10% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER
Free Delivery Orders over £80*
WIN A £500 GIFT VOUCHER
Nkuku | Ethical & Eco-Friendly Homeware, Furniture & Lighting
Lifestyle Store & Café
0

0 items in basket

  • New Arrivals
    • Please add your email address New Arrivals
    • New Arrivals by Category
      • Please add your email address New Arrivals by Category
      • New Furniture
      • New Lighting
      • New Home Décor
      • New Kitchen & Dining
      • All New Arrivals
    • Please add your email address New Arrivals by Category
    • New Furniture
    • New Lighting
    • New Home Décor
    • New Kitchen & Dining
    • All New Arrivals
    New Lighting

    New Lighting

    New Furniture

    New Furniture

    New Tableware

    New Tableware

  • Outdoor
    • Please add your email address Outdoor
    • Outdoor Furniture
      • Please add your email address Outdoor Furniture
      • Outdoor Dining Tables & Chairs
      • Bistro Sets
      • Outdoor Seating
      • Fire Pits
      • All Garden Furniture
    • Outdoor Living
      • Please add your email address Outdoor Living
      • Garden Planters
      • Lanterns
      • Tealight & Candle Holders
      • Summer Dining
      • Garden Room
    • Outdoor Lighting
      • Please add your email address Outdoor Lighting
      • Garden & Outdoor Lighting
    Garden Furniture

    Garden Furniture

    Fire Pits

    Fire Pits

    Outdoor Planters

    Outdoor Planters

  • Furniture
    • Please add your email address Furniture
    • Living Room
      • Please add your email address Living Room
      • Armchairs & Loungers
      • Sofas
      • Coffee & Side Tables
      • Console Tables
      • Cabinets & Sideboards
      • Footstools & Poufs
      • Living Room Lighting
      • Soft Furnishings
      • Rugs
    • Kitchen & Dining Room
      • Please add your email address Kitchen & Dining Room
      • Stools & Bar Stools
      • Dining Chairs & Benches
      • Dining Tables
      • Cabinets & Sideboards
      • Console Tables
      • Mirrors
    • Bedroom
      • Please add your email address Bedroom
      • Bedroom Furniture
      • Bedroom Lighting
      • Bedroom Textiles
      • Mirrors
    • Hallway & Bootroom
      • Please add your email address Hallway & Bootroom
      • Console Tables
      • Cabinets & Sideboards
      • Storage & Shelving
      • Mirrors
      • Rugs
    • Home Office
      • Please add your email address Home Office
      • Desks
      • Desk Chairs
      • Cabinets & Sideboards
      • Storage & Shelving
    • Outdoor
      • Please add your email address Outdoor
      • Garden Furniture
      • Fire Pits
      • Outdoor Lighting
    Armchairs & Loungers

    Armchairs & Loungers

    Stools & Bar Stools

    Stools & Bar Stools

    Console Tables

    Console Tables

  • Lighting
    • Please add your email address Lighting
    • Shop by Type
      • Please add your email address Shop by Type
      • Table Lamps
      • Floor Lamps
      • Pendant Lighting
      • Wall & Spot Lights
      • Lampshades
      • Garden & Outdoor Lighting
      • Desk Lighting
      • All Lighting
    • Shop by Style
      • Please add your email address Shop by Style
      • Industrial Lighting
      • Natural Lighting
      • Classic Lighting
      • Contemporary Lighting
      • Rustic Lighting
      • All Lighting
    • Shop by Material
      • Please add your email address Shop by Material
      • Glass Lighting
      • Glass Table Lamps
      • Wooden Lighting
      • Rattan & Wicker Lighting
      • Antique Brass Lighting
      • Brass Table Lamps
      • Iron Lighting
      • All Lighting
    • Shop by Room
      • Please add your email address Shop by Room
      • Living Room Lighting
      • Bedroom Lighting
      • Kitchen Lighting
      • Office Lighting
      • Dining Room Lighting
      • Hallway Lighting
      • Garden & Outdoor Lighting
      • All Lighting
    Pendant Lighting

