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MITSEIN - New ethical furniture brand, launching first range in Melbourne

Announcement posted by Mitsein 28 Sep 2015

Currently exhibiting at Fringe Furniture exhibition. Awarded for sustainable design

Introducing MITSEIN - a new independent furniture and homewares enterprise based in Vietnam that applies ethical production and fair trade to unique design. 

Mitsein is proud to launch their first range, Freshly Squeezed, a bright tropical aesthetic to animate your home. The feel is laid back and optimistic, to reflect the attitude of the region.

Products include: Handwoven rattan lounge chairs, vibrant Ikat fabric stools, rattan light shades in geometric shapes, and an array of cushions in Mitsein’s limited-edition custom ikat fabrics.

Mitsein’s focus is on environmentally sustainable practices; supporting the continuation of traditional crafts within local communities; and providing fair employment. 

Mitsein founder, Sarah Thomas, designs all of Mitsein’s products, taking inspiration from the region, collaborating with local craftspeople and applying traditional techniques to develop contemporary products.

Sarah explains “One of the most exciting parts of developing the current range was taking the initial phase of sketches to our local artisans, learning the techniques of the region, and collaborating to bring a combination of our backgrounds to the final design.

The first range is named after the first fabric colourway - ‘Freshly Squeezed’ - which is inspired by tropical fruit, flowers and sunsets, using patterns developed collaboratively with designer Luke Sharrock.”

 

Mitsein is currently exhibiting at Fringe Furniture Fair until 4th October, where their Rattan and Ikat stools won an award for sustainable design.

 

MITSEIN IN MORE DETAIL

SUSTAINABLE

Using rattan sourced from villages in Quang Nam that have been working with World Wide Fund (WWF) for the last 5 years, learning to harvest the rattan sustainably. The forests in the Central Highlands of Vietnam are now better preserved as a result, postively impacting villager’s homes and sources of income.

 Mitsein rattan is shaped using the clean steam bending technique that eliminates the use of diesel (a technique learnt during the WWF program) .

 

FAIR

Mitsein insists that all partners pay well above the International Fair Wage Guide recommendations for Vietnam. This provides a better quality of life and sustains the artisans and craftspeople working on Mitsein products.

 Mitsein also aims to make minimal disturbance of existing relationships and working structures - so that craftspeople can continue working in the usual way. Mitsein preferences workshops that allocate work to the local villagers, to ensure skills are being built and to help make village life sustainable in the long term.

 

WHO IS MITSEIN:

SARAH THOMAS

Sarah is a designer from Melbourne currently based in Vietnam, where she was originally stationed as an AVI volunteer. In this position she worked in various rural areas of Southern Vietnam, developing designs in bamboo, water-hyacinth, rattan, silk and batik; this sparked an intense interest in the varied and abundant natural materials of the region, and the beautiful slow pieces the artisans create with them. Since founding Mitsein in early 2014 Sarah has developed her own range of furniture and home wares true to her passion for sustainability and appreciation for handmade objects.

 

LUKE SHARROCK:

Luke Sharrock is a visual designer who has created Mitsein’s identity; designed the website and other collateral; and collaborated on the design for the first custom fabric range “freshly squeezed”.

 

CONTACT

For more information, or if you are interested in joining our stockists, please contact Mitsein directly at: sarah@mitsein.com.au

Website: www.mitsein.com.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mitseinvn?ref=hl

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sbtmitsein/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mitsein/freshly-squeezed/

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Mitsein?ref=l2-shopheader-name