Madre
Created by two designers, Madre makes small editions of objects designed to the millimeter.
Text: Ana Dias Ferreira
Raquel Rei and Ana Areias met in a communication studio in Porto, but quickly realized that graphic design was not enough – what they really liked were objects. For a few months, they decided to take a part of the day to learn pottery and, with molds and liquid clay, created a line of containers that fit together and, with them, Mother .
The brand name comes from the mother piece from which ceramic molds are made, but the next step was to explore other materials besides clay. There were wooden benches and resin bases, an original coffee spoon in brass plated with gilded silver and even a necklace in mahogany. All in minimal language and Nordic inspiration.
More than just collections, they have limited editions, in which the scale of the pieces responds to demand – a luxury they allow themselves for continuing to have graphic design as their main activity. “We ended up working mainly with small producers, more like the makers”, says Ana. “Sometimes we propose to make study visits to factories or studios, which end up being an inspiration. Lately, we have even called Mother a laboratory, because what happens is that we discover a material and we go looking for someone who can help us work on it.”
The coffee cups and tall glass, ideal for storing pens, are produced in a small family factory in Barcelos, where the pair also discovered that “many of the best projects in Berlin and Copenhagen are made”.
All products Madre
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