    Pendant Lighting

    Table Lamps

    Table Lamps

    Floor Lamps

    Floor Lamps

  • Kitchen & Dining
    • Please add your email address Kitchen & Dining
    • Tableware
      • Please add your email address Tableware
      • Mugs
      • Plates
      • Bowls
      • Glassware
      • Cutlery
      • Table Accessories
    • Serveware
      • Please add your email address Serveware
      • Serving Bowls
      • Jugs
      • Trays & Platters
      • Cake Stands
      • Cheese Boards & Knives
      • Chopping Boards
    • Kitchen
      • Please add your email address Kitchen
      • Kitchen Storage
      • Pantry
      • Wine Racks
    Kitchen Storage

    Kitchen Storage

    Tableware

    Tableware

    Glassware

    Glassware

  • Home Décor
    • Please add your email address Home Décor
    • Home Accessories
      • Please add your email address Home Accessories
      • Photo Frames
      • Wall Art
      • Clocks
      • Lanterns
      • Candle Holders & Tealights
      • Desk Accessories
      • All Home Accessories
    • Mirrors
      • Please add your email address Mirrors
      • Wall Mirrors
      • Floor Mirrors
      • Decorative Mirrors
      • All Mirrors
    • Soft Furnishings
      • Please add your email address Soft Furnishings
      • Cushions & Throws
      • All Furnishings
    • Decorative Storage
      • Please add your email address Decorative Storage
      • Baskets & Bags
      • Decorative Hooks
      • Storage & Shelving
    • Planters & Vases
      • Please add your email address Planters & Vases
      • Indoor Planters & Pots
      • Vases
      • Garden Planters
      • All Planters & Vases
    • Rugs
      • Please add your email address Rugs
      • Runners
      • Hemp Rugs & Accessories
      • All Rugs
    Cushions & Throws

    Cushions & Throws

    Mirrors

    Mirrors

    Planters & Vases

    Planters & Vases

  • Gifts
    • Please add your email address Gifts
    • Eco-Friendly Gifts
      • Please add your email address Eco-Friendly Gifts
      • Gifts for the Home
      • Gifts for Entertaining
      • Gifts for Plant Lovers
      • Gifts under £50
      • Gifts for Cooks
      • Home Office Gifts
      • Luxury Gifts
      • Board Games
    • Jewellery Gifts
      • Please add your email address Jewellery Gifts
      • Jewellery
      • Jewellery Boxes
      • View All
    • Gift Cards
      • Please add your email address Gift Cards
      • E-Gift Card
    Jewellery Gifts

    Jewellery Gifts

    Home Office Gifts

    Home Office Gifts

    Gifts for Plant Lovers

    Gifts for Plant Lovers

  • Sale
  • Nkuku Life
    • Please add your email address Nkuku Life
    • About Us
      • Please add your email address About Us
      • Our Story
      • Our Values
      • Travel Journal
      • Sustainability Policy
      • Environmental Policy
      • Charity Partnerships
    • The Art of Making
      • Please add your email address The Art of Making
      • Fair Trade Jewellery
      • Wire Craftwork & Sculpture
      • Metal & Glass Craftwork
      • Traditional Glass Making
      • Sustainable Carpentry
      • View All
    • Our Blog
      • Please add your email address Our Blog
      • How to Style an Outdoor Space
      • Earth Day 2022
      • 5 Ways to Enhance your Garden with Planters
      • Create an Outdoor Entertaining Space
      • All Blog Posts
    • Lifestyle Store
      • Please add your email address Lifestyle Store
      • Visit our Lifestyle Store
      • Our Stockists
      • Gift Cards
      • Competition
    Art of Making

