I felt honoured when Barkers approached me to collaborate on the exclusive release of Earl of East incense in New Zealand. Daniel from Barkers explained their intention to work with craftspeople as a way to support local creatives.

It all started when I ran into May, the co-owner of Thea Matcha, at a mutual friend's exhibit. From that moment, we both knew a collaboration was on the cards. We decided to create a collection of Chawan (matcha bowls) and Chasen (whisk holders) that would complement the ritual of matcha.

I reached out to my friend Tiago, who has a creative eye for moving images and is someone I had always wanted to collaborate with. We’ve always shared a love for creative expression, often chatting about it when we would run into each other.

I spent many months making, experimenting and working on my craft till I felt like it was the right time to release my ceramics to the world. It was a massive moment and achievement for myself.