Aiayu
Aiayu (pronounced Eye-aye-you) is a small Danish company devoted to creating sustainable knitwear, designed in Copenhagen and woven in the remote highlands of Bolivia. Their ethos is to explore, celebrate and preserve unique craftsmanship and extraordinary materials found around the world.
Meaning “ soul" in the native tongue of the indigenous people in Bolivia, the Aiayu name was carefully picked by the workers, making it even more special.
Using a unique process with llama wool, designed for ultimate softness and durability, Aiayu's manufacturing process takes place 4,000 meters above sea level in El Alto, Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in the world and a place from where only few international companies choose to source their manufactured products. This is the origin of the fleece, the weaving and the knitting expertise of the indigenous people of Bolivia.
Using stitches developed in collaboration with the women who knit and represent treasures from the old Bolivian knitting traditions, each piece is made out of the highest quality llama wool, and mostly using natural colour in lieu of dyes makes their products soft and luxurious to touch. Each garment can take up to 7 days to produce, even for the most skilled hand-knitter. Her initials are beautifully stitched into the garment, as a greeting to you from her.
We feel very lucky to stock an extraordinary selection of hand-knitted pieces of Aiayu at Manon bis, all being works of art in their own right.
In the words of Aiayu, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - please enjoy it with us.
A short talk with Brickett Davda
1. Tell us a little bit about your background? What made you want to create the brand Brickett Davda?
I studied fine art painting at college and had been painting for a few years before I felt I needed to make something that was more practical something that enhanced daily life in that way. I had been making lighting when my brother suggested using clay and so from many experiments and with no ceramic knowledge, what is now Brickett Davda began.
2. How would you describe Brickett Davda's aesthetic, and what influences it?
I think I would describe my works aesthetic as refined utility, I feel it is about pairing down a shape to its bare essentials then dressing it up in layers of colour. Anything beautifully worn by use influences the work plus the colours in everyday life.
3. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process?
The process is all by hand from rolling and fitting the clay, painting the surfaces and finishing the edges. The moulds are handmade so each part of the process imparts it own incidentals, no piece is the same.
4. What does a typical day at work involve for you?
Everyday is different but mostly it's about bringing together all the elements of production from mixing colour to loading kilns, I have a great team to work with and a process rather like a commercial kitchen, so a daily look at how things are cooking and of course lots of cups of tea!
5. Which other designers, artists or creative people do you love at the moment?
My biggest inspiration at the moment comes from painters and sculptors like Antoni Tapies, Cy Twombly, Yannis Kounellis and Vivienne Westwood
6. Can you list for your top resources, across any media that you turn to when you’re in a need of a bolt of creative inspiration?
If in need of inspiration a trip to local junk shops usually does the trick.
7. How long does each piece take to make?
It takes around 10 days for each piece to go through the process, that includes drying time and 4 days spent in the kiln.
8. Do you have any favourite Brickett Davda pieces you use at home?
Usually I have all the misfits and experiments at home, but my favourite shape at the moment is the round platter I love serving it piled high with roast meat or fish and vegetables or for an Alice in Wonderland dinner for one!
The perfect tea towel
We're excited to have in our store this week some beautiful new French tea towels.
These artworks are screen printed vintage photography on 100% stone washed linen. The tea towels are entirely made in France with natural and sustainable materials. Made for your everyday life, meals, recipes and many other things….
Use them as tea towels, table napkins, table runners, curtains…..or just admire them!
