Ethnicraft

Ethnicraft, craftsmanship that gives pride of place to solid wood ... Since its beginnings in 1995, the Belgian brand founded by Benoit Loos and Philippe Delaisse has perpetuated the two roots of its DNA: Indonesian craftsmanship techniques used in solid wood. Former importers of Indonesian art objects and furniture, Benoit Loos and Philippe Delaisse have drawn on the archipelago's know-how for more than twenty years to shape their contemporary vision of furniture. “Our collections reflect the essence of what we believe to be good design: pieces full of character, made from quality materials, which age wonderfully.'' Durable and timeless, Ethnicraft furniture stands up to trends and time and can be passed down from one generation to the next, carrying their stories from one life to another.

First in teak, before opening up to oak and then walnut, their collections are constantly evolving. The different wood species are expressed, through their particular grain, colours and shades. Ethnicraft enriches its collection with a range of decorative accessories by teaming up with artists to offer new materials such as copper and glass.

Without ever deviating from its DNA, Ethnicraft continues its quest for "simple, contemporary forms, subtly crafted". The historic designer from their in-house studio, Alain Van Havre, perpetuates the spirit of apparent simplicity which hides great technicality and functionality driven by innovation. “It would be too pretentious to talk of timeless style; we prefer to capture the zeitgeist, with creations rooted in the 21st century, neither too trendy nor too backward-looking", he explains.Alain Van Havre is as inspired by contemporary art, architecture and sculpture as the work of Hans J. Wegner: “We have an approach quite close to his, trying to bring more flexibility and aesthetics to solid wood, long confined to a functionalist approach before being abandoned in favour of plastic and plywood and making its big comeback in the early 2000s. ‘’

Mixing craftsmanship and technology ... Each Ethnicraft piece of wooden furniture goes through the prototyping workshop in Belgium where a skilled craftsman completes all the projects as models. “When designing a new model, rather than using a 3D model as a first step, we prefer to work the item in its real, living material, wood, which allows us to really showcase this material. In this way, although the furniture is produced industrially, it offers an extra degree of soul which makes all the difference", explains Alain Van Havre. Advanced technologies, tools and methods of wood processing adapted to the creative process, and impeccable hand-crafted finishes add to the production of wooden furniture prototypes.

"In our business, it’s all about balance between the craft aspect and the industrial aspect. The pencil line is part of all our projects and we mix digital 3D drawing with the human hand and the interaction of material. We want to avoid the dehumanisation of the mass series by counterbalancing it with the addition of a manual element. We have to develop the pure, zen side while maintaining the brand DNA, which is characterised by an economy of materials as the Bauhaus evolved with colour...’’

The brand's hobbyhorse and corporate philosophy, Ethnicraft takes respect for the environment particularly to heart.The ultimate noble, renewable material, all the wood used by Ethnicraft comes from sustainably managed forests. Teak comes from reclaimed wood, abandoned buildings or old warehouses on the island of Java or Indonesia. Ethnicraft works closely with the Indonesian government agency responsible for managing the teak plantations originally established by the Dutch 150 years ago. The oak comes from France or from sustainably managed European forests. The walnut is American. Ethnicraft furniture has the FSC® Label and products made from reclaimed wood, in increasing numbers, are labelled FSC® 100% recycled. The brand holds the FSC® COC certificate which guarantees the traceability of products throughout the supply chain.

The solid teak furniture is made in Indonesia. By deciding to set up its factory in Indonesia, Ethnicraft limits on the one hand the unnecessary transport of goods and therefore all the ecological damage that results from it, and on the other hand supports the people and the local economy by creating opportunities for employment and education, as well as job security. In addition, working with local populations, who are generally little informed about sustainable development, allows them to share these values and educates them so that they become aware of the issues in their everyday life.

The fabrics are made from the finest weaving yarns, which are mainly produced in Belgium, France, Italy, Peru and Pakistan. Ethnicraft favours natural fibres - like Belgian cotton, wool and linen. The duck feather cushion fillings are made in the Netherlands and are Downpass and Oeko-Tex 100-certified.

Production waste is recycled: sawdust as fuel for drying ovens, scrap wood as a base material or joints for panels.

Ethnicraft furniture is strong and made to last. To ensure the highest quality, strength and safety, Ethnicraft tests all its products throughout the development process for home use, to a level that meets or exceeds the highest furniture standards in the industry.

Country of origin:

Belgium

Brand Country