Interview with Valentina on the Concept Behind the Zanzibar Collection

Some collections are created to complement, while others are designed to take a stand. Zanzibar belongs firmly to the latter category: a line that uses color in a bold, uncompromising way, transforming the table into an expressive space. We talk with Valentina, who shares the idea behind the collection and the audience that understands it best.

Zanzibar immediately stands out for its chromatic strength. Where does this bold choice come from?

In Zanzibar, color is not decoration but a true language. We wanted to avoid any form of neutrality: every shade is conceived to be present, recognizable, almost physical. This is a deliberate choice, because color has the power to change the atmosphere of a space instantly. Here, it is not an accompaniment but a statement of expressiveness. As Matisse said, “Color, above all, and perhaps even more than drawing, is a liberation” — and Zanzibar is born precisely from this freedom.

The reference to travel is evident, yet never literal. How did you work on the concept?

We were not interested in portraying Zanzibar in an illustrative or folkloristic way. The journey is more emotional than geographical. Patterns, contrasts, bold pairings all point to a sensory idea of elsewhere. This is a collection that works through evocation rather than direct quotation. The goal was to create objects that convey energy, warmth, and rhythm, without over-explaining themselves.

Who is the typical buyer of this collection?

It is a sophisticated audience that does not seek banal objects. People who understand the value of a strong concept, even when it is not accommodating. Zanzibar appeals to those willing to make a clear choice, to those who see the table as an extension of their personal taste rather than a neutral space. You don’t need to “understand everything” — it’s enough to feel that there is a clear idea behind it.

How does Zanzibar change the way we think about the table?

It turns it into an expressive space. It is no longer just tableware, but an aesthetic gesture. Even a single placemat can become a point of visual tension, a bold accent. Zanzibar embraces this risk.

If you had to define the collection?

It is one of the collections we are most attached to, because Zanzibar is the result of a stylistic research that takes many factors into account. It is a collection with a strong personality.