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Off the beaten path is a road less traveled, and yet sometimes you will just have to ease on down that road in pursuit of your dreams. Francisca Aldea (or Fran as she is
mostly known), owner of Minka Inhouse, was earning a stable income, traveling, and meeting lots of new people during her career in the retail industry. But she felt a change had to be made. And what a u-turn she made. Throwing caution to the wind, she pursued her true passion and, from scratch, built a business in sustainable and handcrafted goods.
The launch of Minka Inhouse, a brand specializing in handmade woollen throws, ceramic ornaments and cups, was funded by a Kickstarter campaign a few years ago. A lot of good things have happened to Minka since. Based in Santiago, Chile, Fran's vision is to create a homeware company that serves a social purpose and benefits the wider community, which is the literal meaning of the word “Minka”. The business has taken off with a blast and we are not surprised — in our KOEL HQ in Singapore, we drink our macchiatos exclusively, and ever so stylishly, from Minka ceramic coffee cups.
Fans of all things that have been thoughtfully designed and lovingly produced, we are especially attracted to Minka ceramics. Minka’s beautiful, detailed pieces which are made by local experts, bear an understated elegance. We sat down with Fran to find out more about her crafty journey.
MINKA IS MAKING WAVES! HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
I studied Graphic Design and right after graduation I started working for different retail companies that specialize in home products. I traveled to international design fairs in Hong Kong, China, and Europe. I was part of a big company, had the opportunity to explore the planet, but I knew that life was not for me. I wanted to be more involved and “hands-on” with the making of products from start to finish. I was also really keen to know the stories behind the craftsmen.
On my last trip to China, I realized that many of the things we sent there to produce could actually be manufactured locally. Upon my return, I started looking for suppliers and researched local techniques that could be redeveloped in a contemporary way. I began to source for local raw materials that could be used. Now I can happily say that everyday I am learning something new (about crafting) and at the same time, meet interesting people. Our team is still small. Currently, it’s just me and in the ceramics workshop, I work with José and Marisol.
HOW DO YOU TURN ON YOUR DESIGN MAGIC?
I like the “magic” involved in working with ceramics. I am constantly in awe of how the primary state of clay can be manipulated into a beautiful cup or vase. It gives me great
THE MAKERS
interview
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