Giancarlo Piretti, an Italian furniture designer, was born in Bologna ini 1940. Giancarlo Piretti attended the Istituto Statale d'Arte in Bologna until 1960. After finishing his studies, Giancarlo Piretti was employed by Anonima Castelli, where he was head designer until 1972 and also head of development. From 1963 until 1970, Giancarlo Piretti taught at his alma mater, the Istituto Statale d'Arte in Bologna. In 1969 Giancarlo Piretti came up with a design hit, the "Plia" folding chair, featuring a tubular steel frame and a seat and back of transparent plastic. When folded, the "Plia" is only 5 cm thick. In 1969 Giancarlo Piretti designed a folding table of the same name. In the late 1970s, Giancarlo Piretti collaborated with Emilio Ambasz on designing ergonomic office furniture, including the appropriately named "Vertebra" (1977) and "Dorsal" (1981) flexible office chairs.