I was looking at the Muji Christmas range and noticed it included some interesting items for those looking for a unique but “ethical” last minute stocking filler or a secret Santa present. Muji, the Japanese “no brand” home products chain, has been working with JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and producers supported by JICA’s “One Village One Product” programme (which is an interesting project in itself – mental note to blog something on this sometime soon). The products, for example felt phone and glasses cases and carved animal figurines, have been made in the Kyrgyz Republic and Kenya to Muji’s design specifications. We love Muji’s designs and it’s great that such a large chain is working with smaller producers to develop products that are sold all over the world. They’re available in Muji’s stores in the UK and through their online store. Check out some of the products here.
We can’t believe it’s already December. Time flies.
Since Christmas is very nearly upon us, for those looking to purchase a little something for family or friends and receive it before Christmas, our last order date to ensure it reaches you before the 25th is Sunday the 18th of December.
Best wishes,
Chris & Jaya
Newsletter #1 2011
Hello!
Kartimarket is off to busy start in 2011 (can’t believe it’s April already!) We’ve got some exciting new projects in the pipeline, as well as new products. Our aim this year is to find new artisans to add to the great organisations we already work with, and increase our range of products to include more beautiful, handmade and authentic fair trade products. We’re also working with new designers in the four corners of the globe to develop some original stuff that you won’t find anywhere else. So stay tuned! In the meantime, see below for a 10% discount on us, applicable for the month of April for you and your family and friends to use.
Cheers,
Chris & Jaya
p.s. to subscribe to our mailing list and get the occasional newsletter with updates on our latest products and news, as well as discounts and offers, go here.
Happy New Year / VAT Increase Absorbed!
KartiMarket wishes everyone a happy and healthy 2011.
We’ve got some exciting new products and projects coming this year, so stay tuned.
To kick off the year we’re absorbing the UK Value Added Tax increase from 17.5% to 20%, so retail prices will stay the same. It also allows us to keep prices round and pretty.
Best wishes,
Jaya & Chris
Xmas Delivery Dates
Please see below for last Christmas delivery dates – orders received by us up to and including these dates to be dispatched by next day to be received by customer before Christmas.
Wed 14 Dec – Large items (postage £4.95)
Tue 20 Dec - Smaller items (postage £3.50 or below)
Merry Christmas from KartiMarket!
I was fortunate enough to spend a weekend recently in Copenhagen, Denmark. The city is a great place to wander and eat with charming streets and canals and a plethora of cafes and restaurants. It’s a very design conscious city with many Scandinavian clothing boutiques and it’s famed Danish furniture and homeware shops. If you do get the chance to go, a must-do is the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Set on the coast about half an hour on the train from Copenhagen Central Station, it truly is one of the most beautiful settings of any gallery I have ever been to. The collection is just as impressive.
A real highlight for me was my accommodation for the weekend. I stayed at the “Axel,” part of the Guldsmeden Hotels collection. If Kartimarket were to do hotels, this is pretty much how we would do it! A blend of European contemporary design with Balinese influences, organic and fair trade products, attention to detail… sound familiar?
Housed in a lovely old building in the edgy Vestebro area near Central Station means guests are perfectly situated to take advantage of both the old and new Copenhagen – the picture postcard waterways and cobbled streets as well as the up-and-coming fashion boutiques, cafes and bustling restaurants and bars of the Vestebro.
However, it’s what this hotel has to offer that is most impressive. I’ll start with breakfast. A veritable smorgasbord of Danish delights. Locally made muesli, natural yogurt, vanilla yogurt (the house specialty), cereals, multiple types of cheeses, cured meats, bacon, sausages, four types of fresh fruit juice, fresh fruits, tea and coffee… All of it organic and jam packed full of taste and goodness. It was the perfect start to a day of exploring and, if taken full advantage of, you’re unlikely to need to eat again till dinner. Although breakfast is an added extra and not exactly cheap, in this very expensive city, it is fantastic value.
As mentioned earlier, the design and aesthetics are of Balinese influence. Our bedroom wasn’t huge, but had a massive bathroom comprising of an egg-shaped bath, large shower, stone basin and organic cotton towels. There are earthy tones throughout the room and hotel with great detail given to the extras such as custom designed crockery, baring the hotel’s dragonfly motif. Guldsmeden Hotels actually have a hotel/villa near Ubud in Bali so they seem to have a good degree of knowledge in Balinese design and the resulting ambiance. The common areas of the hotel definitely have a very peaceful and relaxing feel to them.
Hotel Guldsmeden strives for sustainability and protecting the environment. Even their coffee grounds are “recycled in the spa, mixed with essential oils and Epsom-salt as a body-scrub.” The hotel provides an efficient recycling program so don’t just throw away the tourist maps or batteries. Their interiors use long-life materials and all timber is from plantations. It’s part of the Green Globe community as well as the Danish Eco-Council.
It’s inspired us to think about what a Kartimarket hotel would be like and what we would offer. If only…
Chris
Australian graphic designer and artist Skye Jefferys has designed some fun, cute tea towels and cushions for KartiMarket.
For more of her work check out this great interview with Skye in the excellent Design Files.
The tea towels are available now and the cushions will be on sale shortly!
KartiMarket on Facebook
After much procrastinating we now have a Facebook page. Come in and have a look!
How to make a ceramic bowl – Lombok style
Here’s a video we put together of one of the Black Ceramic Fruit Bowls being made for our next shipment due in early May. Chris shot the footage during his visit to Lombok Pottery Centre in February 2010.
