Roche Bobois is a renowned French furniture design and retail company that came into being following the collaboration of two Parisian families, the Roches and the Chouchans. Although details about its logo evolution are sketchy, the article brings to the fore such details and other information about the company.
The Genesis of the Roche Bobois Logo (???? – Present)
While details about the original logo design are not widely documented, the Roche Bobois logo has consistently reflected modernity, simplicity, and elegance. Besides, it aligns with the brand’s ethos of “design for living”. The logo uses clean sans-serif typography and a straightforward layout that conveys sophistication and timelessness. It features the brand name “rochebobois” in a combination of bold and normal styles in black lowercase. Beneath the brand name is mentioned “PARIS” in small uppercase with adequate spacing between characters.
The Elements of the Roche Bobois Logo
Font
The Roche Bobois logotype uses a modern, sans-serif font that is clean and legible and reflects contemporary design trends.
Colour
The Roche Bobois logo employs typically black or dark tones as its colour palette to emphasise elegance and versatility.
The History of Roche Bobois
The story of Roche Bobois begins in 1950 when Jacques Roche purchased the old Alexandre Dumas theatre in Paris and converted it into contemporary furniture stores inspired by the Bauhaus movement. His sons, François and Philippe Roche, joined the business and focused on distributing contemporary furniture influenced by designers like Pierre Paulin and Marc Berthier. Meanwhile, the Chouchan family operated a furniture store called “Au Beau Bois” in Paris, which later came to be known as Bobois.
In 1960, at the Copenhagen Furniture Fair, the Roche brothers met Patrick and Jean-Claude Chouchan. They decided to join forces to import Scandinavian furniture to Paris by combining their resources and expertise. This partnership led to the creation of their first joint catalogue and the launch of a national franchise network. It was a revolutionary model of its time that focused on retail without owning manufacturing resources.
In 1961, Roche Bobois launched its first joint advertising campaign in Elle magazine, which helped boost brand recognition and sales. The company expanded internationally by opening showrooms in various countries. These included Belgium (1965), Canada (1973), the US and Spain (1974), and Italy (1995). During the 1970s, Roche Bobois began collaborating with designers such as Hans Hopfer, whose “Mah Jong” sofa became an iconic and best-selling piece, known for its modular design and versatility.
The 1980s saw the introduction of the “Provinciales” collection, which was aimed at the owners of country homes. Also, during the 1990s, the “Voyages” collection was introduced, which reflected ethnic and global influences in furniture design. At the start of the 21st century, Roche Bobois partnered with renowned designers and architects to create exclusive pieces. The first showroom in China opened in 2004, which marked a significant step in global expansion. By then, Roche Bobois had opened its 100th showroom abroad.
The company also launched design competitions to foster emerging talent, with events held in China, Morocco, and the UK. Since 2011, Roche Bobois has introduced new collections every six months. It has maintained a strong presence with around 250 showrooms worldwide, which include 80 corporate-owned locations in 45 countries.
Roche Bobois is known for its unique blend of art and functionality. It often collaborates with famous designers such as Pierre Paulin, Kenzo Takada, Gautier, and Christian Lacroix. This approach has given the brand a distinctive creative vision that sets it apart in the luxury furniture market. The company’s commitment to innovation and design excellence has helped it become an international reference for high-end furniture and a symbol of French “Art de Vivre”.².
Interesting Facts About Roche Bobois
- Roche Bobois was founded in 1960 in France, but its origins go back even further, with the Roche and Chouchan families in Paris. Today, it has a strong international presence with over 250 showrooms in more than 50 countries.
- Roche Bobois is known for collaborating with world-renowned designers, architects, and fashion houses. These include names like Jean Paul Gaultier, Kenzo Takada, Missoni Home, and Marcel Wanders.
- Nearly every Roche Bobois piece is fully customisable, as customers can choose everything from fabric and colour to dimensions and finishes. Its motto is “Your imagination is the limit.”
- Roche Bobois emphasises eco-design, using European manufacturing, FSC-certified wood, water-based glues, and recycling-conscious processes. It’s luxury with a conscience.
- Roche Bobois furniture has appeared in several movies and luxury commercials. The Mah Jong sofa is one of their most iconic pieces and has become a recognisable pop culture symbol.
- Originally designed by Hans Hopfer in the 1970s, the Mah Jong is a modular, low-profile sofa that can be stacked, arranged, or sprawled on in every possible way. It’s playful, elegant, and endlessly reconfigurable.
- Despite its global size, Roche Bobois has kept its family-run spirit intact. The company remains privately owned, which allows for a distinctive creative freedom in its collections.
- It operates more like a fashion house than a traditional furniture brand. It launches new collections twice a year and always reflects current design trends, colours, and cultural influences.
Finally
The Roche Bobois logo shows the journey of the company from a local Parisian furniture store to a global design icon. It represents a blend of tradition and modernity and has helped establish Roche Bobois as a symbol of French creativity and international style in the furniture industry. This logo embodies the growth, collaborations with renowned designers, and the commitment of the brand to innovation. It has made Roche Bobois a lasting emblem of contemporary living and design excellence.