    Art of Making

    About Us

    About Us

    Visit Our Store

    Visit Our Store

  • New Arrivals
    • Please add your email address New Arrivals
    • New Arrivals by Category
      • Please add your email address New Arrivals by Category
      • New Furniture
      • New Lighting
      • New Home Décor
      • New Kitchen & Dining
      • All New Arrivals
    • Please add your email address New Arrivals by Category
    • New Furniture
    • New Lighting
    • New Home Décor
    • New Kitchen & Dining
    • All New Arrivals
    New Lighting

    New Lighting

    New Furniture

    New Furniture

    New Tableware

    New Tableware

  • Outdoor
    • Please add your email address Outdoor
    • Outdoor Furniture
      • Please add your email address Outdoor Furniture
      • Outdoor Dining Tables & Chairs
      • Bistro Sets
      • Outdoor Seating
      • Fire Pits
      • All Garden Furniture
    • Outdoor Living
      • Please add your email address Outdoor Living
      • Garden Planters
      • Lanterns
      • Tealight & Candle Holders
      • Summer Dining
      • Garden Room
    • Outdoor Lighting
      • Please add your email address Outdoor Lighting
      • Garden & Outdoor Lighting
    Garden Furniture

    Garden Furniture

    Fire Pits

    Fire Pits

    Outdoor Planters

    Outdoor Planters

  • Furniture
    • Please add your email address Furniture
    • Living Room
      • Please add your email address Living Room
      • Armchairs & Loungers
      • Sofas
      • Coffee & Side Tables
      • Console Tables
      • Cabinets & Sideboards
      • Footstools & Poufs
      • Living Room Lighting
      • Soft Furnishings
      • Rugs
    • Kitchen & Dining Room
      • Please add your email address Kitchen & Dining Room
      • Stools & Bar Stools
      • Dining Chairs & Benches
      • Dining Tables
      • Cabinets & Sideboards
      • Console Tables
      • Mirrors
    • Bedroom
      • Please add your email address Bedroom
      • Bedroom Furniture
      • Bedroom Lighting
      • Bedroom Textiles
      • Mirrors
    • Hallway & Bootroom
      • Please add your email address Hallway & Bootroom
      • Console Tables
      • Cabinets & Sideboards
      • Storage & Shelving
      • Mirrors
      • Rugs
    • Home Office
      • Please add your email address Home Office
      • Desks
      • Desk Chairs
      • Cabinets & Sideboards
      • Storage & Shelving
    • Outdoor
      • Please add your email address Outdoor
      • Garden Furniture
      • Fire Pits
      • Outdoor Lighting
    Armchairs & Loungers

    Armchairs & Loungers

    Stools & Bar Stools

    Stools & Bar Stools

    Console Tables

    Console Tables

  • Lighting
    • Please add your email address Lighting
    • Shop by Type
      • Please add your email address Shop by Type
      • Table Lamps
      • Floor Lamps
      • Pendant Lighting
      • Wall & Spot Lights
      • Lampshades
      • Garden & Outdoor Lighting
      • Desk Lighting
      • All Lighting
    • Shop by Style
      • Please add your email address Shop by Style
      • Industrial Lighting
      • Natural Lighting
      • Classic Lighting
      • Contemporary Lighting
      • Rustic Lighting
      • All Lighting
    • Shop by Material
      • Please add your email address Shop by Material
      • Glass Lighting
      • Glass Table Lamps
      • Wooden Lighting
      • Rattan & Wicker Lighting
      • Antique Brass Lighting
      • Brass Table Lamps
      • Iron Lighting
      • All Lighting
    • Shop by Room
      • Please add your email address Shop by Room
      • Living Room Lighting
      • Bedroom Lighting
      • Kitchen Lighting
      • Office Lighting
      • Dining Room Lighting
      • Hallway Lighting
      • Garden & Outdoor Lighting
      • All Lighting
    Pendant Lighting

