Piles of pasta, colourful fresh salads and towers of juicy stonefruit deserve to be properly presented when entertaining guests. Inspired by summer get-togethers in the balmy Mediterranean, design-led lifestyle brand Saardé’s recently launched collection – For The Way We Gather – is an ideal fit for the job.
“Moments of togetherness feel increasingly meaningful these days, and having thoughtful pieces that feel both elevated and unfussy can make those moments even more special,” says Verity Kizek, who founded Saardé with her husband Shenol in 2018.
Beyond their core of making beautiful items for everyday living including homewares, bed linen, skincare and fragrances, the couple regularly finds inspiration in travel, resulting in releases like glassware evoking the mythology of Greece, and a fragrance recalling Japan’s sense of ceremony and serenity.
“Earlier this year, Shenol and I travelled to Portugal and met many makers in person,” says Verity. “Portugal has a rich heritage in ceramics, with generations of expertise behind the craft. At the same time, many producers there are innovating, particularly around sustainability, material reuse, and responsible energy and water use.”
The new collection comes in three colourways, including a rich, mottled ochre shade called Sunfleck, which the designer says reminds her of sunflowers, honey and amber.
“Each piece is individually flecked by hand using a reactive glaze,” Verity explains. “During high-temperature firing, the glaze interacts with the clay and kiln atmosphere, creating variations in colour and texture – no two pieces are ever quite the same.” As beautiful as the range is, which includes coffee and tea cups, dinnerware, jugs and servingware, functionality remains key. “We strongly believe that design has the power to shape how we feel and how we connect with one another,” says Verity. “We really hope people use these pieces every day.”
Shop the For The Way We Gather collection online.
