Cutipol

Cutipol was founded by José Ribeiro, who learned handmade cutlery techniques in his father’s small workshop that had been passed down from his ancestors. In 1950, he created his first company, which later became Cutipol and would officially be founded on April 1st, 1963. He traveled the world to find the most advanced machines, processes, and customers. His wife Alice Marques, who was also a co-founder, was responsible for all the productive parts and development of the business.

In 1976, original collections were starting to be created by designer José Joaquim Ribeiro and his brother, David Ribeiro, who was the current Head of Sales. In the early 1980s, the process of renovation for the factory started. His children would soon join his efforts, helping to modernize processes, focus on design, and growing the company’s brand internationally. But even with the modern changes, traditional craftsmanship still played a role in the company’s manufacturing and design process. The use of machinery was joined with the care and know-how only a skilled craftsman could bring. The design and functionality of all the collections were created in the mind of José Ribeiro. In 1997, Cutipol opened its first store in Lisbon, Portugal, along with its first international store in Paris that featured other Portuguese brands.

A large shift happened in 2008 during the global financial crisis. Cutipol changed its strategy and headed to internationalization. At that time exports were only 30%, but today they account for about 93% of all production. Later in 2012, the company won the international prize for the Opening Ceremony’s silverware of London 2012 Oylmipics - GOA collection. A few years later, they collaborated with Hollywood and their collections were featured in the movie Burnt starring Bradley Cooper.

Cutipol would go on to win the Home Style Award for its design excellence and its cutlery chosen by Vogue’s 2017 MET Gala as part of the most beautiful tableware presented at MoMA. In 2020, it was recognized among the 1000 Best Small and Medium-sized enterprises in Portugal. Today, Cutipol is still known worldwide for its excellence and high-quality materials that focus on the tiniest details. Its collections showcase the perfect symbiosis between the most sophisticated technology and a skilled workforce.