sustainability
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22
case study
Magis, a tireless innovator in contemporary
design, together with Philippe Starck and
Eugeni Quitllet, opens a new chapter in
industrial design with Zartan chair.
A forerunner of its day, yet already a flawless
distillation of nature and technology, this
stackable chair is made with the aid of 100%
natural, injection-moulded fibres.
Its organic design is deliberately pared down to
express pure experimentation: moulding with
natural materials. Ecological high technology
explores the potential of, linen and hemp, to
get a glimpse of what tomorrow will look like.
The name is an anagram of Tarzan, as if to
suggest a “return to nature”. The shell is
compression-moulded using a novel composite
of natural fibres. The legs are instead made
by injection moulding, using a compound of
natural fibres and plastic.
A revolutionary project that, after years of
research, was our first attempt to reduce
the total amount of plastic in the product by
introducing natural fibres. Zartan pushed the
accelerator on sustainability, at a time when
the sustainable approach to design was not yet
on the table.
At the time, Magis made three different
versions: Zartan Eco, in polypropylene with
added natural fibres, while the shell is in
compression-moulded, recycled polypropylene
with jute or hemp; Zartan Raw, made entirely of
polypropylene filled with glass fibre and wood,
using standard injection moulding; Zartan Basic
in polypropylene reinforced with glass fibre, in a
range of colours, suitable for both indoor and
outdoor use.
Today this chair is no longer exceptional among
Magis’ collections, but its innovation remains
a cornerstone of our modus operandi and
it shows that experimentation and visionary
passion have always guided us towards
concrete sustainability.
2011
2020
2021
2023
2022
1976
Alpina
Edward Barber &
Jay Osgerby
Bell Chair
Konstantin Grcic
Costume
Stefan Diez
RE Air-Chair / RE Air-Armchair
Jasper Morrison
Magis
Zartan
Philippe Starck &
Eugeni Quitllet
Zartan, the first Magis
chair developed from
natural and recycled
composite materials
2011