    Pendant Lighting

    Table Lamps

    Table Lamps

    Floor Lamps

    Floor Lamps

  • Kitchen & Dining
    • Please add your email address Kitchen & Dining
    • Tableware
      • Please add your email address Tableware
      • Mugs
      • Plates
      • Bowls
      • Glassware
      • Cutlery
      • Table Accessories
    • Serveware
      • Please add your email address Serveware
      • Serving Bowls
      • Jugs
      • Trays & Platters
      • Cake Stands
      • Cheese Boards & Knives
      • Chopping Boards
    • Kitchen
      • Please add your email address Kitchen
      • Kitchen Storage
      • Pantry
      • Wine Racks
    Kitchen Storage

    Kitchen Storage

    Tableware

    Tableware

    Glassware

    Glassware

  • Home Décor
    • Please add your email address Home Décor
    • Home Accessories
      • Please add your email address Home Accessories
      • Photo Frames
      • Wall Art
      • Clocks
      • Lanterns
      • Candle Holders & Tealights
      • Desk Accessories
      • All Home Accessories
    • Mirrors
      • Please add your email address Mirrors
      • Wall Mirrors
      • Floor Mirrors
      • Decorative Mirrors
      • All Mirrors
    • Soft Furnishings
      • Please add your email address Soft Furnishings
      • Cushions & Throws
      • All Furnishings
    • Decorative Storage
      • Please add your email address Decorative Storage
      • Baskets & Bags
      • Decorative Hooks
      • Storage & Shelving
    • Planters & Vases
      • Please add your email address Planters & Vases
      • Indoor Planters & Pots
      • Vases
      • Garden Planters
      • All Planters & Vases
    • Rugs
      • Please add your email address Rugs
      • Runners
      • Hemp Rugs & Accessories
      • All Rugs
    Cushions & Throws

    Cushions & Throws

    Mirrors

    Mirrors

    Planters & Vases

    Planters & Vases

  • Gifts
    • Please add your email address Gifts
    • Eco-Friendly Gifts
      • Please add your email address Eco-Friendly Gifts
      • Gifts for the Home
      • Gifts for Entertaining
      • Gifts for Plant Lovers
      • Gifts under £50
      • Gifts for Cooks
      • Home Office Gifts
      • Luxury Gifts
      • Board Games
    • Jewellery Gifts
      • Please add your email address Jewellery Gifts
      • Jewellery
      • Jewellery Boxes
      • View All
    • Gift Cards
      • Please add your email address Gift Cards
      • E-Gift Card
    Jewellery Gifts

    Jewellery Gifts

    Home Office Gifts

    Home Office Gifts

    Gifts for Plant Lovers

    Gifts for Plant Lovers

  • Sale
  • Nkuku Life
    • Please add your email address Nkuku Life
    • About Us
      • Please add your email address About Us
      • Our Story
      • Our Values
      • Travel Journal
      • Sustainability Policy
      • Environmental Policy
      • Charity Partnerships
    • The Art of Making
      • Please add your email address The Art of Making
      • Fair Trade Jewellery
      • Wire Craftwork & Sculpture
      • Metal & Glass Craftwork
      • Traditional Glass Making
      • Sustainable Carpentry
      • View All
    • Our Blog
      • Please add your email address Our Blog
      • How to Style an Outdoor Space
      • Earth Day 2022
      • 5 Ways to Enhance your Garden with Planters
      • Create an Outdoor Entertaining Space
      • All Blog Posts
    • Lifestyle Store
      • Please add your email address Lifestyle Store
      • Visit our Lifestyle Store
      • Our Stockists
      • Gift Cards
      • Competition
    Art of Making

    Art of Making

    About Us

    About Us

    Visit Our Store

    Visit Our Store

  • account icons
Home › our blog › the beauty of handmade
Blog Menu
Recent posts
  • May 27, 2022 How to style an outside space
  • May 25, 2022 Create an Outdoor Entertaining Space
  • April 21, 2022 Earth Day 2022
Blog categories
  • Design tips
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Nkuku life
RSS feed

