Young Dinnerware Company Flourishes Through the Recession

Ink Dish releases two new collections by unlikely team of tattoo artist and ceramic designer

PR Newswire

posted: 25 DAYS 19 HOURS AGO

Text SizeAAA

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ink Dish releases two new dinnerware sets. One year ago not many people would have bet on a dinnerware start-up with a single pattern whose entrance to the market coincided with the worst recession in recent memory.

Even without the economic climate many experts would have told you that Ink Dish's take on porcelain was too bold. Caroline Pople grew up with the traditions of English tableware. Her mother, Julie Pople, is also a ceramic designer, and mother and daughter have worked together for the top names in the industry. The design business was steady but Caroline found that the patterns she loved, their customers found too risky. "I knew there was a market for more fashion-forward dinnerware," said Pople.

At the same time, now CEO, David Harding needed a thesis for his M.B.A. Industry research confirmed Pople's hunch. 25-35 year old consumers bought more plain dinnerware than any other group. "Here is this group that is so expressive with the clothes they wear but they are buying plain dinnerware," said Harding. They quantified what Caroline already knew through a series of surveys. There was a large segment of the market that wanted to buy patterned dinnerware but couldn't find designs that fit their personality.

Ink Dish only had the capital to produce one pattern. Caroline came up with the concept of tattoo inspired dinnerware and brought in Paul Timman, whose client list includes Angelina Jolie and Drew Barrymore. The pair created Irezumi and the design was named #2 on Metropolitan Home's prestigious design 100.

Ink Dish follows up Irezumi with two new cool dinnerware sets. Cherry Ink is based on a traditional Japanese style of tattooing called Sumi, a delicate painterly technique without the usual black outlines. The design features a cherry blossom motif in elegant shades of pinks and purples.

Tribal Lines has a more traditional tattoo look taking inspiration from Maori and Polynesian patterns. Despite its counterculture origins this classic black and white dinnerware will fit in any modern home.

The collections range from $14 to $25 for individual pieces, $25 to $60 for gift sets, and is available now.

For more information on Ink Dish, please visit www.inkdish.com or send any direct enquiries to info@inkdish.com.

SOURCE Ink Dish

2009-11-02 11:52:00