Sometimes the objects we use everyday go unnoticed. We rarely take the time to truly appreciate their form, structure, colour, or even the subtle ways they shape our daily routines. They become so familiar that we stop seeing them, yet they quietly become an extension of who we are.
Perhaps that’s because they’re not striking enough to sit proudly on our vanities, nor do they possess the kind of aesthetic that naturally inspires admiration. But when an everyday object is transformed into something extraordinary, that’s when we start taking notice. Enter: Orbit by Forestalgia.
Forestalgia is a Hackney-based design studio founded by creative director Emmanuel Lawal in 2023. Spanning furniture, jewellery and accessories, the brand firmly places storytelling at its core. Each piece strikes a balance between sculptural beauty and functional innovation, elevating everyday design into something both meaningful and memorable. It’s an approach that is already earning Forestalgia a healthy amount of recognition, with Lawal named as one of the Design Council‘s 25 for 2025 trailblazers – an initiative that highlights designers, architects and creators leading sustainable innovation – and collaborators like Bentley Motors and the British Fashion Council coming on board for various projects.
Orbit is Forestalgia’s latest offering. Having launched on July 27, it’s set to make waves in the beauty sphere. The collection features wide-tooth, afro and fine-tooth combs designed for every hair type, each crafted from sustainably sourced, recyclable acetate in a rich dark tortoiseshell finish. Available exclusively through the studio’s website, every comb can also be personalised with custom initials.
It’s more than just a comb – it’s designed for those who see everyday objects as an extension of their personal style and beauty rituals. Reimagining a daily essential through thoughtful form and premium materials, its circular, handheld silhouette transforms a functional tool into a statement piece. Finished with a magnetic snap closure for everyday use, it’s as practical as it is aesthetically crafted.
Before Orbit, Forestalgia introduced Modular 001 in 2025 – an integrated table and chair system with a built-in audio setup. As the studio’s inaugural product, it was officially unveiled in March on the terrace of Gordon Ramsay‘s Lucky Cat restaurant in Bishopsgate, before going on display at the London Design Biennale in June. The launch marked an important milestone for Lawal, reinforcing a lesson that has shaped his approach to building Forestalgia: creating a meaningful brand isn’t about chasing perfection, it’s about consistently producing work that reflects your values and vision.
Away from the design world, however, Lawal is one half of the music production duo Audio Coming Soon, alongside Ashton Gohil. While the pulsing beats of a DJ set may seem worlds apart from the meticulous process of crafting physical objects, Lawal sees them as complementary rather than opposing disciplines. Both have taught him the value of patience, precision and creative restraint. Whether composing music or designing objects, he is ultimately driven by the same instinct: to create experiences that resonate.
Here, we chat to Lawal to learn more about Forestalgia, Orbit and his creative process.
Modular 001
1. Why did you decide to set up your brand Forestalgia?
Forestalgia came from a personal need and burning desire to design. I found myself searching for objects that felt unique, intentional and beautiful, but so much of what I found either felt overly functional with no soul or purely decorative. I wanted to create pieces that invited you to connect to a world full of narrative. I’ve always believed that the objects we live with shape the way we feel. Forestalgia is my purest outlet of exploring that relationship.
2. What inspired your creative pivot from music to design?
To me, it never felt like a pivot. Music and design both begin in the same place: emotion. They’re both about creating an experience that makes someone feel something. Music taught me patience, restraint and the importance of atmosphere. Design has simply become another language for expressing those same ideas. Instead of composing with sound, I’m composing with form, material and space.
They’re different mediums, but they’re driven by the same mindset. In music, every sound has a purpose. Sometimes the spaces between the notes are just as important as the notes themselves. I approach design in much the same way. Every curve, proportion and material decision should contribute to how something feels. Both disciplines require patience and an acceptance that simplicity is often much harder to achieve than complexity.
3. What inspired the Forestalgia logo?
The logo reflects the philosophy behind the brand. Forestalgia is future focused, we romanticise the idea of what is yet to come. If you spin the symbol logo anti-clockwise, you will see a ghost-like figure with a soul in the middle. That logo represents all of us daring to dream, jumping into the unknown with our arms wide open.
4. What inspired you to branch into beauty with Forestalgia?
Beauty has always been about ritual for me, not vanity. Some of the most grounding moments in our day happen in the bathroom or in front of a mirror, yet those spaces are often overlooked. Orbit was born from wanting to elevate everyday moments through thoughtfully designed objects that become an expression of someone’s personality, values and way of living. If a beautifully made object can encourage someone to slow down for even a minute, then it’s doing something far more meaningful than simply serving a function.
5. Can you explain your material palette for Orbit?
Recycled acetate felt like the natural choice. Its depth, warmth and tactile quality bring a sense of permanence while drawing inspiration from the organic beauty of nature. I’ve always been drawn to tortoiseshell, particularly in eyewear, and when we produced the first Orbit sample in that pattern, there was an immediate feeling that we’d found something special. It transformed the object from something purely functional into something with real character and personality.
6. Who have you made Orbit for?
Orbit is for anyone who values intention and finds joy in the rituals. It’s for those who appreciate thoughtful design, natural materials and objects with longevity. But more than anything, it’s for people who take pride in their haircare.
7. What is your creative process when it comes to designing and reimagining everyday objects?
I start by observing. I’m fascinated by the small behaviours we repeat everyday without thinking. From there, I ask whether an object can do more than solve a practical problem. Can it slow you down? Can it feel better in your hand or sat on? Can it create a moment of beauty within an otherwise ordinary routine? The process is rarely linear and I’m less interested in making something new than I am in making something worth living with.
8. Can you explain a bit about the storytelling you wish to convey with Orbit?
Orbit is about coming back to yourself. The name speaks to the cycles and rhythms that shape our lives – the rituals we repeat everyday and the comfort that can be found within them. If people take anything away from the storytelling behind Orbit, I hope it’s the reminder that beauty doesn’t only belong to special occasions. It exists in the everyday, in the ordinary moments we so often overlook. Those are the moments that deserve just as much intention and care. Storytelling is my favourite part of building Forestalgia. It’s where products become something more meaningful than objects – they become part of people’s lives. That’s why we’re launching a new spotlight series, exploring the talented individuals who inspire us and how they “orbit” their day. I can’t wait to share those stories, so keep your eyes peeled.
9. What’s coming up next?
I’m interested in continuing to build a world rather than simply a collection of products. Over the coming months, Forestalgia will introduce new colourways of Orbit, including exclusive editions available through our website alongside selected retail partners. We’ve also created a category within the brand called Elevated Everyday Essentials, a space dedicated to thoughtfully designed accessories that elevate the rituals of everyday life through the Forestalgia lens.
Our ambition isn’t simply to make more things, but to create objects that become part of people’s lives in a lasting and meaningful way. We’re still at the beginning of that journey, and that’s what makes this next chapter so exciting.
Photography courtesy of Forestalgia.
