The story of NUO begins in Rome, the “Eternal City.” Young fashion designer Marta Antonelli was searching for a vegan and sustainable leather alternative for her latest collection. The material had to be both animal-friendly and environmentally conscious, making the search particularly challenging. Marta’s environmental awareness inspired her father, Marcello Antonelli, a long-time textile industry expert, to help develop a solution that met her needs.

Marcello soon discovered that wood, one of humanity’s oldest and most eco-friendly materials – veneer – could be the solution. However, thin veneer sheets were limited in flexibility, making them impractical for everyday use. After extensive research, Marcello developed techniques to make the wood flexible. Combined with textile backing and laser engraving, this resulted in a material with unprecedented flexibility and aesthetic qualities. Marta and Marcello founded MyMantra srl in 2012, which later became NUO GmbH, a leading global material brand in fashion, interior, automotive, and furniture design.