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Meet the maker:

Meet the maker:

Est 2018, Northriding, Johannesburg

Who is Kilnhouse Design Studio?

KHDS is the name behind a hobby, grown passion project of mine. We aim to create ceramics that are unique and boundary pushing with a strong sense of South African design in them.

We are a truly electric country and I want to make sure that we express that in the best way we know how. Sometimes that takes a bit of innovation into a craft as old as time itself and I love how new things can be learnt each and every day using the basics and a good dose of gut feeling.

What was the idea behind your brand?

I initially started KHDS as a creative outlet from work, my instagram was a way to document it effectively and visually and it quickly grew into something much more. The main idea behind the brand is innvoation (cheesy right?). Ceramic craft is such an old one and there is so much out there to learn from, I don't think I would be able to learn it all in a lifetime. I find comfort and a good amount of drive in this - I am able to innovate out of a craft using tangible historical information to guide me from what I know. Did I mention , we have some of the world's best ceramists here in SA? I am lucky enough to have so many increadible ceramists around me who I can reach out to in a heartbeat and this community is something that has really helped KH to grow from strength to strength.

Secondly I would say customisation - time and time again, I have wanted to create something without the tools or partners in business to do so and I see this often when it comes to ceramics. People want what they want and as much as I have my own identity as a ceramic artist, I can't ignore the fact that many people also have this need that isn't met effectively. 

How many people work for you? 

I currently employ one master thrower and we work in tandem in the studio.

What are your best sellers?

It's hard to say, we hardly have the time to make enough stock to check but I would say Spilled Milk or our custom ceramics department.

What is YOUR favourite product of your collection?  

100% Spilled Milk anything. It's cooky and unique and who doesn't love a good terracotta-white glaze combo!

What to you is the best thing about selling on Knus? 

I have been given an opportunity to access a market that I never thought I'd be able to. Thousands of 'design-minded' people in one place, it's amazing! Also KNUS's product to person services completely cut out any admin that I would need to do apart from making the items, which helps when my laptop is gathering dust whilst I'm elbow deep in mud.

How would you say it has impacted your business selling through KNUS?  

I think I have a lot more designers and design-minded people sitting up and taking notice of KH, it's a real blessing!

Why would you say it is important for customers to support local? 

I believe in supporting local, small companies rather than supporting larger corporations for a number of reasons but here are a few:

  1.  In most cases, larger corporates are part-fully owned by international entities and the money going in hardly results in benefit for the country coming out.
  2. These corporations generally employ cut throat methods to scare smaller makers into more competitive pricing and provide products that ultimately devaluate a customer's understanding of hand-made. 'Hand made' in a department store is vastly different to hand-made by someone you know. SME's don't have a factory with 40+ staff and walk-in kilns to ensure speedy production, we're usually 1-4 people, quietly and passionately working to our understanding of success.

Supporting small means that customers are able to make a real difference in a person's life.