December 15 2015 – Mercantile London
Brand Focus - Nkuku
New to the Mercantile is the Mali pottery collection from home and lifestyle brand Nkuku. The company's guiding principles of ethical, eco-friendly and handmade products are translated into a simple design that balances a rustic terracotta base with the choice of soft off-white or sea green glaze. Cups come in two sizes, with matching bowl and jug options.
The pieces are handmade near Pondicherry in India as part of a fair trade project which was established in 1985 to provide training and secure employment for men and women from disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme now employs forty people and focuses particularly on empowering women in the work place.
Production involves an age old process that has remained unchanged for centuries, with the preparation of five clays taking over a week. The pieces are then fired in a handmade brick kiln, heated by wood bought from local farmers. Once fired and cooled, the pieces are carefully packaged and sent to the UK.
