Ceramicist Naomi Taplin is embracing sustainability with a classic design aesthetic.
Tucked away from the hustle of Oxford Street, semi-hidden laneway Foley Street is home to a number of Sydney makers and artists, including Naomi Taplin of Studio Enti. Moving into Foley Street was a thrill for the designer, who relishes the interaction it permits. "Ceramics are something people want to touch, pick up and hold in their hands before they invest in it. I feel really lucky to get to talk to people and have a real conversation about the process."
Studio Enti's elegant porcelain tableware, lighting and accessories have garnered a loyal following. The ceramics are beautiful, but they are also sturdy, built from Australian porcelain and made to last. Having grown up with clay (her mother was a potter) before studying at the College of Fine Arts, UNSW, Taplin admires the sustainability of a classic design aesthetic. "Once something's fired, it's permanent," she says. "If it's something faddy, it's a waste of material."
In her delicate space, Taplin looks to create "pieces that have the ability to tell a story and to enrich the tasks and the lives of the user". So make sure to ask the creator herself about the pieces when you take a stroll down Foley Street.
Images: Steven Woodburn.