Growing up in London, most of my family holidays were spent in the Mediterranean. For the most part Mallorca, Ibiza, Italy and France, and occasionally Portugal. With both sets of parents now living in Spain, and annual visits to see them, my appreciation of terracotta has grown over the years. It is certainly having a comeback globally.
It was this that inspired our summer collective, featuring Deroma, a beautiful terracotta maker from Italy, and Casa Cubista, a modern take on artisanal craftsmanship from Portugal.
Why terracotta?
The word terracotta comes from the Latin terra cocta, meaning baked earth, reflecting the ancient process of firing clay to create a long-lasting material. One of terracotta's unique properties is its porosity: it allows roots to breathe while retaining the right amount of moisture, which is why plants have thrived in it for centuries.
Deroma: handmade Galestro terracotta from Tuscany
The Galestro Collection from Deroma is 100% made by hand and features patterns of Mediterranean flora and fauna. Galestro clay, fired in Tuscany, is regarded as the finest terracotta clay, and we love its light rose colour.
Casa Cubista: modern craft from rural Portugal
Casa Cubista presents a modern take on traditional craft, made in the towns and villages of rural Portugal. We just love the bold stripes in blue, mandarin and green across the planters, carafes and jugs. The name cubista comes from the unusual whitewashed, tiled, cubist-style buildings found in the alleys and streets of the old town.
Chop Chop Bloom: floral secateurs, made in Germany
Who would have thought that floral secateurs could be sexy? But that is exactly what Chop Chop Bloom scissors are. Made in Germany and guaranteed to cut a minimum of 10,000 times, they come in a vibrant array of colours, including pink, yellow, orange and red. We love the leather-bound handles, which provide cushioning and complete comfort with even the sturdiest of cuts.
The Mediterranean Collection is exclusively available in store at Lane Crawford, Pacific Place, alongside some of our unique Botanicals.
Alison Whittle, Founder, Libertine Flowers
