The stories that made us: Trillipse
Chairman and founder Colin Mustoe MBE worked with British industrial designer Paul Brooks to develop a distinctive triangular steel tube, moving away from the round or square profiles common at the time.
“Paul Brooks deserves every credit for what he did. And the beauty of the chair is that it’s still made to this day. It’s one of the best chairs we ever did,” says Colin.
At the heart of the design is the unique “trilliptical” frame, first conceptualised in wood before being translated into steel. The triangular geometry distributes load more effectively than standard tubing, making the chair exceptionally strong while maintaining a refined, lightweight appearance. Hidden welds beneath the seat allow for maximum structural integrity without compromising the clean lines of the design.
Since its launch in 2000, over 750,000 Trillipse chairs have been manufactured, establishing it as a true multi-purpose chair family. “We first exhibited [Trillipse] at Orgatec in Germany, and to our amazement, three or four international companies wanted to license it. So again, it demonstrated to us the importance of good design.
"Design is everything. Without design, you have nothing."
Listen to our Chairman Colin Mustoe talking about the making of the iconic Trillipse chair.
Watch the full video on YouTube“If I ever talk to people today about business, I tell them design is everything. Without design, you have nothing. If you've got an original design, then you've got something that is very hard to copy usually. And it moves you to another level,” says Colin.
Designed for workplace and educational environments, the range includes cantilever, four-leg and motion options, with a wide variety of finishes and aesthetics. Our latest photography showcases how one iconic frame continues to evolve, adapting seamlessly to different spaces, styles and uses.
