The story of Zago has its roots in the early years of the last century, in Venice. It begins life as Carlo Zago’s small carpentry workshop and rapidly grows into a business supplying some of Italy’s iconic grand hotels.
In the 1960s, Zago moves its headquarters inland and starts working in the shipbuilding industry, starting with interiors for ferries, ocean liners and other passenger vessels and then specializing in interiors for yachts for Italian and European owners. At the same time, the company continues to work on interior design projects for customers like Hermès and Cartier and enters long term relationships with some of the most interesting design firms of the time, including Sottsass Associati. With Ettore Sottsass, Aldo Cibic, Marco Zanini and Johanna Grawunder, Zago plays an active role in the Memphis adventure.
In the 1990s, after consolidating business with all the world’s most important shipping lines (Princess Cruise Line, P&O, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Costa Crociere, Princess Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line, MSC), Zago produces an average of 7,000 m2 a year of passenger areas for some of the largest ships ever built in Italy. In 1994, the company moves into the yachting world with a decision that changes its destiny: ten years later Zago joins Ferretti Group.