Maison Numen’s online platform went live last week with a special launch preview held at Somerset House in London on Thursday 30th June.

Maison Numen is a brand-new curated online platform for artisan design objects. Founded by Venezuelan’s Jessica Macias and Ana Caufman, the brand’s first collection Latin Animae Vol. 1 includes 193 pieces from 35 designers and artisans from Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, Peru and Colombia. This inaugural collection includes an array of baskets, blankets, throws, ceramic vessels, wooden bowls, trays and utensils as well decorative accessories.

For the launch in London, Macias and Caufman worked with stylist Emilio Pimental-Reid to create a welcoming environment in Somerset House’s East Wing. The pieces from Latin Animae Vol. 1 were displayed within a home-setting to show the versatility of the collection while many of the pieces were also highlighted for the rich back-stories in a gallery environment. The stories of some of the Mexican designers were also displayed in two beautifully produced films which included interviews and behind the scenes footage of the making-processes.

The stories behind the pieces make up a defining part of Maison Numen’s identity. The founders work with suppliers who share Maison Numen’s core values of fair trade and sustainable practices, whether the maker of a one-off piece found in the Amazon or a designer in the graduate show of a London design school. As the head curator, Caufman carefully documents her curatorial process making sure each piece on www.maisonnumen.com comes with a story that explains its ancestral, practical and cultural significance.

The second collection from Maison Numen is already underway with Latin Animae Vol. 2 launching later this year. Following this, Macias and Caufman are working on a third collection which will include pieces from makers and artisans in Europe.