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The story of Boqa
From the idea to import Acapulco chair
It was during his expatriation in 2010 that Julien discovered Mexico. Sensitized to the design by his mother, the Mexican local craft particularly draws his attention. The colorful ceramics of Metepec, the Equipales that are found on the lively terraces of Zócalo, the Catrina de Guanajuato, and above all the Acapulco chair that we see here and there in patios and gardens.
He truly fell in love with this robust and comfortable chair, sporting a vintage look that he hadn't had the chance to see in Europe. One day, he met some Mayan craftsmen, and with their help, he learned how to manufacture this iconic, colorful chair. Thus, the idea came to him to import this chair to France and promote Mexican local design.
On 17 February 2011, the first container left the port of Veracruz towards Bordeaux. This was the first import of Acapulco chair: Boqa is launched!
The creation of an Acapulco Chair Manufacturing workshop
A few months later and after a great commercial success, Julien realizes that the import of armchairs is more complicated than expected and restricts the development. How to ensure high-quality products? How to provide a wide choice of colors? Julien then decided to define his quality standards: comfort, mechanical resistance, flexibility, weather resistance, and the choice of colors and materials.
With French partners, the first welding and braiding templates were designed to meet these precise specifications and so Julien created his own braiding workshop. Gradually, he finds suppliers of raw materials in France and starts to carry out the whole manufacturing process of the Acapulco Chair in its workshop.
From Acapulco Chair Manufacturer to Furniture Manufacturer
This workshop opens new perspectives and other complementary products are born such as sofas, chairs, tables or lamps to constitute a beautiful range of design and resistant furniture, outdoor and indoor.
Promoting the 100% made in France and the manufacturing of its products in short circuits, Boqa became a furniture manufacturer.
Boqa equips the first Hotel, the Best Western of Meudon-la-Forêt. Then come prestigious places:
- the Hotel des bains d'Arguin;
- the Annecy Palace;
- the Teutou restaurant for the Vanity Fair celebrations during the Cannes Film Festival;
- the Copenhagen and Vienna Zoku hotels;
- the Belle saison Restaurant in Bordeaux;
- headquarters of big companies.
The enthusiasm of the professionals for the Boqa furniture forced to enlarge the workshop and the small workshop of 70 square meters increased tenfold in size and became multidisciplinary.
Over time other materials and therefore new know-how will be integrated. Wood, glass, leather, linen, more recently acrylic, and always more colors.
From Furniture manufacturer to Design House
In partnership with the VIA "French Association for the Valorization of innovation in furniture" after a long work on its artistic identity, Boqa surrounds itself with designers and becomes a publishing house.
As a publisher and manufacturer, Boqa wishes to make furniture that is "beautiful, resistant, and comfortable". Boqa Publishing House selects and collaborates with designers from various backgrounds, thus facilitating innovation and creation.
