In design, they adhere to the principle that the consumer of their products comes first. Their mixers are trend-setting, synonymous with luxury and top quality. With them, you can create a spa area in your own home where a simple shower turns into a relaxing session. How have they achieved this success? Mariner is a family-owned Italian company that manufactures bathroom fittings. Mariner CEO Marino Zennaro talksabout its history and the strengths of the brand’s products.
The occasion for the interview with Mariner CEO Marino Zennaro is the brand’s recent collaboration with Tonino Lamborghini, resulting in four collections with the distinctive Lamborghini logo. This is an important moment in the history of this family-owned company of more than forty years, where the reins have been passed down from generation to generation.
_
An opportunity to see, among other new Mariner products, will be at the upcoming edition of Architect at Work, to be held on 28 and 29 May in Warsaw. The Mariner by REUTER stand will be located in the central part of the exhibition hall at number 73. During Architect at Work, new collections will be presented, which can be purchased in Poland through the REUTER.com shop. Architects and interior designers can attend the event free of charge. Just use the registration form by clicking HERE. We wrote more about the event HERE.
_
Kamil Białas: Tell us about the beginnings. Where did the idea to create fittings come from? Did it all start with Ottavio?
Marino Zennaro: That’s right! The company was founded in 1982 by my father Ottavio, who wanted to provide the market with products that combined new technologies with traditional craftsmanship. In his youth, Ottavio worked for a company that manufactured fittings. He learned everything then. Today Ottavio is 88 years old, but every day he comes to work at our factory. Another part of this story is me, my name is Marino. My son Riccardo has also been working with us for ten years. These are three generations that share a common idea.
You operate in Italy, where you have a lot of competition. What do you want to distinguish yourself with?
Mariner manufactures in Italy and the company’s head office is also located here, but from the very beginning our goal was the European market. Today, as much as 90% of the company’s turnover comes from outside Italy. The local roots, combined with the focus on foreign markets, mean that Mariner has retained its Italian charm, but its design – modern and minimalist – is recognisable and works well around the world. In addition to this, we have adopted a typically startup approach to work, which allows us to make quick decisions and really agile processes from idea to implementation. This, of course, translates into an instant response to market needs. In other words, what sets us apart are three key aspects: our focus on international markets, our brand positioning and our company philosophy.
Can you name the project that was the most difficult for you to complete? One that you thought made your dream come true?
Of course! Project EDEN is our first built-in thermostatic shower mixer, working on it was groundbreaking for us. Its design and the design of all the components required a huge effort from our entire team. However, EDEN is more than just a product. Its debut on the market marked our entry into the private wellness sector, and we were able to offer innovative, functional and modern solutions.
You are working with Tonino Lamborghini. This is a company that is a giant in the industry. It is, after all, known all over the world. What is it like to work with an iconic brand?
Working with Tonino Lamborghini is a milestone for us. It allows us to position ourselves among high-end brands. We share the same vision and design philosophy, which makes this collaboration extremely rewarding.
How did this collaboration come about?
It was quite unexpected. It all started at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in 2024. Tonino Lamborghini visited the exhibition and came across our stand. He stopped. He looked at our products. It was a great opportunity because it allowed me to get to know him. We later met again in Modena, where we talked about collaboration.
You are trendsetters. It is your designs that are later imitated by your competitors. What are your guiding principles when designing new collections? Where do you look for inspiration?
All of Mariner’s new collections are created according to a ‘marketing-first’ approach. We create trends thanks to more than 40 years of experience. One of the key elements that allows us to be successful is our collaboration with experts from Germany. They help us with technical issues. They provide solutions that we combine with our design. You could say that each of our products combines German engineering and reliability with Italian spirit and aesthetics.
You have a long history, but you create modern design. How do you manage to combine history and experience with the introduction of novelties? After all, you often go against the grain.
Mariner has always distinguished itself in the market with its innovative and sustainable products. In the 1980s and 1990s, we were among the first to design faucets with a bold, unconventional style that was ahead of its time. Today, this philosophy remains with us, only refined by years of experience, constantly evolving and gaining strength.
So let’s talk about the new collections created in collaboration with Tonino Lamborghini. The Raptor collection is distinguished by its simple shape. It is probably the one that relates most to the design of this iconic brand?
