Visiting Anny Who

We have known each other for about ten years, met for the first time when going out with mutual friends and immediately had a common wave. But the friendship became really close only a few years later. We founded Anny Who in 2013 after we both felt like doing something new professionally.

What is your own background? So what did you learn and what did you do before?

Anna is a fashion designer and worked in the job for a few years, Anne was already self-employed with her own label and store since she graduated in communication design.

You make beautiful Kids Stuff, why actually?

The fact that we also make kids items is actually more of a coincidence. We want to appeal to all age groups with our product design and also awaken a bit the child in the adult. Our aim is to develop good design - with a wink of the eye - that is timeless and ageless and that everyone, young and old, likes to look at. We therefore often combine geometric, clear shapes with organic structures and painting techniques.

Your style is quite Scandinavian, where does this influence come from?

Scandinavia has been very close to both of our hearts from a very young age, with Anna it's genetic alone as her mom is a Copenhagen native and worked for a few years at Illums Bolighus which is well known there. So Scandinavian design has always been a big part of her since childhood and was very influenced by the home and furnishings of her parents and grandparents. Anne spent almost every summer of her childhood with her family in Denmark and was thus influenced by Scandinavian design at an early age.

How long have you had the studio and how did you find it?

We took over our studio from a friend in the spring of 2015. That was great luck, because there are few spaces with this kind of charm in Hannover. We are very happy about the large courtyard and the open bright atmosphere of the space. In winter we have to heat with a wood stove, but there is something very original and cozy about it.

How many products do you make in a year?

We don't have a fixed number of new products per year. There are some NOS (never out of stock) items that we basically leave in the catalog. This is also part of our concept - we want to create designs that will stand the test of time and want to go back to consistency. Here, too, we take Scandinavian design as our model. Even after decades, these classics are still very desirable, although there are now so many new and also cheaper copies on the market.

Of course, we add new designs every six months, but we always take great care to ensure that they always fit in well with the context of our existing products.

Where do you want to go with Anny Who?

We would like to continue to grow, of course. Our start has been great and we already sell in many stores around the globe where we thought to ourselves at the beginning, "would be great if one day they would sell our products". Still, it's not easy in the design field to hold your own with the huge supply on the market, so you have to be tenacious and not get discouraged, stay true to your line and keep working hard on it. We firmly believe that authenticity and originality prevail. In order to be able to focus even more on the design of new products, we are currently planning to get reinforcements on the sales side.

Who are your design heroes?

In general, they are the heroes of Scandinavian design classics, as we described above, but also specifically for each of us industry-specific designers who have influenced us along the way and in our education. Anne, for example, is a big fan of Australian textile and graphic designer Beci Orpin, who demonstrates a great sense of color, materials and shapes while developing a totally recognizable style. For Anna, an internship with Danish designer Henrik Vibskov was very formative, allowing her to expand her conceptual thinking and freedom in the design process.

For non-Hanoverians, what part of town do you live in and what makes it special?

Anna: I live in an old building in the Oststadt, or almost still in Hannover-Mitte. This part of town is very lively and sometimes a bit noisy, but I love the proximity to the city center and to Hannover's city forest (the largest in Europe). Since I do a lot of sports and like to go running, the miles of forest paths are ideal for me. In addition, everything is right on the doorstep: cafes, bars, small stores and many opportunities for shopping. Right in front of the house where I live there is also a green area where everyone sits or plays boules when the weather is nice.

Anne: I live in the district of Linden, a rather bustling, colorful area in the west of the city with many students and young families. I have lived in the old building for many years, a few months ago I moved from the fourth floor to the freshly renovated mezzanine floor to say goodbye to the hated night storage heaters and especially because of the new large terrace. In addition to many pubs, restaurants, clubs and cafés, Linden offers many beautiful quiet oases, such as the von Alten Park, the riverbank along the Ihme and the Saturday weekly market. The district sometimes seems like a small village, where everyone knows everyone and greets everyone on the street in a friendly way.

How would you describe your living style and where do you prefer to buy your furniture?

Anne: A mix of vintage finds, lots of teak and some personal heirlooms. Plus some DIY and practical white storage "from Sweden". Although I don't follow a strict color scheme, blue, pink and olive tones pop up every now and then alongside black and white. When moving a few months ago, I decided to bring a little more clarity into the apartment and part with some things. Nevertheless, it should not look sterile, of course. Gradually I have brought coziness into the new home with pictures, small wall shelves and plants. Only to hang lamps I still have not come. :>

Anna: Classic Scandinavian with lots of wood in combination with bold colors, some ethnic and modern elements. I like the contrasts, like the black wall in the hallway with the colorful Tivoli poster. Much of the furniture comes from my family, others I found at flea markets in Denmark. I like to browse there when I spend my summer vacations by the sea. Thus, the apartment holds a smorgasbord of memories. Except for the sofa (Mazzivo) and the bed (Mørteens), there is hardly any furniture that was bought new.

What is your absolute favorite piece in your home?

Anna: I would actually have to name my sofa as my favorite piece, because it's super comfortable, but my favorite is the old wooden table that used to be in my grandparents' kitchen in Copenhagen. I have fond memories of how we often sat at it as a family and my grandfather kept his pipe tobacco in the drawer. Another favorite piece is an illustration by a Danish artist and good friend of my grandparents.

Anne: The white glass cabinet and the old piano I took over from my parents when they sold their house. Of course, these pieces have the most emotions and memories attached to them. I got the teak sideboard and the Danish sofa years ago for a good price at a rummage sale, and I still enjoy the timeless design. In the new apartment, the kitchen is definitely one of my favorite pieces as well. I love cooking with or for friends. The open cooking and dining area is already waiting for fun dinner parties and breakfast sessions, which so far have mostly taken place outside on the patio.

What must-see and do in Hannover?

Hanover admittedly doesn't have the best reputation as a travel destination, unjustly in our opinion. The city is absolutely worth seeing and living. In addition to the classic tourist attractions, such as the Maschsee - an artificial lake in the middle of the city, the Herrenhäuser Gardens, the new City Hall and the pretty old town, you should definitely explore the Eilenriede on foot or by bike. This is a large city forest with many paths and sunbathing lawns that stretches right through Hannover. Directly on the Maschsee is the Sprengelmuseum, a little further on the Landesmuseum - both very worth seeing. On the Hohe Ufer there is a great flea market every Saturday - especially interesting for those looking for old furniture, lamps, jewelry and records.

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