Lynn Chang Founder, Maker, and Designer of Uniqlay
Redefining the status-quo by showcasing the voice of minority female artists
EST. 2020
After one long working day, my partner and I ordered Thai food for dinner. When the food arrived, we had very different choices of tableware for the same food -- he opted for the “salad bowl” and I went for the “cereal bowl.” This serendipitous discovery sparked my curiosity and a series of research to understand the different choices of tableware. This led to an appreciation and understanding that how we eat and what we eat are deeply intimate and extremely personal. Then I took a long, hard look at reputable home goods brands as well as successful independent tableware ceramicists …. there are many stunningly beautiful options, but they all seem so “monocultured.” I knew we could add more diversity to the table.
Though the food we eat is a big part of our identity, culture and heritage, tableware options available are falling behind. Even though so many brands have made loud statements on diversity, there isn’t a whole lot of action. Celebrating cultures and representing minority female artists underpins everything we do at Uniqlay Ceramics. I am a firm believer that your culture and how you eat should be a source of comfort and pride.
My home life and upbringing are living proof that seemingly very different (or even conflicting) cultures can embrace their differences and appreciate how much those differences enrich our world -- through the process of understanding each other, your knowledge of the world expands. I believe this is a dialogue worth having. The more we celebrate diversity, the more we can understand without prejudice and come together.
The country is divided but we don’t have to be. We can be our unique selves, united by our compassion, willingness to learn, and commitment to listen. Thank you for reading, and I hope we get to eat together and learn from each other very soon!
At Uniqlay Ceramics, we are reimagining handmade tableware to celebrate diversity, culture, and
deeply-rooted family traditions.
Kinobi
Pairing function with beauty
Kinobi means functional beauty in Japanese, and it is embedded in every design at Uniqlay Ceramics. The primary functions of ceramic tableware are to contain and to be held. Every move on the potter’s wheel is made intentionally with these two functions in mind.
The contents of a finished piece and how each is held in your hands become your personal expression. With every use, an intimate collaboration between the maker and the holder is created.
our process
We are committed to the tradition of handmaking - starting from the preparation of the clay and the manipulation on the potters wheel to the hand-brush glazing. Every piece is handmade on the potter’s wheel with neither molds nor press dies.
Each piece endures a minimum of two firings at over 2000 °F for 12 hours.
The firing process transforms soft and malleable clay into strong and durable stoneware that’s robust enough for daily use while beautifully displaying unique handmade qualities.
