From selling a chandelier on eBay to leading a brand of excellence in the world of luxury lighting, Marco Borile recounts, with Sogni di Cristallo, the visionary force of Venetian craftsmanship projected on a global scale.
Marco Borile , born in 1985, originally from Dolo (Venice), took an unconventional path, preferring the vibrant light and craftsmanship of Venetian glass to the toga and courts. While attending the University of Padua to graduate in law, a simple sale on eBay becomes much more than an experiment for him. That chandelier sold was not just glass and metal, but the beginning of an entrepreneurial vision destined to illuminate and furnish the entire world.
In 2010, with a few models photographed in his home garage, Marco Borile built the foundations of Sogni di Cristallo , a brand that is now internationally recognized for excellence in the design and production of luxury lighting . Two years later, with the entry of his friend and partner Paolo Zito, now CMO of the company, the project took concrete form: to tell the story of Venetian glassmaking with a modern and global look.
Scott’s Richmond restaurant in London with chandeliers and columns made by Sogni di Cristallo
Crystal Dreams is the spokesperson of the Italian savoire faire, with creations born from a perfect alchemy between artisan gesture and aesthetic research. “Each chandelier, each installation, is the result of a meticulous and entirely manual process: the master glassmakers shape the material with techniques passed down through the generations, transforming the glass into a symphony of light, reflections and transparencies” says Marco Borile during an intimate dinner at Casa Cipriani.
The company has established itself in the luxury contract panorama, a highly specialized segment that today represents 85% of the turnover. Iconic hotels , exclusive yachts , signature restaurants and dream residences rely on the uniqueness of its creations. The key to success? Design flexibility, total customization, obsessive attention to detail and a network of artisans followed and supported concretely also in logistics and administrative management.
An interior of the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas (Courtesy of Sogni di Cristallo)
Collaborations with over 30 AD100 studios – including Martin Brudnizki, Ken Fulk, Laura Gonzalez, Roman & Williams – testify to Sogni di Cristallo’s ability to interpret the desires of internationally renowned architects and designers. Sogni di Cristallo’s installations shine in every corner of the world: from Annabel’s Mayfair in London to The NED in Doha, from Mother Wolf in Los Angeles to the Bellagio in Las Vegas, from Wildflower Farms in New York to the prestigious Hotel Splendido in Portofino or the Sexy Fish in Dubai.
But Sogni di Cristallo does not limit itself to following trends: it anticipates them. With the Cast Glass project, the company explores new forms of glass expression. These are decorative elements created through traditional casting, modeling and polishing techniques, completely customizable in texture, color and finishes, perfect for integrating into contemporary and classic environments with the same elegance. From the load-bearing columns to the finishes of the counters and mirrors.
The interior of Sexy Fish restaurant in Miami (Courtesy of Sogni di Cristallo)
The floral chandeliers made by Sogni di Cristallo for Annabel’s London (Courtesy of Sogni di Cristallo)
In the history of Sogni di Cristallo, the opening of the London office in 2019 marked an important step in the internationalization of the brand, and in May 2025, in conjunction with the NY Design Week , the new New York office will be inaugurated, with a dedicated team of designers and project managers. A hub designed to offer an even more direct and punctual service to the growing American clientele and to closely follow large-scale projects, such as the renovation of the Ritz Hotel in London or the lighting of the exclusive Orient Express trains .
Innovation and tradition, planning and poetry, entrepreneurial vision and respect for craftsmanship. It is a story of glass, light and passion, guided by the courage — and a pinch of lightness — of Marco Borile. A vision that continues to illuminate the world, bringing with it Italian excellence, made of expert hands capable of transforming “Crystal Dreams” into reality.
The interior of Chez Margaux in New York (Courtesy of Sogni di Cristallo)