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In 2003, a ceramic enterprise named "Luhuanong" was established in Foshan. Its name was inspired by Li Bai's poem "Qing Ping Diao" —
Her robe is made of cloud, her face of flower made,
Caressed by vernal breeze, washed by vernal dew.
Had I not seen her on the Jade Mountain high,
I'd seek her in the Moon Pavilion 'neath the sky.
— Li Bai, "Qing Ping Diao"
At that time, the Chinese ceramic tile industry was still dominated by polished tiles and glazed tiles. Luhuanong Ceramics, however, chose a path less traveled: antique tiles.
The essence of antique tiles lies in glaze craftsmanship—unlike polished tiles that pursue "brightness," antique tiles pursue "texture": the warmth of matte finishes, the tactility of mold textures, the depth of color sedimentation. This was precisely the technical strength that Luhuanong's factory had cultivated over many years. Leveraging its deep expertise in antique tile production and R&D, combined with an uncompromising pursuit of product design, Luhuanong's antique tile series quickly swept the nation. While competitors were still competing on brightness and price, Luhuanong had already opened an entirely new market with "tiles that have texture."
2003
In August, Luhuanong launched an oversized antique tile in the 858mm×858mm format, hailed by the industry as the "King of Antique Tiles." In an era when large-format products were scarce, this size was itself a declaration: we do not follow, we lead.
2004
In June, Luhuanong launched the "Golden Stone" series of low-absorption matte porcelain tiles, further cementing GUSTO's leading position in the industry.
2008
To better align with international standards and build a world-class ceramic brand, the company upgraded the original "Luhuanong" brand to "GUSTO."
This was not a farewell—the name "Luhuanong" did not disappear; instead, it transformed into GUSTO's most representative product series, continuing its legacy in every tile. From the early "Luhuanong Countryside Series" to the formal establishment of the "Luhuanong · Texture Series" in 2020, the craftsmanship spirit and aesthetic pursuit embodied by this name have always been the core of GUSTO's product system.
"Luhuanong" is the soul of GUSTO, and it has never left.
The Same Year · Two Milestones
🏛️ The 7,000-square-meter "Taoyuan Wonderland" headquarters showroom was completed
🏆 Outstanding New Ceramic Product Award at Milan Fashion Week
GUSTO's "fashion gene" began to sprout from this moment on.
The showroom's facade features a checkerboard pattern of black and white matte porcelain tiles with textured mold faces—black and white tiles interlocking, their subtle mold textures appearing and disappearing under shifting light. From afar, it reads as crisp black-and-white geometric blocks; up close, it reveals the unique warm touch of matte porcelain.
The black-and-white checkerboard is an enduring classic in fashion—from the runway's chessboard patterns to haute couture's diamond lattices, it has been reinterpreted time and again yet never goes out of style. GUSTO boldly applied this element to its architectural facade, using the material language of tiles themselves to interpret "fashion"—a rare move in the ceramic industry at that time.
"Even nearly two decades later, this showroom still stands up to scrutiny—it is the one Foshan ceramic landmark that is 'always imitated, never surpassed.'"
2010-2011
In 2010, GUSTO pioneered the 200×600mm slim-format "Shangci Interior Wall Tile."
In 2011, the company established an R&D department to promote inkjet printing technology applications.
From 2003 to 2026, over the course of 23 years, GUSTO has focused on one thing: making tiles that exude sophistication.
From the early "Golden Stone," "Milan Fashion Week," and "New Stone" series, to the proprietary product lines like "Silk Velvet" and "Milan Chic," to the launch of the "Stellar Stone Series" in 2025, and the blockbuster release of the "5A Golden Velvet Series"—GUSTO has always been at the forefront of glaze craftsmanship and textured tiles.
Today, GUSTO has grown into a comprehensive mid-to-high-end ceramic brand with over 500 branded stores nationwide, offering a full range of products centered on glazed tiles. The "5A Golden Velvet Series" is the signature achievement of GUSTO's status as a drafting unit of the national 5A New Standard—the products have passed the highest 5A level of the national standard, embodying both "superior quality" and "exceptional aesthetics."
GUSTO believes that tiles should not be cold building materials; they should, like fashion, carry aesthetics, express personality, and define the character of a space.
"Tiles as fabric, space as the runway."
For 23 years, GUSTO has been answering one question with its products: When a tile carries the gene of fashion, what can it bring to your home?
Twenty-three years is long enough for an industry to evolve from "competing on brightness" to "competing on texture." Twenty-three years is also short—just enough to focus on one thing: making tiles that exude sophistication.
GUSTO's story has many more chapters—from the poetic origins of "Luhuanong," to the "fashion gene" sparked at Milan Fashion Week in 2008, to today's quality benchmark of "5A Golden Velvet." Every step has been unhurried, but every step has been solid.
GUSTO · The Fashion Master of the Ceramic World
Born in Foshan · Since 2003
→ Coming up next: Behind a Great Tile: GUSTO's Smart Manufacturing Code
Step inside GUSTO's factory and discover how "tiles with character" are made.
