Inside the luxury Cheshire furnishers loved by royals and the rich and famous

Celebrating its 170th anniversary, the luxury Cheshire furnishers Arighi Bianchi, a favourite among illustrious clients and a familiar sight from the Manchester to London railway line, continues to make its mark.

Situated on Silk Road in Macclesfield, Arighi Bianchi has carved out a reputation for offering premium home furnishings, showcasing top brands such as Cattelan Italia, Ercol, and Tetrad. However, the roots of this renowned establishment stretch far beyond the borders of Cheshire, originating from a town nearly 950 miles away.

In 1854, amidst the turmoil of the Italian civil war, craftsman Antonio Arighi left his silk-weaving hometown of Casnate near Lake Como in Northern Italy. As a cabinet maker, he sought a new silk town to hone his craft and set his sights on Macclesfield, despite the challenging journey that lay ahead.

"He chose Macclesfield as the place to start the business due to its reputation as a thriving silk hub," explains Sarah Bianchi, current CEO of Arighi Bianchi and a fourth-generation family member, reports the Manchester Evening News.

"His route took weeks and saw him trek across the Alps into Switzerland from Italy, crossing the Gotthard Pass on foot and toboggan."

Once settled in Cheshire, Antonio began crafting clocks and barometers for local farmers, eventually establishing a successful enterprise. Twelve years later, his brother-in-law and Sarah's great-great-grandfather, Antonio Bianchi, came aboard to join the burgeoning business.

The master craftsmen, Antonios Arighi and Bianchi, combined their expertise to create and sell bespoke furniture crafted from locally-sourced silks and materials. They established a dedicated clientele and named their venture Arighi Bianchi, with ambitions for growth.

After securing a prestigious client roster, they relocated the furniture enterprise to a former silk mill in central Macclesfield in 1883. Subsequently, the mill underwent renovations, including a new four-storey structure with grand Italianate plate glass windows to showcase their products.

This building, now listed as Grade II on the National Heritage List, remains an iconic representation of the Arighi Bianchi brand.

The brothers' reputation for excellence eventually earned them commissions for Royal residences such as Marlborough House and Sandringham House in the early 20th century.

Arighi Bianchi has since been managed by five successive generations, enduring through wars, pandemics, and numerous economic downturns, while still enjoying esteem among the Royal family.

Reflecting on the founders, Sarah remarked: "Looking back, I can't help but reflect on the bravery of our two young founders, who travelled in search of opportunity with nothing but their ambition and faith in their business vision."

Arighi Bianchi, in its bid to continue its thriving success, is banking on a modern-day renovation. The company has implemented a new growth strategy and completely refurbished the ground floor of its iconic showroom.

This includes new contemporary room sets and a fresh accessories department offering everything from wall art and candle holders to bath mats and bottle stoppers from brands such as Assouline, Paul Smith, and the Los Angeles-based PF Candle Co.

The company has also revamped its cafe, Caffe AB. This stylish restaurant will offer seasonal and chef-made cuisine in a relaxed all-day setting.

The breakfast and brunch menu boasts dishes like a full cooked breakfast, cinnamon French toast and eggs florentine, while the main courses include sandwiches, soups, fish and chips, lamb ragu and king prawn linguine.

In addition to serving Sunday roasts, coffees, teas and wine, the cafe will also offer a special menu inspired by Beverly Hills. This includes strawberry sunshine toast, a Bianchi Brown Derby cobb salad and a Marilyn Monroe ice cream sundae topped with fluffy candy floss.

As part of this new focus, the retailer's senior management team, led by Sarah, has spent the past year and a half exploring ways to carry the brand into the future and continue the legacy of the two Antonios.

"It's a staggering achievement to think we have been around for 170 years, however now isn't the time to rest on our laurels," stated Sarah. "Evolution has always been central to Arighi Bianchi's success. We spent the last 18 months looking both inside and outside the business to ensure that this amazing legacy continues."

She further commented, "We've been helping people make their house a home for nearly two centuries and our standout product offer has always been central to this and will continue to be. However, what we have learned is that today's consumers are looking for more from brands than just great products, it's about inspiration, curation, ease of shop, stand out customer service, value and events that help to build a community they feel part of."

In line with that community engagement, Arighi Bianchi has inaugurated a series of in-store activities, including fashion exhibitions, cookery courses, reflexology sessions and cocktail pop-ups.

Sarah concludes by saying, "Today marks the start of an evolution from an iconic homeware's retailer to a true lifestyle brand, ensuring that Arighi Bianchi will remain in the hearts and minds of customers both in the North-West and now beyond for the next 170 years."

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