This is a good clue. The Raptor collection is distinguished by the use of the highest quality 316L stainless steel. Our faucets are durable, corrosion-resistant and have a refined finish. Their simple and timeless shape, has been embellished with just a few indentations. The Raptor directly refers to the design of Tonino Lamborghini with its elegance. So if you ask about the most important collection of the entire series, I would confidently point to Raptor.
I think it’s a good candidate for awards in the design world…
That’s right. In fact, a few weeks ago the Raptor collection won the Red Dot Design Award 2025.
Congratulations! I hope there will be more of these! For the Vortex collection, for example. This collection is distinguished by its distinctive Lamborghini dial. What is worth noting when looking at the products in this series?
When working on the Vortex collection, we wanted to create a softer, more subtle feel to the faucets. The top is decorated with a distinctive dial, the Tonino Lamborghini symbol. This piece is made of 316 stainless steel and, in addition to referencing the elegance and character of the Lamborghini brand, adds a touch of exclusivity and sophistication. Vortex is definitely different from the other collections, whose design is more aggressive, in the positive sense of the word. Vortex faucets are rounded, giving an impression of fluidity and a sense of harmony, a sense of delicacy achieved, thanks to the use of a satin-gold finish. At the same time, Vortex mixers are durable and will look great in bathrooms with different aesthetics.
I’m a fan of the Spectra collection. I feel that it has a positive energy, even smiles, thanks to the details. It definitely stands out from the rest. Where did you get the idea for this form?
It is a conscious decision. We wanted to create one collection with the strongest reference to the Tonino Lamborghini heritage and that collection is Raptor. However, we also wanted to create products with a different character that are differentiated in price. I think the Spectra series is likely to be the most popular. It is original because of its two colours. The top is available in several colours, which are exactly as used in other Tonino Lamborghini designs. The advantage is that it can be personalised to best match its appearance with the interior. Importantly, the faucets of the Spectra collection are made using PVD technology.
We also made it possible to play with colours with our latest collection. Hyper is distinguished by its bold design and customisability. The geometric shape of the pieces is best felt with the hand. In addition, the lever is decorated with Tonino Lamborghini’s signature. The dynamism of this collection is emphasised by the intense colours. A total of seven different colour versions are available. Such an item in the bathroom will definitely make an impression.
Mariner is a family business and the time will come when it will be managed by your son Riccardo. Do you sometimes talk about how he will run the company? In what direction does he want to develop it?
Riccardo is already doing a great job. He is mainly responsible for creating Mariner’s vision and international expansion, but I often give him completely different tasks. We share common values, philosophy and goals. I believe that he will lead the company at the highest level, will take care of quality and the creation of new collections. I want Mariner to remain a family business in the future.
The Oasy collection is an elegant thermostat. Move the slider to change the version:
Admit it, have you ever thought about changing jobs? About leaving the family business?
Absolutely not. We are deeply committed to working in our industry. Running a family business is a huge source of pride for us!
Did Riccardo have such thoughts?
Riccardo inherited the same passion that was passed on to me from my father Ottavio. For us, Mariner is family, work and passion all in one.
I understand. But if you really had to do something else, what would you do?
I would like to be a musician – maybe even a rocker (laughs!).
That’s interesting! Let’s leave the music, though. Back to business. Aren’t you afraid that customers will choose similar-looking products, but cheaper?
Our strength is our Italian production, which is highly respected in the industry. Asian countries make cheaper products, but they are not as good as ours. I am not afraid of competition from them. In fact, we are not even competing with them. We win by positioning ourselves correctly and realising our vision – providing modern faucets and bathroom solutions that are designed and manufactured in Italy.
Thank you for the interview!
The exclusive Mariner collections created in collaboration with Tonino Lamborghini are now available in Poland at www.reuter.com. These are bathroom solutions that architects are keen to select for top architectural projects. Examples include modern villas and larger buildings such as hotels, spread around the world. Mariner products have found their way into, among others, the Villa Diamond in Korčula, Croatia (design: Korta Design), the mountain villa Saborsko in Croatia or the elegant residence Remus Vital Finca in Spain. Their photos are published below.
Selected Mariner collections:
source: Reuter.com, compiled by editors
Read also: Living | Bathroom | Interiors | Detail | Featured | whiteMAD on Instagram
Sponsored article.
