tableware designed by much-loved australian chef kylie kwong will hit the shops in october after the product was launched at an event in sydney this week.
the collection of bowls, plates, a teapot and cups was created with oxfam australia and one of its fair trade producer partners in vietnam.
using her graphics design background kwong decided on a lotus image for the ceramic pieces which are charcoal-coloured with a deep jade green inner surface.
“i wanted to create a design that was not only aesthetically pleasing but which also had great depth and a wonderful story to it,” kwong says.
“as part of my inspiration i looked towards the symbol of the lotus flower. to me the lotus is such a deep and meaningful symbol, which represents femininity, spirituality and the importance of nature and the environment.”
oxfam australia’s director of trading nadine silverberg initiated the collaboration which kwong says she never could have dreamt of had she not been asked.
the sydney chef has long been a supporter of fair trade and it is hoped her association with the range and oxfam australia will increase its profile around the nation.
kwong, whose favourite product is the soup bowl, says fair trade is the only reason she said yes to designing the range. “[it’s] because of the philanthropic reasons behind it all. each good action we can do in our life, each good intention and pure motivation behind every one of our decisions affects so many others positively and expansively.”
pieces were hand-crafted and hand-painted in vietnam by mai vietnamese handicrafts, which was set up more than 20 years ago to support street children and now employs the mothers and older sisters. workers are given decent wages and training opportunities.
though there are no plans at this stage to increase the range, kwong says she hopes customers feel a warm and positive feeling when using the products knowing the hope they bring to third world communities by purchasing fair trade.
“my wish is that people’s awareness will be raised tremendously to the brilliant and very important work that fair trade and oxfam do.”
