It’s not every day you get to chat with the owner of a design company you admire, so having the opportunity to find out more about Danish brand, LIND DNA, from its founder and designer Preben Lind is a total honour.
For me, LIND DNA with its tableware, furniture and homeware, is a leading example of how all businesses should, and can, produce sustainable products that are not only much-loved by consumers around the world, but consciously created in a way that helps to protect our planet too.
Here’s what Preben had to tell me:
What inspired you to start LIND DNA? What did you want it to bring to the Danish design scene?
From the beginning, my ambition for LIND DNA was to inspire consumers and rethink interior design products from an ecological perspective.
We continuously push the boundaries of aesthetics, functionality and choice and work primarily in OEKO-TEX certified recycled leather, a material that would otherwise be a surplus product of the furniture, bag and shoe industry.
Homeware brands like LIND DNA are leading the way in sustainable design and manufacturing. Why do you think this approach makes for better products?
Today, it is a matter of course that homeware design has sustainability at its heart, especially among young companies, like LIND DNA.
Quality and sustainability go hand-in-hand, and thanks to the visibility brands like ours have received, consumer awareness continues to grow across the world. In fact, 90% of the orders we receive are now from outside our native Denmark.
It does however take dedication and perseverance to create new materials that can go on to make their way on the international market. For us, it has taken six years of development to produce recycled leather to such a fantastic quality and finish.
How does this long-held passion translate into your newly launched furniture collection, and what challenges have you faced?
I actually started with the idea of producing furniture but took the decision early on to focus on placemats and table top products. Understandably though, it was only a matter of time before the drawings I had been constantly storing found their way into production.
Of course, it has not been without its challenges. Fortunately, at LIND DNA we believe in local design, craftsmanship and production. With all our machinery and tooling in-house, we can go from brainstorming to prototyping within hours.
Cooperating with neighbouring suppliers of steel, wool and oak is also an enormous source of strength for us. It gives us the opportunity to be totally hands-on throughout the entire process as well as ensuring the highest manufacturing standards.
Finally, as a business, we deeply care about the impact we are making on the planet, and at our headquarters in Aarhus we are constantly refining our environmental footprint.
In terms of the future, are there any further sustainable techniques and trends you are currently looking into at LIND DNA?
At LIND DNA we want to change the perception of what sustainable design is while continuing to demonstrate what new and exciting things are possible.
I think we are already on the right track. The point is to remain agile, so we can quickly adjust to new developments, techniques and trends our customers want.
The carefully selected materials and local crafting traditions we use, gives our timeless Nordic designs a stylish combination of flexibility and usability.
Where do you hope to see LIND DNA in 10 years’ time?
The way LIND DNA has continued to grow over the last seven years never ceases to amaze me. Whether it is for your living room, bedroom or kitchen, every product is designed with care and consciously produced.
It is really hard to imagine where we will be in 10 years’ time, as we already sell our products in 50 countries, but we are certainly on a mission.
Our focus is not solely about what we launch, it´s more about why we launch, and to say with confidence that what we are doing reflects and supports the times we are living in right now.
Thank you so much to Preben for chatting with me, I am very much looking forward to visiting the LIND DNA showroom in Copenhagen again soon.
To find out more about LIND DNA and to shop their collection please visit the LIND DNA website.
All photography via LIND DNA.
Leave a Reply