MOA WOODMAN LTD.

Why did you apply for the mentoring programme?

We are always happy when opportunities arise that support our own development. Based on the announced topics and the professional team involved, it was clear that it was the right place for us since we launched an entirely new brand in 2025–2026. The programme also confirmed that it was worth taking part. I especially felt during the one-to-one consultations that the initiative was truly purposeful.

You process trees in Hungary that are designated for felling, naturally fallen, and rare specimens, turning them into bespoke furniture and interior design elements. How do you learn about suitable raw materials, and how do they reach you? 

This is the result of many years of work. It involves a great deal of phone calls, personal meetings, and conversations through which we try to convince organisations and private individuals that many rare and valuable trees can be saved. We consistently represent our core belief: that it is not necessary to fell trees for business purposes and for creating designer furniture. We always collect the trees in person, and in most cases we also process them on-site—partly because they are often extremely large, and partly because they are frequently located in areas that cannot be accessed by crane.

What processes and manufacturing stages does a fallen or felled rare tree go through to become a bespoke designer piece of furniture?

We typically plan approximately three years ahead for a single tree. When we acquire a rare specimen, we travel anywhere in the country to collect it. It is then cut up on-site and transported to our facility in Kápolnásnyék. There, it is naturally air-dried for 1.5 to 2 years, after which it is placed in a drying chamber for a further 2 to 3 months. For an old tree, this is necessarily a slow and gentle process. Only after this can the actual manufacturing phase begin.

Sustainability is a key consideration in your production process. How does it manifest?

Sustainability is already embedded in our raw materials. In Hungary, these trees are typically classified as firewood. The paradox is that these “imperfect” trees—no longer suitable for conventional carpentry—often display far more beautiful and natural grain patterns than straight, young, industrial timber. Sustainability is also reflected in the fact that we produce furniture designed to remain with us for generations—pieces that will likely already be restored by our grandchildren, and which will therefore outlive us by a significant margin.

Alongside bespoke pieces, you are increasingly emphasising series production. What is the reason for this, and what types of serially manufactured products are you planning to introduce?

The primary reason is that selling a fully bespoke piece of furniture—of which no two are alike—is already a complex process domestically, and even more challenging on an international level. In addition, size and volume are also key factors: we aim to develop scalable solutions suitable for everything from smaller spaces to communal areas and office buildings alike. For this reason, together with Sári Kele, we have created a joint furniture collection. The base material is still reclaimed wood, and the components are cut using patterns designed in such a way that every piece of material is fully utilised within the furniture. We call this Zero Waste production.

What are your professional and corporate goals?

To build a brand that we can continue to work on with genuine passion every day. We aim to create products that people can immediately connect with, as they carry a story and meaning, rather than being simply aesthetically pleasing pieces of furniture. I believe that with this approach, we can, over time, make a meaningful contribution both to nature and to the world of design.

What is your experience of the availability of skilled labour in woodworking and the timber industry?

I can see that more and more young people are becoming interested in the profession.  It is beginning to resemble the old golden era, when skilled professionals were respected and properly rewarded for the knowledge gained through a lifetime of work. I welcome this development. Artificial intelligence will not replace “thinking hands” — there is a real need for skilled successors.

In your view, what has the mentoring programme helped you with the most?

In every session, there was something new or thought-provoking to take away. For me, the greatest value came from the personal consultation with Zsuzsi Pajor, as from the very beginning she provided us with advice and tasks that clearly helped move our project forward.