Our Story

The Vé bench was created out of necessity after Monique, the designer, attended a meditation retreat. She could not find a comfortable position on a traditional bench or cushion, and after every session, which should have been relaxing, she ended up with a painful back. Upon her return home, she designed a kneeling bench with a V-shaped foot that provided support without constraints or putting pressure on her joints. Guided by the technical expertise of her son, an osteopath, she built a seat that let her adjust her position and respect the natural curves of her back. 

 At first she only used the bench for meditation but soon realized that she could not do without it. She loved the freedom of movement and the ability to change positions (kneeling, on one or both knees, squatting, stretching a leg…) The bench gave her a floating feeling more than just sitting, and it found a permanent place around her coffee table. 

After patenting the Vé bench, Monique sold it from France under her brand Zenymov, and now her daughter, who lives in the United States, is taking the Vé bench to America under her lifestyle brand, Coquille de Soi. 

The Vé bench is a natural and durable product with a small environmental footprint. It is made locally out of wood, a renewable and recyclable resource. Finished with a natural oil, it is easy to repair or retouch if needed and ages beautifully. Our family is careful to make a product that respects the environment and the people we work with locally.