Check out the latest conversation between
StyleRow and Naji Mourani, Founder of 2K1M Inc,
to learn more about its background, latest collection, and what is happening behind the scene and their plans for 2022.
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Each piece in the Fai Collection is made to order, and buyers can mix and match materials, from leather and polished brass to an all-white lacquered front. Courtesy of 2K1M
Naji Mourani spends his days sketching outside on his Toronto terrace, papers and samples spread out all around him. For him it’s a place where he can be alone and get creative. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’s bright and cheerful and it gets me focused,” he says.
As an interior architect Naji has long appreciated the work of Italian craftspeople. “Since I was little I was drawn to Italian culture, language, fashion, cars, and design. In the past decade I’ve had the opportunity to travel all around Italy, and I got to learn more about the things I admired growing up.” He graduated from Holy Spirit University of Kaslik – USEK in Lebanon as an interior architect, and he’s worked on many high-end projects in the hospitality sector in the Caribbean, Morocco, Dubai, Macau, and Philippines.
The collection’s coat stand. Photo courtesy of 2K1M
The Fai Collection began with the Credenza. Photo courtesy of 2K1M
In 2017, a few months after launching 2K1M as an interior design consultant studio, Naji couldn’t get the idea of creating his own furniture line out of his head. He shifted to focus fully on designing his own pieces. In 2018 he partnered with Italian craftspeople in the province of Pordenone, about an hour north of Venice, to help bring his vision for 2K1M (named for his two young children whose names start with K) to life.
Naji says the name of his first collection, Fai, is fitting as well, as it means “do or make” in Italian and “beginning” in Chinese. The collection began with the Credenza. “I wanted to create a flexible piece that doesn’t have a traditional shape like a square or rectangle, but is elegant, refined—a look that can transform into other alternatives and expand into a collection,” he says. The Fai Collection launched at Toronto’s Interior Design Show this year.
“The most challenging piece was the Entryway Mirror because its shape and pretty much all of its parts are curved,” says 2K1M Founder Naji Mourani. Photo courtesy of 2K1M
The Fai Collection’s bench. Photo courtesy of 2K1M
As part of the collection Naji wanted to give buyers the flexibility to mix and match materials. He knew he wanted to emphasize fine marble and wood, but do they want leather for the credenza doors or a polished brass insert? Or what about going all white for a clean, modern look? “You can have a brass insert or full leather or white lacquered front—by changing those pieces all of a sudden you have a whole new piece you can fit into a different environment.” Each piece in the Fai Collection is handmade to order.
“I always admired the marble stone and wanted to use it versus a man-made material,” Naji says. “I feel everything natural has a story to tell, and I want it to age with us. Engineered materials are plain and rigid; they don’t talk back, and they don’t change.”
2K1M Founder Naji Mourani works from his Toronto home, inspired by his travels as magnets from all over the world remind him of where he’s been. Photo courtesy of 2K1M
Naji recalls growing up when his family had a Carrara marble kitchen counter and sink. “Now this counter is more than 50 years old; you can look at it every day and every day it has a story to tell you,” he says. “A mark, a scratch, a stain, a crack—all bring back memories. That is character. The same approach can apply to leather and wood.”
The wood and marble in the Fai Collection are selected regionally in Italy by 2K1M’s manufacturer and partners, and all emphasize FSC wood with low to no VOCs in paints or stains.
The high-end Fai Collection pieces have a contemporary look, offering a modern take on Art Deco while still being useful. Naji calls the credenza, for example, a showpiece with a function. The entryway mirror is large but non-obtrusive, nesting in a solid wood frame in dark walnut, with a circular mirror and an angled cut that provides a thinner framework on top that’s fuller at the bottom. “It feels like it’s sitting in a bird’s nest,” he says. Small hooks and a drawer serve as a catchall for keys or other items, adding function to form. “Some call it the ’70s with a twist.”
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Studio Sixtysix
Photos courtesy of 2K1M
Words by Laura Rote
Art Direction by Kristina Walton Zapata
Studio Sixtysix is the in-house creative agency to Sixtysix magazine. Studio Sixtysix stories are conceived, produced, and edited by Studio Sixtysix.
Dream Goal to Reality
It all started back in 2017 after the idea been boiling in me for several years.
The "Grooves" collection was my initial line and followed right after by the "Fai" Collection. Both to be launched at IDS20.
In this blog, I'll be writing about "Fai," and in a separate blog, I will address the "Grooves."
As I started sketching "Fai," I knew my goals. I wanted to design for the Hospitality & Residential sectors.
I wanted unique pieces, durable in style and quality, high-end, outstanding craftsmanship and Made in Italy. I wanted to create my style, not following any trends; I wanted it to be 100% my creation without any influences.
The style of "Fai" got set after a few pencil strokes in my red sketchbook. From there, everything got transferred into a digital format, and I start studying all the details, shapes and proportions of the unit. So far, I am still analyzing all the drawings in a 2D format. Once, establishing all the details in 2D, the 3D Phase and materials selection starts.
That was the artistic part of my dream goal, now things are starting to get more serious, and the hunt for manufacturers and partners in Italy began in the First Quarter of 2018. After a few trips to Italy, and by October 2018, we had narrowed down our list to few companies. By January 2019, we have selected our partners, and the countdown to meet our deadline for IDS20 starts.
In February 2019, the work on the Credenza from the "Fai" collection began.
After many conference calls, reviews, and a couple of trips within five months, the Mock-up got approved.
July is here, and now we are halfway through the year, the work started on the Bench, Entryway Mirror, Coat Stand, and Picture frames.
The same process approval was followed with Italy's set ship date to be between Mid-October and Mid-November. This phase was a bit challenging since we had a tighter deadline and more pieces to build.
Few things didn't go as planned, but we flagged those risks through our risk assessment, and we allowed some buffer time in our schedule.
The ship set sail from Italy in Mid-November and made it to Montreal as scheduled on December 17th, just before the holidays. We are four weeks away from the show opening, and two more challenges to overcome. It is coming down to the wire, fingers crossed.
Booth Design
2K1M at IDS20
The Products needed to clear Custom and arrive in Toronto at the IDS show for setting up by Monday, January 13th at the latest. And that ended up being the arrival date. Lots of stress during those two weeks, and we were already considering a plan B.
Crates placed in the booth area for unpacking and again, fingers crossed that all the pieces arrived free of damages, and nothing is missing. But this will have to wait another 24 hours until the booth is up.
On Tuesday, January 14th, the booth construction got started and needed to be ready by the end of the day, so the next day, the staging can start.
Wednesday, January 15th, the crew arrived on time and started unpacking the furniture, everything was in good shape, no damages, but some minor issues, that we had to address and improvise so we are set and ready for the show.
Thursday, January 16th, by 8:30 am, we were all set and ready, everything is glowing, lights are on, ready to welcome the trades.
It was a long road from 2017 to 2020, too many ups and downs, too many challenges, risks, disappointment and proud moments. But, at the end of the day, I reached my goal. It was only made possible due to the support of my family and friends. I thank you all for your never-ending support and uplifting throughout this journey.
Now it is time for a new adventure…
