New Zealand brand introduces a refreshed homewares collection in collaboration with Stockholm-based designer . Striking a natural harmony between the ornamental and the functional with vases, vessels, bowls and objects, the collection is a true celebration of the Ugandan and Kenyan materials and makers that formed its latest series.
Asili borrows its name from the Swahili word meaning essence, genesis, the source of something. The pieces, which are hand-carved and crafted by artisan groups in Uganda and Kenya, within a Fairtrade framework that supports its makers, perfectly complement each other and the home.
As a brand that has collaboration at its heart, the partnership with Amina Horozić, an award-winning industrial designer whose work spans furniture and gallery installations to retail environments, provided a unique opportunity to expand the existing range that was welcomed by co-founders Eve Penny and Hamish Davies.
Soapstone and Ankole Cattle Horn sourced ethically from East Africa have been used to create the range, a considered collection of made-to-order pieces that are uniquely individual yet united in their materiality.
Soapstone, with its naturally formed palette of marbled whites, soft pinks and deep blue-greys, is shaped by Asili’s skilled carvers in the vibrant south-west Kenyan town of Kisii into thoughtfully designed pieces for displaying objects, or to simply themselves be displayed.
The Soapstone Flower Pot, sitting at 32cm tall, champions the raw beauty of this material in a design that marks a new direction for Asili in scale and structure, though sitting comfortably alongside smaller, more refined signature pieces like the tiered Roll Vessel.
Ankole Cattle Horn, a bi-product of the Ugandan beef industry, is expertly moulded and handcrafted through five stages of sanding and polishing to achieve a lustrous finish, reminiscent of glass. Variable striations of brown and ecru add striking patterns, making each horn piece perfectly unique.
The Curved Horn Bowl is a true statement piece and one of my personal favourites. With multiple uses – as a fruit bowl in the kitchen, a hold-all in the hallway, or the centrepiece of a dining table – its beauty is inherent in the natural grain of the horn.
The perfect offering if you’re looking for beautiful, ethically-made gifts for the design-minded this Christmas, the collection is now available to purchase online at the newly refreshed . Each item is made to order over a four week period, with regular progress updates allowing you to follow the story of your Asili piece being made.
Images courtesy of Asili
