Furniture and tableware brand Native & Co launched their latest collection entitled Mu at September’s London Design Festival. The collection, comprising six designs, celebrates the natural qualities of cedar wood, highlighting the grain in a variety of shapes from a simple circular platter and traditional plate, to a smooth ripple effect board and angular variations with four, six and eight sides.
Each board has been designed not only to highlight the natural wood, they are also to be multi-functional. The boards are double-sided allowing them to be used as chopping boards, as well as to present and serve food. The qualities of cedar wood make it a practical choice for this type of use, being naturally water resistant and antibacterial, as well as having a subtle ginger scent.
The prototyping of each board was just as important as the final presentation, with the development stages being turned into a showcase ‘sneak peek’ before the launch of the collection in East London.
“Experiments, mock-ups, tests and failures are all integral parts of any design process,” explains Sharon Jo-Yun Hung, the founder of Native & Co. “Mu: The Prototypes shines a light on the paths taken towards our latest studio series, including never-seen-before prototypes and stage breakdowns.”
The brand is inspired and influenced by the culture of Japan, and the use of cedar wood was an important element in the design process and story as it is highly sought-after in Japan. Traditionally and most commonly used in the construction of shrines and temples, it has a clear spiritual connection to its origins which Native & Co have respected in their simple and elegant collection.
Mu also compliments the minimal and simple approach Native & Co take with their designed and curated collections which range from furniture and tableware to accessories for the kitchen and bathroom. A palette of natural materials often untouched by modern manufacturing techniques, the influences from Asia are clear to see.
Established in 2014, Native & Co designs and curates homeware from Japan and Taiwan. With a focus on traditional crafts and contemporary designed tableware, they believe in discreet and subtle pieces made with purity. Their showroom and store is in Notting Hill.
Native & Co is one of Look Like Love’s ‘One-to Watch’ studios, find out more about their work here.
