Alain Van Havre

After studying product development at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, Alain van Havre joined Ethnicraft in 1999, where he first gained an insight into the manufacturing process at the company’s site in Aix-en-Provence. This immersion in large-scale production processes shaped his approach to design. Around 2005, he naturally transitioned into product development and became a full-time designer for the Belgian brand, a role he has held for nearly twenty-five years.

Over the years, Alain van Havre has shaped Ethnicraft’s DNA with a clear vision: to create timeless furniture that retains a contemporary freshness, capable of evoking a sense of wonder in everyday life. In the mid-2010s, he created the Bok collection, crafted from solid wood, which perfectly embodies his design language: human and natural forms, designed to establish an emotional connection between the object and its user.

In 2019, Ethnicraft unveiled new ranges designed by Alain van Havre: Graphic and Stairs. These collections mark a turning point with their angular, geometric lines and the incorporation of materials such as marble and metal, whilst remaining true to the brand’s wooden essence. An evolution that reflects the designer’s ability to reinvent Ethnicraft’s identity without ever denying its roots.