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Working directly with Portuguese artisans and makers, Mariamélia focuses on objects for the home that have meaning and longevity, made with honesty.
Although a surprisingly diverse array of items for the home are available from Mariamélia, made from makers around Porto and northern Portugal, what groups them together is their ethos of living well through minimalism, allowing a soulful quality for our homes.
Created by designer Filipa Cruz, by choosing a Mariamélia item, you’re supporting a small-scale industry and keeping handmade skills and crafts alive. Not to mention the fact that Mariamélia’s objects are serious covetable, unique and stylish additions for your home. Whether it’s a wicker breadbasket lined with linen, custom-made enamel lampshades, a hand-knitted wool cushion cover, a cane basket, a zinc watering can or a wooden coat rack, you can be sure that a Mariamélia piece is made with love.
Overseeing the production of these heartfelt objects of style is Filipa, who is the curator and quality arbiter of Mariamélia, ensuring her rigorous high standards are kept to, alongside seeking out those small makers who deserve a lift, shining a light on their dedicated and intricate work.
Her project Mariamélia came to life in 2014, where she began to connect with small local producers, using her eye for design to track down traditional handcrafted pieces and give them new purpose through her website. With a background in design, she also helps smaller manufacturers develop their product and is very much a support and patron of the Portuguese artisan. Through her work, expiring skills are being revived at the same time as teaching us the value of the crafted object.
Mariamélia implores us to only fill our homes with objects that have heart and soul, a feel-good minimalism that is stylish and sustainable.
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