Buddhi (Netherlands)
Buddhi; sculptural bags
The buddhi label was founded by Kim van Beek. In 2008 she started collaborating with “The Association for Craft producers” in Nepal; land of production. Since then she travelled twice to Nepal and developed two collections- handmade from felt.
By making new designs based on a traditional craft buddhi is building a bridge between the craftsmen’s power and the western design market.
The craftsmen’s felting experience, producing in a developing country, the cultural exchange, but most important, an innovative design; those are the main ingredients for the label.
In future Kim van Beek has the ambition to develop a range of products produced in developing countries.
The first collection “Hidden Culture” carries one of the auspicious Nepali symbols, “Matsya Yugma”, a pair of fish.
The new collection, “NO machines BY HAND”, is based on the power of the material and the craft itself.
The past year the designer focussed on mastering the craft to broaden her design capacities in felting- with as a result- a new shape and a new collection. The first bags were developed and sold in Holland. April this year the first samples were developed in Nepal; it was the 2nd collaboration of a month between the designer and the craftsmen.
One of the first pieces made for the new collection is exposed in “Tassenmuseum Hendrikje”, the museum of bags in Amsterdam during the exposition “New techniques for an old craft.” Until 11/09/11.
The new collection will be sold in the museum store of the New Church in Amsterdam during the new exhibition “Mart Visser, church master”, an ode to Dutch haute couture. From 26 /08 until 2/10/11.
In September buddhi will show – and sell- the two collections during DESIGN ACT MOSCOW. From 8/09 until 11/09/11.
Both collections are sold on line on www.buddhi.nl. Prices: € 95-159 for the first collection en € 249 for the second collection -available from the 1st of October.
