Interview with Steil owners
For anyone interested in learning more about the Steil brand, we invite you to read our interview, where we answer the most pressing questions.
Where did the idea to create the brand come from?
The Steil brand is our dream of implementing ideas without compromise. We both work in the creative industry, but we deal with services. Here, by offering a specific product, we choose the client, not the other way around. When it comes to the style of our projects, the materials chosen at the beginning have somewhat determined the direction. We focus on minimalism - we assume that both slate and leather are materials so interesting and decorative that the rest can be just an addition.
How did the company name come about? What was the inspiration?
The name Steil reflects the two materials we mainly work with. We looked for their names in Scandinavian languages, because the harshness of the local landscape will inspire us. We settled on a combination of words that appear in a similar sound in almost each of these languages, i.e. "stone" and "skin".
How did your adventure as a Polish creator begin?
We started our adventure by creating a collection consisting of just a few items - three tables, stone trays and one model of a leather handle in several color variants. The vision was coherent enough to arouse interest - the first orders quickly appeared. Of course, the possibility of selling through platforms promoting Polish handmade products and participation in design fairs helped us.
What gives you the greatest joy in running a brand?
Our greatest joy comes from creating new products and how they are received by our customers. We love seeing photos of our furniture and accessories in their new homes and hearing how they perform.
What is your biggest sales hit?
Our leather furniture handles definitely attract the most interest. Planters are also popular because they can be a great and not overly binding gift.
What materials do you like to use most?
Our brand stands for leather and slate - these are very versatile materials with many faces. They are complemented by steel and brass, as well as cork.
What does the process of creating a new project look like?
We start with sketches and research on the possibilities of materials. In the next stage, we talk to the contractors of elements that we are not able to make ourselves and adapt the project to a specific technology. Finally, we refine the details.
What is the purpose of your products?
In our collection you can find furniture, specifically coffee tables, side tables and bedside tables, hanging lamps, as well as interior accessories: furniture and door handles, flower stands, trays and coasters.
Do you create personalized projects? What kind? What is personalization?
Most of our products can be customized to the individual needs of the customer - both in terms of dimensions and colors. We encourage all those who are undecided to contact us. We always manage to find a way to create a personalized product that perfectly fulfills its function in a specific home.
The most unusual order?
The most unusual were probably the XXL handles - they were over 40 cm long.
The project I'd most like to show off to the world...
Our favorite project is probably the Stade Premium coffee table, which was created somewhat by accident, on individual order as a combination of the Lade and Stade models, and immediately stole our hearts. That is why we value contact with customers, it inspires us to improve our projects and search for new solutions.
What do customers pay most attention to in the projects you offer?
I think that what sets us apart is the materials we use in our projects, the coherence of the concept and the raw style that defies trends.
How do your customers surprise you?
Our clients constantly surprise us by appreciating our designs and being willing to order them to really distant corners of the world - to the USA, Australia and even Vietnam.
What is your daily inspiration for work?
We are inspired by travel - we draw a lot from observing nature and art.
Who is the recipient of your products? Define your ideal customer.
Our ideal client appreciates products made by hand in Poland. They like simple, strong forms and muted colors. They know that high-quality products are not bought in chain stores.
I can't imagine working without...
We cannot imagine work without good communication. It is probably the most important thing, both in team relations and in contact with clients.
The interview was created in cooperation with the Pakamera.pl website.
In the photos: detail of the Stade Premium coffee table, Lade #4 leather flower stand