Social and Environmental Responsibility

Who we are

Responsible manufacturing

Our manufacturing process combines low-energy, manual processes with traditional Mexican craftsmanship. By maintaining in-house production, we can ensure quality, minimize waste, and use materials optimally, making sustainability an integral part of each creation. We also explore ways to reduce excess material, finding creative approaches to repurpose what might otherwise be discarded, ensuring that each element is used to its fullest potential. Our focus is on minimizing waste and optimizing the use of natural resources, always working closely with artisans to respect the integrity of their craft. Unorthodox for the world of product design, we don’t stop the development of our products. We continue to refine and evolve them over many years, preserving not only their function but also enhancing their production methods. This continuous development reflects our deep commitment to the longevity of our products.

Materials and Responsible Sourcing

We select materials that reflect our commitment to durability, tradition, and responsible production. By working with these materials, we not only ensure their quality and longevity but also support artisan communities in maintaining their traditional practices.

Our products are crafted with durable, long-lasting materials that develop character over time. Each material is carefully selected for its artisanal quality and timeless appeal, ensuring that every piece remains relevant for years. We work with natural stones, handwoven fibers, and recycled metals, embracing traditional techniques that highlight the beauty of raw materials. Whether sourced from the earth or repurposed through thoughtful processes, these elements are integral to our products, connecting craftsmanship with a deeper sense of permanence.

The People / Social Value

Our collaborations with artisan families in remote areas of Mexico ensure fair compensation for their craftsmanship. We design and produce pieces in accordance with what artisans can sustainably produce, enabling them to work steadily without compromising their traditional craftsmanship. We also support artisans in the implementation of technology and equipment, providing what is needed for an efficient process.

Preventing Underselling: We pay artisans fairly and prevent underselling, protecting the sustainability of their work. Our commitment supports economic resilience in these communities and preserves their cultural heritage, due to the fact that some of these crafts are on the verge of extinction. We’ve been working with some of these artisans for 15, 10, and even 8 years. We take great care in selecting them, and once they’re part of our team, we continue working together as partners.

Packaging

For us, packaging is not just an afterthought—it’s a key pillar of our sustainability commitment. In a world where plastic, foam, and other single-use materials dominate the industry, since the beginning, we have made a conscious and innovative decision to exclusively use cardboard in all our packaging. This commitment is a result of years of meticulous design and development, where we crafted custom templates, molds, and traps to ensure that the most delicate items—such as our handcrafted barro negro pieces and recycled glass objects—are securely protected with only cardboard.

What sets us apart is that our packaging doesn’t just serve a protective function; it’s part of our identity. We created a unique, fully recyclable packaging system, tested and refined until it could deliver the same level of protection, or even surpass it, as conventional plastic and foam. Despite the inherent fragility of materials like clay and glass, our careful development ensures that every product arrives with no compromise on safety or quality.

This commitment requires much more time and effort in the development process—it’s not an easy or cheap solution, and it’s not typical in the design world, where plastic and other synthetic materials are the easy default. But we believe that the careful balance between innovation, aesthetics, and environmental responsibility is essential to our mission. By using only cardboard, we eliminate single-use plastics from our supply chain. We view this as a vital part of our broader philosophy of circular design and sustainability, where every aspect of our studio reflects our responsibility to both people and the planet.

We also extend this commitment by recycling all the cardboard that enters our studio. Damaged boxes, shipping cartons, and packaging from our suppliers are shredded using a specialized machine, transforming them into protective filler for our shipments. This ensures that even secondary materials are repurposed, further reducing waste and reinforcing our approach to packaging.

Restoration and Circular Design

We design with longevity in mind, creating pieces that remain relevant and functional for decades.

We believe that the longevity of our products extends beyond their initial purchase. Our Second Life Program ensures that the lamps we create can be restored even after years of use.

Exchangeable Parts: All of our products allow for easy replacement of key components, ensuring they can be repaired rather than discarded.

Lamp Restoration: We offer clients the option to restore their lamps, whether by refinishing materials like brass, copper, or reweaving pieces, as well as upgrading LED bulbs and wiring.

Recycling and Reuse: Whenever possible, we repurpose excess materials and minimize production waste, working closely with artisans to find creative ways to give new life to what might otherwise be discarded.

Mono-materiality and disassembly

By working primarily with single-material compositions, our designs naturally integrate into circular processes, making them easier to repair, repurpose, and recycle. Most of our components are crafted from a single material, ensuring that they can be efficiently processed at the end of their lifespan without complex separation. This approach reduces waste and simplifies recycling, reinforcing the integrity of each material. In addition, our products are designed for easy disassembly. Instead of adhesives or irreversible bonding, we use mechanical fastening techniques like screws and modular components, allowing parts to be replaced or reconfigured over time. This not only extends the lifespan of our pieces but also ensures they can be maintained without compromising their original craftsmanship.