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In Focus: Gantri
With impeccable eco credentials, a track record of stellar collaborations and a commitment to affordability, it’s little wonder California lighting brand Gantri is something of a global phenomenon.
There is a lot to love about California-based lighting brand Gantri. To start, its eco credentials are beyond reproach. All of Gantri’s lights are created with a biodegradable, plant-based polymer made from non-GMO sugarcane, grown renewably. The process to create this polymer is carcinogen-free and the product itself has no harmful chemicals like phthalates or bisphenol A (BPA).
Then there is the brand’s approach to collaboration. Gantri works with “creators with sharp perspectives” – in other words, designers with distinctive voices who think outside the box and who are supported and encouraged to “create designs that fully represent their backgrounds, inspirations and philosophies”. Its roll call of more than 50 creators spans not only the globe but a diverse range of disciplines – from South Korean design studio BEBOP and Brooklyn-based furniture designer Madeline Isakson to Swiss industrial designer Filippo Mambretti and London’s award-winning Studio Elk.
But possibly the most stand-out attribute of the brand is its proprietary manufacturing process, which merges state-of-the-art 3D printing technology with advanced software. Every Gantri light is made using this technology in its cutting-edge San Leandro factory, about an hour east of San Francisco. The advantages of 3D printing are myriad: not only is it fast, sustainable and efficient, it has a huge impact on the bottom line – meaning Gantri’s designer lighting is, above all else, affordable.
“We own the largest 3D-printing farm in the world and our system allows us to run production like software.”
The outcome of that process is a collection of contemporary and accessible designs that have won countless awards in the United States. These include the bestselling Maskor table light, created by Muka Design Lab in northern Spain, and the ephemeral Word table light, the work of South Korea’s Studio Word and inspired by the form of classic Greek columns. Felix Pöttinger Design Studio’s playful Hula table light, meanwhile, resembles an inflated mushroom and comes in a whimsical shade of pink.
“Our digital manufacturing process means zero to low minimum order quantities, affordable pricing and development times measured in months rather than years – the reverse of most luxury lighting design,” says Gantri’s marketing lead, Michael Plater. “We own the largest 3D-printing farm in the world and our system allows us to run production like software.”
Gantri demonstrated its agility and commitment to affordability in August last year with the launch of a new customisation program, Gantri You. The initiative enables buyers to customise any light in the company’s range – that’s more than 100 products – with 26 curated colourways, along with rod and cord options, at no additional cost.
“Our goal has always been to democratise exceptional design, and the launch of Gantri You is a significant leap forward in that mission,” says Ian Yang, the company’s founder and CEO. “We’re breaking down the barriers that have made customisation a luxury. Now, anyone can create a lighting solution perfectly tailored to their space and style – without the premium price tag.”
