Meet our founder & designer Nicola
Joy for me comes from my day job working (having had previously volunteered) for a refugee charity which I have had the absolute honour of doing so for many years now, the favourite part of my role is learning about and sharing the stories of the people we support. From diverse backgrounds and rich, vibrant cultures, every day I’m reminded of the privilege we are to here in the UK to feel safe.
What happened on 7th October was a pivotal point in learning and ultimately unlearning many things we’ve been drip fed by our governments and media organisation’s about the geo political landscape of West Asia and North Africa.
Along with my best friends (Leila being one), we’ve been on a real journey and I am personally so grateful that this has reinforced our friendship and I know that I am raising my children with the help of like-minded extended family who really care about humanity and with values that we all hold in our hearts.
I started making clay pendants in my studio to raise money for charities that were delivering aid on the ground in Gaza, the original ‘Planting the Seeds’ design was based on those pendants and was painted on a sign for a march urging a ceasefire and liberation for Palestine. Founding this community with Leila and Rumi has been so enriching. The dream is to inspire others (especially our young folk) to be curious and learn about the complex issues that many people are facing because of oppressive occupations, biased ‘profit before people’ corporations and climate crisis related conflicts. I hope we can use this platform to encourage creativity to sow the seeds of empathy and hope. To fund projects that help communities that have been affected by war and conflict rebuild and reconnect with their lands and support people to heal from the trauma they’ve endured.