EARTH DAY
Although I don't find it right to celebrate on certain days, I started to follow what EARTH DAY.ORG has been doing for a while. EARTH DAY was first celebrated in 1970. They determined its mission as diversifying, educating and activating environmental movements worldwide. As Motta
" It's not a day. It's a movement, " they say.
I have been designing and producing for my own brand for 21 years. My focus has always been to deliver my designs to the user with local materials and production possibilities. I have never accepted the way of doing business by producing in distant countries because it is cheap.
When I decided to roll up my sleeves and open a workshop to produce ceramics in Istanbul 10 years ago, I encountered a completely different world. With surprise and a little heartache, I bought a ceramic kiln made by the Germans. I started using ready-mixed porcelain clays made by the French and Germans. The clays and glazes we used were well-designed and problem-free materials. Of course, it was easy to produce the objects I designed with materials that were easy to work with and problem-free.
We have been producing with French Limoge porcelain clay for many years. We continue to do so.
Over the years, I began to ask questions about the materials I used and our production methods.
As I saw aspects of it that did not fit my philosophy of life and design, the questions and answers became more difficult.
For a short period of time, with the support and guidance of our dear Zeynep Bodur Okyay, Kale Seramik conducted R&D studies for porcelain clay. Particular importance was given to its creation using raw materials from Anatolia. Finally, porcelain clay for the casting technique was created with 65% of the raw materials from Anatolian soil. What gave this special color to the yellowish cream porcelain clay was the kaolin clay from Anatolian soil. I also really liked the color of the clay.
What a great wealth it is to have various colors and tastes of different geographies. I want to better embrace the differences within the geography I live in. While bringing my designs to life; I am aware of the importance of using all these local values correctly. I take care to make the communication design with the people who use my porcelains correctly.
Unfortunately, the porcelain clay made by Kale Seramik could not progress on a sustainable basis.
I hope that this will be a topic that will be taken up again in the future, within the framework of the movement that Zeynep Hanım started with the motto " TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR WORLD ".
We all know that one of the most important issues in our world, regarding climate change and global nature problems, is to design and produce with local materials. It is important to start implementing.
And most importantly, it is necessary to think comprehensively and make the right decisions during the product design phase. We must be very careful to use the materials we produce correctly and to be SUSTAINABLE at every stage of design and production.
As ÖZLEM TUNA TASARIM, we try to use the pieces we produce in our lives in some way. We plant flowers in cracked cups, fill them with candles, etc.
And recently I have noticed that I cannot throw away a broken ceramic cup or plate. I think about where and how I can use the broken piece. In Kayın Zaman, we repaired a broken section of the staircase in our design store in Istanbul with a broken plate. My love for cobalt color increases every day. Our staircase came to life with COBALT color porcelain mosaic.
Ozlem Tuna