From a Chance Meeting to Kindred Lantern

Looking back, it's remarkable how a single conversation can quietly shape the course of your future. What began as a chance meeting several years ago has grown into Kindred Lantern—a collaboration built on friendship, shared values and a love of thoughtful design.

After making the decision to pursue my ceramics practice full time, I attended a sustainability conference filled with people who believed that beautiful design and responsible business could exist together. One of the keynote speakers was Jo, whose candle-making business had been built around sustainable reuse principles long before sustainability became the conversation it is today.

I remember being inspired not only by what she had created, but by the thoughtful way she approached business. We spoke briefly that day, and although neither of us could have predicted it, that introduction would eventually become the beginning of something much bigger.

Over the following years, Jo quietly followed my ceramic journey on Instagram. As my work evolved, she began to imagine ways our shared appreciation for tactile craftsmanship, natural materials and understated aesthetics might come together. We both valued slow making, intentional design and creating objects that people would want to keep for years rather than seasons.

Eventually, a conversation became a collaboration.

Together we began developing what would become the Kindred Lantern.

The name wasn't chosen lightly. Kindred reflects exactly what we wanted this partnership to represent. We wanted friendship to be the foundation of everything we built together. Mutual respect, generosity, shared values and a genuine enjoyment of the creative process have underpinned every decision we've made. We hope those qualities are felt not only within our partnership but also in the experience people have when they welcome a Kindred Lantern into their homes.

Like many worthwhile ideas, Kindred Lantern didn't appear overnight.

For more than two years we refined, tested, redesigned, questioned and reimagined every detail. We wanted to create something that felt timeless, beautifully crafted and deeply considered. It has been a journey of patience, curiosity and continual refinement.

What began as the development of a single product gradually evolved into something that deserved its own identity.

Today, Kindred Lantern has become its own business. We've created a dedicated website, established our social media presence, developed local marketing initiatives, produced a trade pack for interior designers and architects, and are beginning conversations with magazines that share our appreciation for thoughtful design. It's exciting to see just how far one small idea has travelled.

Looking back, it's hard to believe that all of this grew from a conversation between two makers who simply admired each other's work.

It's a reminder that the most meaningful collaborations can't be hurried. They evolve through trust, shared purpose and a willingness to create something neither person could have imagined alone.

After more than two years in development, we're incredibly proud to finally introduce Kindred Lantern to the world. We hope it represents more than beautiful design. We hope it tells a story of craftsmanship, sustainability, friendship and the quiet magic that can happen when kindred spirits meet.