In Collaboration With: Jenni Kayne

Referred to as “the ultimate California brand,” it is not hard to understand why the brand has grown a large and dedicated following. That’s why, when the proposal of collaborating came about, we were eager to work together. We recently launched our first collaboration with Jenni Kayne Home, and here is the result of our hard work. 

Below, owner Sarah Van Raden discusses her relationship with clay and the vision that led to the exclusive collection.

Rip & Tan: The design and craftsmanship of your ceramics are such clear indications you were meant to do this—talk to us about rediscovering your passion. How did you find your way back to the wheel?

Sarah Van Raden: I had been working as a photo stylist for nearly a decade when I felt like I needed to find something a bit more creatively fulfilling. I started taking an evening class one day a week at a local ceramics studio. I found myself looking forward to that night each week more than any styling job I was working on, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Eventually, I found a used wheel on craigslist that came with a free (very old) sitter kiln. Both pieces were pretty quirky and heavily used, but I didn’t care a bit. I was just elated to be able to work with clay in the evenings after I would put my daughters to bed. It became something that brought me so much joy and invoked the kind of curiosity I hadn’t felt since I was a child. I was hooked.

Rip & Tan: You’re based in Portland, a notoriously art-inclined city. Do you find yourself drawing a lot of inspiration from the surrounding nature and community of the Pacific Northwest?

Sarah Van Raden: Since I am a bit of a late bloomer, finding ceramics at age 30, I am unfamiliar with a lot of other potters’ work and with the overall culture of ceramics here in Portland. I have found inspiration from my daughters and the magical way they see the world. I am inspired by the beautiful palette of natural colors that are all around us in Oregon. I find that pieces that reflect our surroundings help to create an environment where the inside and the outside worlds feel harmonious.

Rip & Tan: The design and craftsmanship of your ceramics are such clear indications you were meant to do this—talk to us about rediscovering your passion. How did you find your way back to the wheel?

Sarah Van Raden: I had been working as a photo stylist for nearly a decade when I felt like I needed to find something a bit more creatively fulfilling. I started taking an evening class one day a week at a local ceramics studio. I found myself looking forward to that night each week more than any styling job I was working on, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Eventually, I found a used wheel on craigslist that came with a free (very old) sitter kiln. Both pieces were pretty quirky and heavily used, but I didn’t care a bit. I was just elated to be able to work with clay in the evenings after I would put my daughters to bed. It became something that brought me so much joy and invoked the kind of curiosity I hadn’t felt since I was a child. I was hooked.

Rip & Tan: How do handmade pieces contribute to a lifestyle of living well?

Sarah Van Raden: When you purchase a handmade item you are interacting with another human being. You are supporting someone’s craft, their passion, and their way of earning a living. It is undoubtedly more rewarding to hold a hand-crafted item than one that was made on a machine.

Please know that I have put my back, hands, heart, and soul into each of these pieces, and I hope that you will feel the positive intention that was poured into each one.

Shop the collection JenniKayne.com