Subtle prints, organic forms and colour are all part of the Takeawei story.
Chela Edmunds began her career in textile design, working for labels such as Donna Karan and Vera Wang in New York. Now back in Australia and living by the beach in Victoria’s Torquay, Edmunds has spent the last three years channelling her training in print design and her love of colour into Takeawei – a summery line of high-fired mugs, cups and platters awash with sunset tones and patterns.
How has your training in textile design influenced the Takeawei aesthetic?
Unlike with textiles I don’t have to think about how wearable a pattern is so this offers some freedom in design. I’m inspired by textile techniques like tie-dye and batik. I try to leave something white and end up covering everything in colour. I can’t help it.
Is the glazing process an important part of your work?
I use a combination of slips and glazes to give different effects of rough and smooth. It reminds me of a textiles term for a woven fabric, seersucker, which means “milk and sugar”. One without the other wouldn’t have the same feel.
What can we expect next for Takeawei?
In June I opened Guild of Objects with fellow potters Brooke Thorn and Tao Oudomvilay. It’s a retail, exhibition and workshop space for Australian designers and makers. I’m looking forward to expanding our workshops in clay so that others can learn about the process.
Takeawei ceramics, from $45, guildofobjects.com
