The furniture manufacturers and entrepreneurs Dino Gavina and Cesare Cassina founded Flos which became one of the leading Italian light manufacturers in the second half of the 20th century. Its origins lay in the energy of Arturo Eisenkeil who, in 1959, was seeking to find applications for a new, plastic-based material that he was importing to Italy from the United States. Called ‘cocoon’, it was a spray-on plastic coating that Gavina and Cassina recognized as having potential for lighting design. From the outset, Flos established its reputation through its innovative lighting designs from Achille Castiglioni. The collaboration with Achille Castiglioni continued through the '90s, and in 1992 he introduced the "family of products" concept to the market with the Brera series. At the same time, Flos continued to scout for emerging talent at an international level. The first Philippe Starck lamp, Ârŕ, was produced in 1998, followed by the Miss Sissi lamp, Romeo Moon, and Archimoon series.
