How it's Made: Magnetic Midnight, Bogota

The artisans we primarily work with, are based in Usiacuri, in the northern coast of Colombia, where weaving the iraca palm is the town’s main industry (children are even taught weaving in schools!). We collaborate closely with a group of artisans who over the past six years has grown into a team of over a dozen. Each one is an expert in a particular type of weaving. From them we have learned about every different type of stitch, how they handle the fibers, the effect of different thicknesses, the subtleties of the spacing. In turn, we reinterpret the techniques to create our signature designs. The underlying frames for our trays are made out of galvanized stainless steel by a family of lamp makers outside of Bogota.

I love the relationship you build overtime from working with people for so long, both personal and professional. You become a team. The brand’s philosophy of respecting the craft whilst simultaneously seeking to elevate it, perfecting the quality and finding new perspectives with which to observe, manipulate or transform it, results from a close and dedicated collaboration with our artisans. Learning the essence of the craft and the tradition from them allows us to design in accordance with its true nature.