Transylvanian Roots- a bohemian anniversary collection

Stefan Ormenisan and Victor Serban decided to innovate in celebration of their brand’s fifth anniversary. The founder’s of MINDTHEGAP, a brand offering a unique collection of wallpaper, furnishings, lighting, accessories, and wall art, the brand that is also a global art production company decided to go back to their Bohemian roots.

From the start, the brand’s insurmountable obstacle was to get the proper recognition; to show the world that they were able to design legitimate pieces. As Ormenisan told Luxe Source, “This was one of the biggest challenges- convincing people from around the world that we are doing serious things with great taste and beautiful stories.”

Based in Transylvania, Ormenisan wanted the world to understand Bohemian’s spirit. The maximalist designs were inspired by the mixture of people, cultures, and traditions such as Hungarians, Romanians, Ashkenazi Jews, Saxons, Armenians, Szekelys, and Gypsies. A melting pot, the former independent country is the definition of diversity.

Traditional homes, such as the one Ormenisan’s grandparents lived in, were often full of heavy wooden furniture that was commonly softened by embroidered textiles. The long winter nights were brightened by vividly trimmed and tasseled lamps. In addition, vibrant colors were often used for accessorizing… those are the same palettes that had been used by folk artists for hundreds of years.

Transylvania’s traditions and cultures are thanks to the different cultures (courtesy of MindtheGap’s creative director) “that live together to form the authentic heritage of this place.” For Ormenisan, the detailed embroidery and handmade finishes work in many different type of venues… either a sophisticated city apartment or a rural home.

The collection pays homage to (courtesy of the company’s website), “art, architecture, artefacts, culture, rituals and people from all four corners of the globe. Created with appreciation for the history of art and design, our collections present a host of different styles, each with a strong aesthetic identity inspired by the marvelous creations of mankind.”

The artisans at MINDTHEGAP work with old photography, vintage drawings, contemporary patterns, and antique illustrations in order to help design collections. Especially true for Transylvania Roots, the company has a special way of reinventing “the ‘old stuff’ and transform their findings into awe-inspiring prints.”

Most of the collection includes naturalistic motifs which were inspired by the melding of cultures and their unique respect for nature and the land on which they lived. According to rumors, both the upper and lower classes “grew fruits and vegetables, picked flowers and hunted wild boar and roebuck, alongside their loyal hounds.”

The brand’s headquarters are located in what is present-day Transylvania, near the production facilities where the wallpaper, lighting, and framed prints are manufactured. The facility is also the location from where the fabric, furniture, and accessories are sourced from a number of trusted European suppliers. In an effort to remain environmentally-conscious, each project is produced in a way that leaves a minimal footprint on our precious environment.

Transylvania Roots’ complete collection includes eighteen wallpaper prints and thirteen fabric designs. In addition, the collection includes several upholstered furniture pieces and wall art. This quote perfectly describes how Ormenisan feels about the anniversary collection… and we could not agree more, “Surrounded by mystical scenery with smooth hills and vast woodland, when you enter this village, you feel the old history entering your body; a timeless value. I love how time has stopped here, creating a world full of originality and romance.”