Behind the Scenes: Designer Nikolai Sorensen Returns to Vietnam

In 2023, Città product designer Nikolai Sorensen made the bold move to Ho Chi Minh City with his young family. Immersing himself in the vibrant culture, he gained new inspiration and perspectives that naturally influenced his design process.

Now, a year after returning to New Zealand, Nikolai has travelled back to Vietnam—this time on a work trip to reconnect with suppliers and craftspeople. We caught up with him to hear about his visit, the artisans Città partners with, and how his experiences continue to influence his work.

You have a deep connection to Vietnam, having lived there with your young family in 2023. Recently, you returned to visit some of Città’s local suppliers. How did it feel to be back? 

It was so nice to return—it truly feels like a home away from home now, filled with familiar sights, sounds, and smells. The first thing I did when I arrived was hit the streets to grab a bún chả. I also had the chance to catch up with friends, which made the trip even more special.

You visited the workshop where our newly released Pinch vase—designed in collaboration with Jamie McLellan—is crafted. What makes this pottery so special?

Much like Città, they are a family-owned business. The family originates from the Bát Tràng area of Hanoi, where they have been manufacturing ceramics for over 700 years. This generational knowledge means their products are made to a high quality. They even produce their own clay from raw materials—which is quite rare in modern ceramics. Their secret formula creates an incredibly light, thin product that remains remarkably strong and robust.

The new Thao baskets were conceptualised during your first trip to Vietnam. How did your personal experiences influence this design? 

The idea for the baskets came from our time in the street markets. The markets are exploding with colourful fruits and vegetables. Traditionally, produce was sold in simple woven baskets, but in recent years, plastic has largely replaced bamboo.

I liked the idea of reintroducing bamboo while capturing the bold colours of the markets—transforming a traditional product into a vibrant and modern context.

On this second trip, you travelled to Northern Vietnam to visit the village where the baskets are made. Can you tell us about their traditional manufacturing process?

It was a pretty special trip. The baskets are made in a small village that specialises entirely in bamboo weaving. The women who craft them have skills passed down through generations—everything is done from scratch, by hand. The speed and precision with which they weave is incredible. They are such happy people and were very welcoming towards us. 

What do you love most about this design?

I love having a design that reflects my time in Vietnam. But my favourite part of the process was collaborating with Immy [Imogen Tunnicliffe, Città designer] on the colour palette. It was amazing to see how she transformed my photos of the markets into a harmonious series of colours that truly capture the essence of the design.

Do you have any plans to return to Vietnam, or are there other destinations you’re eager to explore for inspiration?

Although I love travelling and gain so much from my time away, I’ve really appreciated being home and all that New Zealand has to offer. Lately, I’ve been drawing inspiration from experiences like hiking to a DOC hut or spending a weekend in a ‘70s bach—enjoying the things that are unique to us and our part of the world. I have a few new products in the pipeline that reflect this, so watch this space.

Read about Nikolai’s first family trip to Vietnam here. The Pinch vase and Thao baskets are available to shop in-store and online now.