The Beauty of Handmade

February 26, 2018

The Beauty of Handmade

We are passionate about handmade products; while on our travels throughout Africa and Asia we are constantly inspired and captivated by the traditional skills and age-old techniques that we see. It is these skills that really inspired us to set up Nkuku allowing us to continue exploring and discovering more and more. We are fortunate to work with artisans who have shared their talent, enthusiasm and patience with us helping to create our collections and teaching us some astounding techniques and practices along the way.



There’s no doubt that change is good and new ways of doing things should be embraced but there is something magical about the artisan handmade process that makes you appreciate the details, the imperfections and uniqueness. We love the fact that many of our current collections derive from practices and techniques traditionally used to make practical every day products; clay pots to store and carry water developed into ornamental pots for the Nkuku collection; age old potting techniques, using small hand built kilns heated with open fires to create our fair trade Mali pottery and saddle making techniques now used to create stylish leather shoppers and accessories.



Vietnam’s long tradition of basket weaving and ceramics has taught us a great deal about indigenous techniques and processes. We have embraced these skills and traditional methods and introduced new designs, colours and material combinations to make stylish pieces for modern living. Closer to home in Devon, carpenter Angus spends his time creating, fine tuning and finishing bespoke furniture pieces. He uses the same attention to detail, traditional methods and natural talent to create artisan made pieces that have that extra something.



The characters and personalities of the artisans we work with are visible in the pieces they make, their experience and knowledge add to the beauty of our collections. It is easy to overlook the handmade touches, time and effort invested in an artisan made product but if you can stop for a moment and count the number of drops on one of our Indigo drop mugs or run your hand across the smooth shape of one of our pieces of hand blown glassware, the handmade nature will sink in and with it, a sense of appreciation and pleasure.



Nkuku believes in ethical business and this is one of the key pillars that support our approach to our work. Our primary focus is transparency, we see our suppliers more as partners and encourage open dialogue and communication, it helps that we regularly visit our suppliers. The handmade process does mean that our collections take time to make so we have to make sure we allow long lead times taking into account the many challenges faced. We adhere to the standard globally recognised 10 Principles Of Fair Trade, but have our own procedures for the management of our supply base. We strongly believe trading fairly provides these artisans with an opportunity to build a future. It helps businesses develop and creates sustainable employment.

  • Tag:
  • Nkuku Life
  • Previous Post
  • Next Post
  • Tweet
Recent posts
  • May 27, 2022 How to style an outside space
  • May 25, 2022 Create an Outdoor Entertaining Space
  • April 21, 2022 Earth Day 2022
Blog categories
  • Design tips
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Nkuku life
RSS feed

Join Our Newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up for the Nkuku newsletter and be the first to preview our new collections, receive exclusive offers and discover the stories behind our products.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.

Customers

  • Delivery
  • Returns
  • Help & FAQ's
  • Contact Us
  • Brochure Unsubscribe
  • Refer a Friend

About Nkuku

  • Our Story
  • Sustainability Policy
  • Environmental Policy
  • Careers
  • Press Enquiries

Shopping

  • Nkuku Lifestyle Store
  • Find a Stockist
  • Gift Cards
  • Sale
  • Care Guide
  • Wedding Gift List

Privacy & Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Security
  • Gift Card T&Cs
  • Promotions

Trade

  • Trade Account Login
  • Apply for a Trade Account

Company name: Nkuku Ltd. Registered office: Lower Tweed Mill, Shinners Bridge, Dartington, Devon, TQ9 6JB.
Company registration number: 04614918. VAT number: GB 380 8840 72. Prices include VAT but exclude delivery costs.
Contact number: +44(0)333 240 0155. Contact us online.

  • American Express
  • Visa
  • Maestro
  • Mastercard
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay