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Integrating Local Craftsmanship into Products

Norma Garibay - LADIP
Director General

STORY INLINE POST

Tue, 11/01/2016 - 16:09

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LADIP draws inspiration from a variety of sources but the company’s primary muse is the material itself, namely leather, metal and stone. Its design approach honors the elegance of these raw ingredients. “In the conception phase, we challenge our team to imagine these elements in a new context: bringing leather into wall surfaces, utilizing copper as the main element in lighting, creating an intimate object out of stone,” says Juan García de León, Director General of LADIP’s distributor Detaller. “Converting these raw materials into functional pieces in a space is where it all begins for us.”

While LADIP’s designs have an international sensibility and appeal, they are rooted in Mexican craftsmanship. “Mexico has an extremely talented labor force that is highly qualified,” says Norma Garibay, Director General of LADIP. “Traditional artisanal techniques inspire our design process at every step. The fusion of innovation with tradition not only keeps this art alive but also influences our creative process.” The company takes great pride in keeping its products as national as possible and it was a pioneer in integrating onyx into lighting. “In a previous project we were working with Spanish lamps made from alabaster,” says Garibay. “They were extremely expensive to import into Mexico and the Spanish government would only allow the export of alabaster as a finished product. While troubleshooting we discovered that onyx was a wonderful alternative. We used it as a replacement and continue incorporating onyx into many of our designs.”

García agrees the richness of Mexico’s natural resources keeps the company’s products truly original. “There is easy access to the highest quality of leather, metals and wood,” he says. “We love to work with tzalam, nogal and encino wood. We think that great design comes from envisioning a new context for familiar materials.” LADIP tailors its approach to meet the needs of its customers, from residential to commercial, and believes the company’s client roster speaks volumes about the quality of its work. “We work with many luxury hotels and savvy clients that have access to the international market,” Garibay says. “Architects, designers and homeowners have a vision and they come to us because they trust we can make their vision a reality.”

Potential clients can also visit LADIP’s commercial space in Santa Fe. “Often is it difficult to truly grasp the quality of a product until it is seen up close,” García says. “Renders and photos can only speak so much on the quality of a design and how it will perform in the real world. We work closely with each client on every project, even sending samples every step of the way for review. With design, it is often the small things that elevate the quality of a product such as stitching, finishes and connections.”

LADIP and Detaller have a close working relationship as both share the same philosophy, design and aesthetic. “The collaboration between the two companies gives us the freedom to approach projects from various angles,” says García. LADIP can work closely with designers and architects from the beginning stages of a construction project to accessorizing spaces. Detaller, although it still has its own original line, can bring any idea LADIP has to life. “At Detaller we also take on production projects on any scale,” says García. “We can produce quickly and in large quantities for hospitality projects but we are also a resource for many blue chip artists. Here we have worked closely to conceive works of art that would be otherwise impossible to create in an artist’s studio.”

Garibay believes that now is an exciting time for Mexico due to the attention it has commanded as an emerging market. “Mexico has become popular with architects and designers because we have a little more creative freedom,” she continues. LADIP is excited to continue working with architects and the hotel industry as many promising projects are developing in Mexico’s tourism sector. On the design front, Garibay says the company would like to focus more on lighting and integrating innovative components into its lamp designs. “We have three different types of market, the end users, institutions who need a mass solution for their business and architects and designers who are looking for unique and personalized pieces,” she says.

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