The beauty of design often lies in its visual brilliance – the mesmerising forms, colours, and textures that ignite our collective imagination. But beneath the surface resides the quiet engineer of design integrity that ultimately determines its relevance and enduring impact: authenticity.

Authenticity has always been the defining force shaping any meaningful act of creativity. It’s the intangible element separating the exceptional from the merely appealing, and the elusive quality that distinguishes a timeless interior from one that presents as contemporary at best. 

For architects and designers, authenticity forms the foundation of their craft, creative expression and professional integrity. It informs their ability to realise the most intricate design visions, uphold desired performance and safety standards, and create unique spaces that epitomise their clients’ needs and desires. For clients, the value of authenticity is deeply personal – it’s about crafting bespoke spaces that anchor their individual stories with impeccable craftsmanship and enduring quality. 

The counterfeit conundrum

The significance of authenticity is amplified by the proliferation of counterfeiting. The rise of inferior materials and products makes it increasingly difficult to identify original offerings, and using counterfeit materials in carefully designed spaces can have a cascading effect, eroding the aesthetic integrity, quality, performance, and – ultimately – the creative intent behind a project. 

It can also cause delays, bring about financial implications, and deplete trust between industry professionals and their clients – not to mention the potential health and safety risks or environmental impacts. This is further augmented by the complexities of our supply chains and the number of stakeholders and channels a product has to pass before becoming a part of an interior design scheme.

Lamitak: Assuring authenticity

In a market flooded with lesser-quality options, Lamitak provides a reassuring alternative with its dedication to transparency, traceability, and design excellence. A leading manufacturer of high-pressure laminates, Lamitak is committed to producing authentic surfaces and actively empowering designers and consumers to easily validate the legitimacy of its products, ensuring design integrity remains firmly at the forefront.

Design integrity made easy

Lamitak’s dedication to integrity is reflected in the fact that the manufacturer treats each laminate as an item of outstanding artistry. Each surface is made with meticulous attention to detail, rigorously tested, and produced with a uniform quality of finish. This consistency allows clients to compare the final product against Lamitak’s samples, ensuring the intended visual outcome and safeguarding against subpar imitations.

In addition, all Lamitak surfaces boast an embedded signature code – an unmistakable mark of genuine craftsmanship. This unique identifier allows for effortless verification, giving designers and clients confidence in the product’s origin and facilitating quality checks before installation. This sentiment also shines through Lamitak’s newly announced Newedge UV Authenticity Mark, which replaces the previous printed mark. The cutting-edge feature, embedded every 50 cm on Lamitak’s signature Newedge edgings, offers additional protection against imitations – a quick scan with a UV light reveals the mark, instantly confirming the product’s legitimacy.

But Lamitak’s transparent design ethos isn’t the only differentiating factor – the high-quality laminate surfaces and Newedge edgings are infused with antimicrobial properties, providing continuous surface protection and fostering a more sanitary environment. This focus on hygiene ensures Lamitak’s products help create healthier and safer spaces – a value not always shared by manufacturers of subpar materials.

Imitation, mediocrity and greatness

In a time when mimicry is becoming the norm and distinguishing genuine products from inferior counterfeits grows increasingly more challenging, Lamitak’s commitment to integrity serves as an optimistic counterpoint and a powerful reminder that, as Oscar Wilde put it, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” 

By empowering designers, specifiers, and consumers to make informed decisions, Lamitak is ushering in the arrival of a more authentic, trusting and creative future that rejects the ordinary in favour of an unwavering pursuit of excellence.