If you’ve had the pleasure of eating from a plate that Layla Cluer’s hands have moulded, you’ll know that sometimes it’s the simplest things that bring the greatest joy. Softedge Studio’s minimalist designs are part art, part necessity – the brand is best described as an amalgamation of sculpture and everyday objects.
It all started with a jug that could quite literally fill everyone’s cup. “I like entertaining and sharing food and conversation with my friends. I always get annoyed when you’ve got a big table of 10 or 12 for a long lunch and your bottle or jug of water barely fills up five cups,” Cluer tells Broadsheet.
The Ewer jug, a bulbous potbellied vessel, was designed to hold up to 4.5 litres but still be easily poured thanks to its funnelled neckline. “The hollow handle means that you’ve got more surface area, but it also keeps it from being too heavy.”
While production of the Ewer jug has been paused for the time being, the idea behind it lives on. Everything Cluer does is guided by functionality. From architecture to food, her inspiration comes largely from finding joy in the everyday. “It might be something as simple as having a piece of toast in the morning, but I’m putting it on a plate that elevates it and makes me feel really happy.”
Almost two years ago, Softedge Studio temporarily shuttered its online shop. But now the brand is back, and its best-selling Rolled Rim pieces have been reborn. Where Cluer used to work with coloured clay, the new range is crafted from Japanese porcelain and finished with bold pigmented glazes that give them an almost lickable appeal.
The reason behind the hiatus? To give Cluer time to find an offshore manufacturer to work with, in order to scale up and meet overwhelming customer demand. “Japan seemed like an obvious choice for me. I’ve built the brand on being an artisan, handmade product.” She was passionate about finding a business to partner with that didn’t compromise the quality of her products – and could potentially even enhance it. “It was about creating the quality that I’d always aspired to and working with craftspeople who could help develop my skills further.”
Cluer is now working with manufacturers in Hasami on Kyūshū, the most southerly of Japan’s four main islands. The area is best known as the centre of production for the iconic Arita ware porcelain.
The nature of porcelain means pieces are incredibly prone to warping in the kiln. “It’s really difficult and delicate to work with but once it’s been fired, it’s one of the strongest clays … the most impervious to liquids or anything that comes across the surface,” Cluer says.
The new collection brings four plate sizes and five bowls to the table. Getting the pieces to stack nicely took multiple iterations and careful mathematics. Cluer settled on using a bowling machine to semi-automatically throw the clay, creating the base form for the bowls. The namesake rims are then hand-finished on a turning wheel. Plates are formed using a high-pressure slip cast, but there’s still an undeniable organic quality to the signature silhouettes.
Softedge Studio’s supply chain has been informed by a unique approach to manufacturing in Hasami. “Each of the family-run workshops have developed specialisations and generally focus on one part of the ceramics process. It’s been challenging but really interesting to work in this way and find the right specialists for slip casting and firing and glazes”.
The relaunch of the Rolled Rim collection sees two carryover colours (cavolo nero green and marshmallow) and four new shades: lilac, espresso, cornflower blue and tomato red. “Colour in ceramics is quite challenging. There’s a lot of alchemy to it,” Cluer says. “I’m working with an eighth-generation glazer – there’s like 450 years of family knowledge behind the business.”
In its new era, Softedge Studio’s pieces are still created in limited quantities. “It’s quite validating to see a demand for design. This started as a personal project and I didn’t intend for it to become a mass-produced brand. But I want to try and keep things more consistent for customers who are building their collections”. The goal is to build out a core collection of colours and styles, adding seasonal shades and additional pieces over time.
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This article first appeared in Domain Review, in partnership with Broadsheet.
