deep tone.
‘The pieces for us are forever being shuffled; into one long line for movie watching to two separate pieces for entertaining, to a cubby house for the kids,’ Bree says. ‘Its a couch that’s as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing.’ Content creators Josh Jessup and Matt Moss agree, saying they love how ‘it can shapeshift to fit any interior style’.
The sofa is crafted from three different types of foam, each with a different density. It’s been championed for its casual and cosy shape, doing away with traditional springs, base, feet, and armrests, to create a body-hugging sofa that sits low to the ground.
For local stylist Nat Turnbull, the Togo’s ergonomic design was a big part of its appeal when she picked it out for her Melbourne home after having it on her wishlist for years. ‘I think of furniture as usable sculptures for the home, but I have a tendency to love beautiful, but uncomfortable, chairs,’ Nat says. ‘So [the Togo] was a win-win for me.’
There’s no denying this iconic piece brings personality to any room. And everyone who has one seems to have a personal story behind their Togo and why they love it. Perhaps that’s why it’s more relevant than ever, even 50 years on!
In celebration of the Togo’s 50th anniversary, Ligne Roset has released a limited-edition fabric by artist Heather Chontos with Pierre Frey, now available from DOMO for order.
Join DOMO as they reflect on the Togo’s history with the ‘Togo 50:50 Exhibition – 50 Individual Spaces: 50 years of Togo’. Open to the public from June 13-August 3, at DOMO Alexandria, 61/63 O’Riordan St, Alexandria NSW.
