Ibu Trade specialises in Eco Gifts, Handmade Gifts & Fair Trade Shopping

Zaishu

Using innovative ideas and an international collaborative design approach, Zaishu Studio produces iconic interior products from sustainable materials. The designs are handprinted in their coastal studio and recognised as triumphs of Australian design for being both artistic and functional.

The Zaishu Team

Matthew Butler sales/ production/ design
Matthew studied industrial design in Australia before working in Europe as production manager for noted English designer Tom Dixon. In 1998 Matthew returned to Australia and founded boutique furniture company Bluesquare with clients the Marmara Hotel in New York, the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, various banks, universities and many other Australian businesses and companies.

Helen Punton projects/ marketing/ design
Helen studied Graphic Design in Australia and designed the signage for Melbourne's ‘Metlink’ public transport system and exhibit design for the Melbourne zoo. Helen has lived and worked in Berlin for several years writing and directing short films and curating exhibitions such as the Australian Design Exhibition ‘Modernwhite’ and ‘Sharpies’ photography at the Australian embassy in Berlin in 2005.

Eco-design

The Zaishu seat and/or table design takes inspiration from the slot-together wooden beams in Japanese Buddhist temples as well as the Japanese respect for natural materials and rationalization of forms. Placing five panels of a Zaishu seat/table flat on the floor references the lines and curves of a traditional Japanese Kimono dress.

The Zaishu team believe ‘sustainable’ furniture design is achieved by reducing the amount of materials and production processes. Other important elements are ecologically sourced timber from renewable forests, advanced laser cutting technology, water based inks/varnish and flat pack design.

Zaishus seat/tables are exceptionally strong and can hold up to 150kg due to the cross grain structural properties of Hoop pine plywood. Using a flat plywood sheet in production allows the panels to be produced with minimal waste. The flat-pack design also allows for efficient delivery through minimum use of space, therefore saving on fuel and energy which assists in the reduction of pollution.

Hand produced in small batches in the coastal Zaishu Studio near Byron Bay in Yamba, Australia, Zaishu supports local businesses and respects safe and ethical work conditions.

 Your Zaishu seat/table also comes packaged in a reusable non-bleached calico bag sewn by women at a local disability workshop.

Zaishu seat/tables have been independently certified by GECA as a Good Environmental Choice product and give the maximum allowance of points towards a 6 green star rated interior by the Green Building Council of Australia.

See Zaishu designs on ibu