Rediscovering tile work with Shadé Akanbi
A fantastic interview with a fantastic designer
By Clay Imports
Shadé Akanbi, the visionary behind Clay Imports' captivating new Daedream Series ventured to Clay SMA, our ceramics studio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to create this fantastic, African inspired collection. Through her adventures, she masterfully captured the essence of tile making, a new material for the Creative Director and Designer of Printed Pattern People. We had a chance to talk to her about this new collection, her experience with clay and all the secrets behind her creative process.
The background of Shadé Akanbi
Raised in The Bay Area of California, Shadé credits her Nigerian-American upbringing and extensive international travels as her main creative influences for designing. From her Brooklyn home, Shadé currently creates work for several brands at a time, while cultivating an ever-growing global textile collection filled with influential prints, patterns and colors.
"My personal world, from childhood to present day, has always been multicultural and my passion for creating a global fusion lifestyle and brand has only been nurtured by my love and appreciation for art and design”
Working with Clay
Shadé’s expertise in textiles is unquestionable and we feel proud of being not only the tilemakers she decided to work with for her first time designing in clay, but as well as being one of the first artists to experience the product development immersive design experience at our Clay SMA Studio. As Shadé says: “Learning the process of how tiles are made, like, literally from the earth, we're taking something that feels very natural, that is very natural and making it into something beautiful”.
And beautiful is an understatement. This collection is one of the most heavy handmade tiles we have done to date and the process behind its creation is full of African native references.
“All of these tile motifs are inspired by different places that I've traveled to, places that I've lived. Seeing [my artwork] in a new, fresh way on these tiles it's all part of my dream and so the collection is called the Daedream series”
Building Daedream Series
Daedream series is one of the most versatile collections we have available, and this is by design, as versatility and accessibility are important aspects for Shadé: “When given the option by Clay Imports, I decided to go with two options of production styles. I think something being more accessible is better than being exclusive and I love that the bigger 8” x 8” printed tiles can be used for [projects] like flooring. And then you have the glossy finish of the Relief tiles, which is just so beautiful, the handcraft feel of everything. And I can totally see that in, like, hospitality spaces and restaurants and I'm excited for people to have options for both”.
“Part of my design aesthetic is showing people elements of traditional Nigerian motifs or African motifs all over but in a new way”
The African cultural references are one of the most important aspects Shadé tries to incorporate in all her works, because according to Shadé: “People associate a lot of ethnic design with things that are, like, rustic and rural and sometimes the connotation of that is ‘oh well it's a little dingy’, which is not the case at all! I think things that are handmade and aged are so beautiful and have so much rich history in them, so it's just about continuing to pass along the history in my art”.
And we couldn’t agree more: design, functionality and durability are aspects that should always be in balance, especially for tiles, and being able to work with someone who values these characteristics is destined to make a timeless product, full of history and significance.
Of course, the Daedream Series tiles are handmade, as all our tiles at Clay Imports. Handmade tiles exhibit natural variations, which are inherent traits of natural materials like Terracotta. These variations in color, texture and sheen are not defects but rather a natural part of the product. We highly recommend ordering samples before making a final purchase to confirm and appreciate these natural variations in each tile.
“I decided to work with Clay Imports because I felt like their ethos and what I strive to do would be a great match in my own creativity. Clay Imports helped me create artwork that would be most impactful and still not lose any integrity in the artwork or what I stand for”
Don’t miss the chance to check out the Daedream Series and feel the passion Shadé has imprinted in the collection. You can keep up with Shadé both on her instagram profile or the Printed Pattern People account.
Finally, as tile experts, we truly understand the importance of taking good care of your tiles. That's why we recommend taking a look at our Clay Care products. These maintenance items have been carefully tested with our products, and they are designed to preserve your tiles' beauty, ensuring their longevity and durability. From sealers to cleaners, purchasing these maintenance items together with your tiles not only simplifies your order but also prepares you to enjoy your tiles for a long time.
If you have any questions or know an artist who will make a perfect new collection, don't hesitate to reach out to us at contact@clayimports.com.