text younglimemployed by us. In addition,
we have our own lab and
invest significantly in R&D.
All this is reflected in the
quality levels in what is visible,
as well as in the high technical
content that is invisible.
When we looked for a base
for our business, one of our
key prerequisites was a good
level of craft skill. We originally
found this in Colombia, before
moving to the Philippines.
One of the reasons for this
move was the willingness of
Filipino craftspeople to learn
and to embrace the often
giant steps we needed them
to make. In many developing
societies, manual work has
become devalued. Office
work preferably in an air-
conditioned environment is
seen as progress. Our aim
is, in a small way, to redress
that view, to demonstrate that
enhancing heritage hand skills
confers dignity and worth,
as well as ensures cultural
continuity and development.
We started with six
craftsmen; we now have over
150 and our staff turnover
is almost non-existent. So
our model works for us.
Can you tell us how the
Collab with Designer
bethan gray Came about?
Bethan calls it our water cooler
moment! Her studio and ours
are two doors apart in London.
She was filling her kettle in our
corridor as we were entering
our studio. Peeking through
our open door, she became
fascinated by what she saw. We
then found common ground in
our dedication to craft, and in
valuing the material’s journey
through the design process.
We were looking for new
collaborations that would
widen our market base.
Since we worked primarily
on bespoke ultra high net
worth projects, we could
showcase little of our work.
We wanted our work to
become more accessible
and collaborating with
furniture and other product
designers was the obvious
next step in our journey.Can you name three
other Designers you’D
be interesteD to
Collaborate with?
Chi Wing Lo is a furniture
designer whose work I have
long admired. His architectural
approach and clever use of
materials resonate with me.
He is inexorably identified
with Italian design but I would
love to explore efforts that
would be a bridge between his
spare yet rich design and our
rich yet humble materials.
I would also love to work
with Elaine Ng Yan Ling of The
Fabrick Lab, based in Hong
Kong. Elaine is a forward-
thinking materiologist
whose commitment to
sustainability is very closely
aligned with our own. She isas meticulousabout detail, as
she is visionaryin concept.
I admireJiangQiong
Er’s uncompromising
pursuit of contemporary
elegancebased on traditional
techniquesand materials
forShangXia.Itstagline
“HeritageandInnovation”
could be our own. And her
French-Chineseassociations
resonatewithme.After
morethan 20 yearstogether
with my French husband,I
can attest to the synergies
of French and Chinese
aestheticsensibilities!Visit https://naturesquared.com/
to find out more about Nature
Squared.- The company
collaborated
with Rolls-Royce
to create a
dashboard
covered in
feathers. - A close-up
look at the use
of tobacco
leaves in a wall
application. - The tobacco
leaf wall
treatment makes
for a perfect
cigar-lounge
setting. - Jade stone
bookstands and
an abalone shell
pen tray from
the Exploring
Eden collection.
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