Karibu.
Welcome.
I’m Alia, the maker behind these small-batch ceramics: illustrated, carved, and glaze-led pieces inspired by nature, earthy tones, and a lifelong love of making things by hand.
I was born in Kenya, where I spent much of my childhood outdoors, surrounded by greenery and wildlife, playing in the sand and mud. That connection to nature still shapes the way I make today. Now based in the Netherlands, I’ve always been drawn to creating with my hands, from making little clay creations as a child to studying graphic design, exploring paper art, sewing my own clothes, and spending time in my vegetable garden with my hands in the soil. My home is somewhere between a house and a jungle, filled with more plants than I have space for.
I started working with clay at the end of 2024 and quickly fell in love with the process. What began as one pottery class a week soon turned into a second-hand wheel, a tiny kiln, and every spare moment spent learning, experimenting, and making. Pottery gave me something I hadn’t realised I was missing: a way to slow down, work with my hands, and become fully absorbed in the process. The chatter in my mind quiets, time disappears, and for a little while all that matters is what’s in front of me.
I rarely know exactly where a piece will end up when I begin. Some start with an illustration, others with carving, and many with a glaze experiment that takes on a life of its own. Like my cooking, I prefer to be inspired rather than follow a recipe; the only instructions I reliably follow are for IKEA furniture.
Every piece I make is handmade in small batches, embracing the subtle imperfections and surprises that make handmade work so special.
Thank you for being here and supporting handmade. It means so much to be able to share what I love, and I hope these ceramics bring a little joy into your home too.
Asante sana.
