Design is often underestimated as an unnecessary extra. Good design can at least make the world a little better, as the Bosnian family company Zanat shows: Founded in 2015 in the small town of Konjic south of Sarajevo, the company produces home furniture and decorative accessories. Zanat revives the local Bosnian wood carving tradition with the support of international designers such as Monica Förster, Sebastian Herkner and Ilse Crawford. At the Salone del Mobile furniture fair in Milan, which took place again this year, the company is now presenting products by the Italian architect and designer Michele de Lucchi and the French designer Patrick Norguet for the first time.
How can artistic, carved wooden bowls by Michele de Lucchi or benches by Patrick Norguet make the world a better place? On the one hand, because their production creates urgently needed jobs. Because Zanat has all products manufactured in its own factory in Konjic, by specially trained specialists. Within five years, the workforce has grown from 15 to around 60 people, including around 20 women - in a region from which many young people have to emigrate abroad for lack of other prospects.
But the design products from Zanat not only provide jobs: "It is our goal to preserve the craft tradition with the help of design," says Zanat founder and managing director Orhan Niksic. His family has been making furniture and utensils from carved wood for over 100 years; he is now part of the fourth generation dedicated to the craft. The family was able to preserve the tradition over three wars and major political upheavals. The importance of the Konjic carving craft is even recognized by UNESCO: in 2017, the artistic carving was added to the list of the intangible cultural heritage of mankind.
Zanat also thinks and acts regionally when selecting the material: all the trees that the company processes come from Bosnian forests. For every tree that is felled, Zanat has three new trees replanted. Only hardwoods such as maple, ash, walnut and cherry are used. “Sustainability is an intrinsic part of our work,” says Niksic. The origin of the material is just as important as the durability of the products. “We hope that as much of our furniture as possible will be passed on. Just like my grandfather passed many pieces on to us. "