Meet our Makers
Garden State of Mind
For New Jersey’s Homa Studios, ceramics are a local pursuit
A lot of brands talk about keeping it local — Homa Studios makes it its mission. Founder Altarik Banks begins his process with the earth right in his own back yard, harvesting clay from a brook behind his New Jersey-based studio. He then collaborates with nearby friends and fellow artisans to find inspiration, maintaining a circular process. The result is a collection of ceramic homewares that feel both organic and elegant, a new kind of heirloom, as Altarik says. Ones that can be passed on for generations.
Excavating clay from a local brook, Banks nurtures an ecosystem of creativity.
His wavy, undulating vases bring an organic ethos to the table, complementing the produce, plants and flowers with which they share space.
"I want us to push ourselves further by creating minimal waste and having a deeper consideration for the materials we use," says Banks.
Homa also applies its natural, rounded aesthetic to vegetable-tanned leather, collaborating with Montclair, New Jersey designer Samuel Falzone.
All of Homa’s ceramics are lead-free and food-safe, and are also dishwasher- and microwave-safe. They usually ship within a week of ordering, directly from their New Jersey studio.
