FAQ

Who is behind Essey?
Essey is the work of Danish designer John Brauer, born 1960 in Denmark. It began with a single observation: the objects we live with every day have become invisible. Not worthless — just unseen. Essey exists to bring them back into focus. To make things that earn a second look.

What makes an Essey object different?
Most objects try to disappear. Ours don't. Each piece lives on the border between function and sculpture. You use it. You also look at it. That tension — between the useful and the beautiful — is where Essey begins.

Who designed the Bin Bin, and when?
John Brauer, in 2005. He was working, crumpled a sheet of paper, and saw in it a balance of chance and aesthetics he had not been looking for. Instead of throwing it away, he kept the moment. The Bin Bin has been in production, unchanged, ever since.

What is the Bin Bin, exactly?
A wastepaper basket shaped like a crumpled sheet of paper. Rigid polyethylene, blow-moulded into a single seamless form with no joints. It stands 310 mm high, measures 330 mm across, weighs 0.55 kg and holds 14 litres. Made in Germany. Available in white, black, graphite grey and red. Designed by John Brauer in 2005 — and still made the same way.

Bin Bin or Mini Bin Bin?
Same idea, two sizes. The Bin Bin holds 14 litres — 310 mm high, 330 mm across, 0.55 kg. It belongs in an office, a study, a living room. The Mini Bin Bin holds 7 litres — 250 mm high, 250 mm across, 0.36 kg. It belongs beside a bed, on a desk, in a bathroom. Neither needs to be hidden.

Which Illusion table is right for me?
Three tables, one idea: a cloth draped over nothing at all. The Illusion is the original — 440 mm high, 310 mm across, 3 mm acrylic, 3.0 kg. The Tall Illusion stands higher and narrower — 560 mm high, 320 mm across, 4 mm acrylic, 4.2 kg. Beside a chair, beside a bed. The Grand Illusion is the widest — 520 mm high, 440 mm across, 4 mm acrylic, 4.2 kg, carrying up to 10 kg. A coffee table, if you like. All three come in clear and ice, and all three are hand-made in Germany.

Wipy or Wipy 2?
It depends on the box. The Wipy is a cube — 130 × 130 × 130 mm, 0.15 kg — for cube-shaped tissue boxes. The Wipy 2 is rectangular — 260 × 140 mm, 82 mm high, 0.16 kg — for the standard flat box. Both are thermoplastic elastomer, both made in Germany, both in white, black, graphite grey and red. Measure your box. Then choose.

Are Essey products handmade?
Many are. The Illusion, Tall Illusion and Grand Illusion tables are hand-moulded in Germany from 3 and 4 mm acrylic, shaped by a process that cannot be fully controlled. No two pieces fold the same way. Like cloth finding its own form on a surface — the shape arrives by chance and stays by intention. The Fly Fly is made by hand too, from leather and birch. The Bin Bin is different: blow-moulded, precise, seamless — a demanding industrial process that leaves no joint behind.

Where are Essey products made?
Close to their origin. Produced exclusively in Europe, with makers who understand that the quality of a thing begins long before it reaches you. The Bin Bin, the Wipy, the Wipy 2 and all three Illusion tables are made in Germany. We believe in short distances between an idea and the hands that bring it to life.

What materials does Essey use?
Materials chosen for their honesty. Surfaces that do not pretend. The Bin Bin, Mini Bin Bin and Pen Pen are polyethylene. The Wipy and Wipy 2 are thermoplastic elastomer. The Illusion tables are acrylic — PMMA, 3 or 4 mm. The Fly Fly is leather and birch wood. Plastics that hold form over decades. Textiles that age without apology. We are not interested in materials that look good in photographs but fall apart in use. We make things to remain.

Is there anything harmful in them?
No. Our materials meet EU standards including REACH (1907/2006/EC) and RoHS, and food-contact regulation 10/2011/EC where it applies. The Wipy and Wipy 2 are free from PVC, phthalates and latex. The Illusion tables are free from harmful additives. Nothing you would not want in the room with you.

Are Essey products recyclable?
Yes. Polyethylene, thermoplastic elastomer and acrylic are all fully recyclable at the end of their life. Though we would rather that day came late. An object made to last thirty years is a better answer than one designed to be recycled after two.

Does every product come with a Certificate of Authenticity?
Selected pieces do. It carries a serial number and the signature of John Brauer. Not as a formality — as a promise. This is an original. This is your own piece.

What do I get when I buy directly from Essey?
The original. Made in Europe, from materials that meet EU standards, with a 24-month warranty behind it. Selected pieces arrive with a numbered certificate signed by John Brauer. You also get the thing itself as it was designed — the same mould, the same finish, the same weight in your hand. The shape is the easy part. The rest took twenty years.

Where can I buy Essey?
Directly from us at essey.com, and from authorised retailers across Europe and North America.

Can I order in a custom colour?
Some products come in a range of colours — the Bin Bin, Wipy and Wipy 2 in white, black, graphite grey and red, the Pen Pen in those four and ice blue, the Illusion in clear and ice. For larger quantities, a custom colour may be possible — write to us and we will tell you what can be done. One thing to know: objects made specifically for you cannot be returned. Made once, made for you.

I'm a retailer or interior designer. Can we work together?
We'd like that. We supply design retailers, concept stores, interior studios, hotels and offices worldwide — everything made and stocked within the EU, so lead times stay short and there is no import duty for EU partners. Write to us at [email protected] with a little about what you do and what you have in mind. We work with people who understand what Essey is — and want to find it a good home.

How do I care for my Essey product?
Quietly. A damp cloth is usually enough, with a mild detergent if it needs one. Avoid anything abrasive and avoid solvents — both will dull the surface. Keep the piece away from prolonged direct sunlight. The Fly Fly, being leather and birch, prefers to be wiped dry. Most Essey objects are not delicate — but they deserve a little attention. So do most things worth having.

How long does delivery take?
Estimated delivery time is shown on each product page. The moment your order leaves us, a tracking number follows by email. For made-to-order pieces, there is additional production time — always shown before you confirm.

How much does shipping cost?
Calculated automatically at checkout from your delivery address. No surprises before you pay. Ordering several pieces? Write to us first — we can often find a better arrangement.

Can I return something?
You have 14 days from the day of delivery. The item must be unused, unassembled, in its original packaging. Things made specifically for you — custom colours, made-to-order pieces — cannot come back. Full details live on our returns page.

What is your warranty?
24 months from the date of purchase. We stand behind what we make. If something fails because of a material or manufacturing defect, we will make it right. Wear that comes from years of use is something else — it is the object living its life.

I received something damaged or wrong. What do I do?
Write to [email protected]. Include your order number and a photo. If the fault is ours — and we will be honest about that — we cover everything. No bureaucracy. Just a resolution.

How do I reach you?
[email protected] or +420 608 000 052. Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:00 CET. We aim to reply within one business day. Usually sooner.