Ames

Seeing Colombia in its beauty — in keeping with this vision, ames is developing a unique collection of furniture and home decor manufactured in Columbia. Founded in 2006 by Ana María Calderón Kayser and her husband Karl-Heinz Kayser, the company predominantly uses the country’s traditional natural materials and craft techniques for their product portfolio. Their unique designs evolve through creative processes with renowned industrial designers, often lasting several months. Once in series production, they translate the wealth of Columbian culture into an international design language.

Colombian-born Ana María Calderón Kayser navigates the complex development process. With her appreciation for quality and her high-level expertise she seeks out longestablished workshops in different regions of the country and establishes encounters between artisans and industrial designers. “I understand my role as that of a mediator between worlds, introducing my partners and customers to Colombia’s diversity.” This creative dialogue results in unique upmarket items which showcase the playful interaction that designers Sebastian Herkner, Pauline Deltour and Mae Engelgeer have with natural materials and craft techniques previously unknown to them. The approach taken by these creatives, as well as the design process, is intentionally free and intuitive. During research trips of several weeks at a time, Ana María Calderón Kayser and the designers immerse themselves in the diversity of the country’s materials and colours. Their understanding of Colombia’s design and craft tradition is expressed in a powerful collection which impresses viewers with its vibrant, modern and original aesthetics. These find their place in international interiors and the discerning contract sector.

“Colombia’s character is defined by its altitude. Colombia has no seasons, but it has snowy mountains, rainforest, coastal areas and deserts”, explains Ana María Calderón Kayser. This diversity also constitutes the basis for the choice of materials and techniques for a product “Whether we use fique fibres, iraca, or werregue depends on the availability of the raw materials and their specific characteristics. Sometimes we have to wait for years before we can use the material”, says Ana María Calderón Kayser. The production chain from acquisition of raw materials to the final product is entirely in the hands of small manufacturers and family businesses. With its commitment, ames keeps the tradition and knowledge of the artesanos alive and invests in the equipment the workshops require as well as a logistics infrastructure. Together with the designers and manufacturers differentiated standards are introduced in or- der to produce under environmentally friendly and controlled conditions.

With its collection and its commitment, ames is developing the ability to take a stance on the discussion regarding sustainable materials and consumption-aware interiors. “Colombia’s crafts are based on the traditional knowledge of the master artesanos. Thanks to the enormous interest that there is in ames products, young people who are interested in their grandmothers’ knowledge are now working in the studios again”. With their exclusive standards, their unique design language and their founder’s high aspirations, ames is thus a pioneer and role model at the same time.