Handmade ceramics with ancestral techniques from Encrudo

Katrin

Interview with the founder of Encrudo, handmade ceramic studio – Ana Paula Isaac. In Encrudo they do not use any toxic ingredients that harm the earth and they use all their materials locally. Their inspiration is to achieve meaningful pieces following old traditions of western Mexico.

Hi Ana Paula, thank you for taking part in this project and giving an interview to Being Magazine. Can you please introduce yourself?

Ana Paula

My name is Ana Paula Isaac. I was born in 1993 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in the western Mexico. Graduated with a BA in Industrial Design and a Certificate in Architecture of Interiors at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Guadalajara.

Katrin

How did the idea of creating  Encrudo come to you? What was your inspiration?

Ana Paula

After working with ceramics in college, I decided to indulge myself into this new world, full of ancestral materials and infinite possibilities. From that moment, I focused on directing my ceramic studio, which opened in 2018 focusing on raw materials and subtle design and creating meaningful objects through crafts. As a proud Mexican, I have directed the studio to honor my cultural roots, to rescue ancestral techniques from the region of Western Mexico and to partner with a talented group of local artisans to create objects from the everyday to organic sculptures.

Katrin

Tell us some interesting, curious facts about the Encrudo.

I started out with less than 2,000 USD. It’s crazy to think that 80% of our pieces go international. 

Ana Paula

I started with my ceramic studio alone, there was just me, taking photos, packaging, serving customers, designing, logistics and more for many months.

I started out with less than 2,000 USD. It’s crazy to think that 80% of our pieces of handmade ceramics go international.

Katrin

What is your company vision? Which place does sustainability play in it?

Ana Paula

We use clay as our main material which is a sustainable material we reuse and recycle the most we can, we do not use any toxic ingredients that harm the earth and we use all our materials locally. This was our inspiration to achieve meaningful pieces; this is how it has been in western Mexico for over a thousand years. This is how we keep traditions alive and honor our roots and planet.

Katrin

Which materials do you use for your products?

Ana Paula

Stoneware

Katrin

Do you have any advice on how to take care of products made of clay (other materials you use)  to give them longer life?    

Ana Paula

We recommend hand washing all our products  and for vases and sculptures avoid using flannels due to our rough finish and leave them in the sun to dry. They are suitable for interior and exterior and suitable for dishwashers and microwaves as well.

Katrin

I am curious how you produce your beautiful pieces?

Ana Paula

All our pieces are made in our workshop based in Tonala, Jalisco. Our vases and tableware are all hand-thrown on the wheel with clay from our region and glazed on the inside for an utilitarian purpose, and our sculpture collection is made by slip casting method in molds. All our pieces are sealed with our label and fired in our klin in high temperature.

Katrin

What is the most popular product in your store?

Ana Paula

Tough question, but probably our vase collection in cream finish which is our lightest color and our first collection ever made.

Katrin

Can you deliver around the world? Or working just in Mexico at the moment?

We use clay as our main material which is a sustainable material we reuse and recycle the most we can.

Ana Paula

Yes, actually we have some partnerships in the USA, Canada and some in Europe. So yes we can ship any of our handmade ceramics worldwide!

Katrin

I want to ask a personal question. Which profession did you dream about when you were a kid?

Ana Paula

Actually I have loved animals since I can remember, so when I was probably 5 years old I wanted  to be a veterinarian, because I wanted to help them.

Katrin

I believe together we can change the world for the better. Do you?:) What is your personal view on the future of our planet? 

Ana Paula

I do, I really think you have to be the change you want to see in the world, and small decisions and changes can really make big ones in the long run. I am really passionate about this because I really believe there is no Planet B. I am really grateful for our planet and everything that it has given us, so we need to make smarter decisions to have a better future for the sake of humanity.