Zanat launches The Lockdown dialogues project with small objects

Since taking on the role of creative director for Bosnian furniture producer Zanat six years ago, Swedish designer Monica Förster has reached a point where her achievements can be felt in both sales and brand awareness, as well as in the town of Konjic where the firm is based.

The factory is now being extended to take in a growing number of craftspeople, and Zanat has earned its place as a nominee for the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage List thanks to its work preserving and exporting the skills of the region. Sustainability, ecologically as well as economically, has been a goal from the start. Given the current circumstances, the company has weathered the Covid-19 pandemic well. “The crisis we have experienced this year has affected all design companies, but Zanat’s method of production lends itself pretty well to working from home,” says Förster. With this is mind Förster and Zanat decided to develop a collection of smaller objects that are easy to produce in a home environment, can be flat packed and easily shipped. The new collection with small objects, called the Lockdown dialogues project, features mirrors by Monica Förster, bowls by Ilse Crawford, and a stool and candle holder by Lodovika and Roberto Palombas. Also launching this autumn is Förster’s family of Sky mirrors that were originally planned to show in April in Milan. Intended to function as mirrors as well as room dividers, when grouped together they are beautiful from every angle.