26 | LUXlife Magazine uided by his father, Bernat entered into the family business at a young age, but it did not take long for him to realise that the sort of work done by BFC Art Mallorca, handcrafted, personalised, familyoriented undertakings, were in danger of extinction due to a notable lack of generational continuity. Alarmed at this prospect, Bernat made the decision to bet big on the company’s offerings, orchestrating new, exclusive products and redesigning mainstays, to make them desirable pieces in modern households while simultaneously retaining the innate natural, simplistic characteristics that make them so unique and of such a high calibre. Today, the family store is brimming with exceptional olive wood products for the kitchen and beyond, retaining the passion and fantastic customer service encompassed by Bernat’s father upon his establishing of the business more than 50 years ago. It is his love for the job that keeps Bernat designing and creating, bringing his ideas to life in his workshop on the island, a space constantly active and consistently renewed with new, exclusive products designed to appease even the most demanding client. As Bernat tells us, “the mission of our workshop is to continue with this traditional work, keep manufacturing the most typical products for many years, and update our catalogue with new products designed by us.” The business’ family essence has not been lost to time, with Bernat’s sister Maria also working in the workshop, aiding immeasurably in the company fortifying its legacy by continuing to triumph in a modern setting. BFC Art Mallorca continues to sell to stores across the region and the rest of the country, and an awareness of the importance of adapting means that the business now sells its products online through the company website, affording access to anybody in the world who is seeking exceptional craftsmanship and award-winning products that can be tailored, personalised, and are made to last. Sustainability is something that Bernat and Maria pride themselves on, and with wood being a biodegradable, sustainable resource, the company is able to effectively manage its carbon footprint to an almost negligible level. This moral duty to the environment exceeds just its own manufacturing however, and the business works with suppliers that send it wood from those olive trees that are older and cannot produce enough olives to be deemed profitable by the farmer. For every tree that the team receive, a new one is planted, and ensuring this sustainable, offsetting approach is in place has been of paramount importance. Unfortunately, Bernat feels that the industry remains in danger of extinction, since the number of workshops making such products on the island have dwindled in recent years, with there being only two left Best Kitchen Products Designer (Spain): Bernat Fiol Cardona With a host of products manufactured exclusively from olive wood, BFC Art Mallorca has stood as a beacon for the artisanal since operations commenced in 1970. Now well into the second generation, this family business continues to craft exceptional kitchen products of all varieties, from cutting boards, to cutlery and salad bowls, as well as decorations and games that give a kitchen, or other rooms in one’s house, those perfect finishing touches. We speak with one member of this second generation, Bernat Fiol, who took over the business from his father back in 2011. trading today. Acknowledging the future of the industry, Bernat tells us, “currently my job is a mix of manual jobs and jobs with machines, but I see little future for it, because these jobs are hard and heavy, today's young people look for other types of jobs that are easier and have fewer hours of work.” Change is a natural part of life, and Bernat holds no resentment towards it, more so, he is saddened at the prospect that the type of work he has dedicated so much of his life to has its years numbered. Nevertheless, until that day, Bernat, Maria, and BFC Art Mallorca remain wholly committed to making these olive wood masterpieces, even introducing new products such as photo frames, ludo game boards, chess sets, docking stations, and, of course, a plethora of kitchen products that cover serving, storage, cooking, and more. Customer reviews speak volumes about the quality and finish on these products, with the company’s online store currently comprising of almost 40 5-star reviews, and over 1200 5-star reviews on Etsy, that testify the hard work, dedication, and true passion which goes into every item produced. Contact: Bernat Fiol Company: BFC Art Mallorca Web Address: https://bfcartmallorca.com/en-gb Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BfCartMallorca G
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