Does the everyday object still have something to tell us? This is the question posed by Daniel Nikolovski with TRAGA, his young Milanese label. Far from a dry, conceptual approach, the studio offers a design that is both brutalist and playful, the first piece of which is the Martini Shot Glass serves as a manifesto: one glass, two attitudes, and the promise to overturn the ritual.
There are those rare moments when an object, through a reversal as simple as it is unexpected, manages to thwart the tyranny of established customs. Martini Shot Glass TRAGA's creation is one of them. The inaugural piece from this new Milanese studio, it transcends its status as a simple glass object to become an architectural miniature that commands attention. On one side, the iconic Martini glass, with its timeless lines; on the other, with a simple inverted gesture, a cylindrical volume for the shot. A small marvel of dual functionality that, far from being a mere gimmick, encapsulates the brand's entire philosophy: "rethinking typologies" to reintroduce a dose of irreverence and expressiveness.
This unique style bears the imprint of its founder, Daniel Nikolovski. Having grown up in Skopje, in the protective shadow of brutalist and sculptural architecture, he has managed to blend this influence of full, monumental forms with the lightness and playful spirit of Italian postmodernism. The result is a formal language made of deliberate contrasts, where the robustness of the line never sacrifices the white – this spiritual intelligence so dear to Italian design. From the base to the chalice, glass is a constant dialogue between monumentality and conviviality.
The choice of material is equally important. Borosilicate, better known as Pyrex, takes center stage here. A laboratory material repurposed for its resistance to time and temperature, it embodies a commitment to sustainability that lies at the heart of TRAGA's DNA: endless reusability, material recyclability, and even recycled cardboard packaging. The aesthetic appeal of the glass, offered in four subtle shades (amber-lilac, blue-pink, blue-green, and clear), further enhances the balance, playing on chromatic ranges that evoke glassmaking tradition without ever being confined by it.
TRAGA – whose name, derived from Proto-Slavic, means "to leave a trace" – doesn't aim to clutter the market with more objects. Its ambition is more subtle: to create memories, suspended moments, with touches of color that embellish a memorable evening. While the Milan-based studio is still young, it already displays a collaborative energy and refuses to take itself too seriously. With this first object, it proves that a design that reconciles formal boldness with ease of use is perhaps the most elegant response to the rigidity of contemporary rituals.
