Background information
Donut design: the sweetest furniture trend of 2025
by Pia Seidel
You think crockery is boring? "Plaite" proves the opposite
13.6.2025
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Pia Seidel
A table is so much more than just a place to eat. Every detail - from the glass to the napkin - can tell its own story. This is exactly where "Plaite" comes in: a design project that transforms a place setting into a true work of art.
Table culture is celebrating a comeback - and it's really stylish. The table is no longer just for eating, but is becoming a stage for design and enjoyment. The Milan Design Week 2025 (MDW) has shown: Crockery, cutlery and glasses can be real statement pieces. How food is served is just as important today as what is served.
In this series, I showcase modern tableware - from bold designs to fine arrangements. Today: «Plaite».
From Azerbaijan to Spain: How «Plaite» came about
What happens when two creative minds from different cultures meet? «Plaite» is the answer. Aida Mahmudova from Azerbaijan, founder of the platform Chelebi for contemporary design, and Natalia Ortega from Spain, who runs the label Worn Studio, have brought their creative perspectives together. Together they presented their project at the last MDW.
Mahmudova sees something bigger in Chelebi. «Our traditions are a never-ending source of inspiration», she explains. The platform has set itself the task of preserving and reinterpreting Azerbaijan's cultural heritage. Ortega, on the other hand, brings Spanish craftsmanship into a modern context. «I love translating materials such as clay, wood and leather into a new design language», she says.
Craftsmanship meets modernity: the vision behind «Plaite»
Despite their different backgrounds, the result is surprisingly harmonious. It is a tribute to the art of weaving - as a technique and as a form of expression. Threads, fibres and metals are combined to create sculptural objects for the kitchen and home. Each piece was created exclusively for Alcova, a group exhibition of experimental design during the Milan Furniture Fair. Even the small lamps that provide lighting accents.
For Ortega, the focus is on working with small workshops. «I work with employees who value slowness and respect for resources», she says. Her designs are created from materials such as hand-blown glass, stone or leather - always with a clear reference to traditional craftsmanship.
The way «Plaite» translates traditional techniques into a minimalist aesthetic is particularly exciting. The pieces appear modern without denying their artisanal roots. Shapes such as lips or ears and colour tones in pink, blue or green also give the collection a playful touch.
«Plaite» is part of a larger design trend: a return to natural materials and handcrafted quality. At a time when mass production dominates, many people are longing for objects that tell a story.
The collection taps into precisely this zeitgeist. It combines glass, ceramic and leather to create spoons, forks and carafes that also evoke emotions. «It's not just about making beautiful things, but things that mean something to us», explains Ortega.
The future of «Plaite»
For Mahmudova and Ortega, «Plaite» is just the beginning. The combination of tradition and modernity offers endless possibilities. «We want to continue experimenting and see where this journey takes us», says Ortega. With the collection, the two designers have built a bridge between cultures, materials and aesthetics.
Header image: Pia Seidel
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
Decoration
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
Home + Kitchen
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
