Artisanal Selections: Kakiku

What do you wish more people understood about handmade furniture?

That each piece carries generations of knowledge within its form. When you acquire handmade furniture, you're not just purchasing an object, you're becoming part of a continuing story that connects maker to user. The subtle variations and character marks aren't imperfections but signatures of human care that mass production simply cannot replicate.

How do you feel right before revealing a new design?

There's a beautiful tension between pride and vulnerability. After months of collaboration with our artisans across Southeast Asia, particularly from Indonesia, revealing a new collection feels like sharing a piece of our collective heritage. We feel both excitement and responsibility, knowing these pieces will become bridges between traditional craft communities and discerning global clients.

What's something you're still learning?

How to balance exponential growth with our regenerative principles. As we expand from our south east asian foundations to global markets, we're constantly refining how technology can amplify rather than dilute the human connections at the heart of Kakiku. Creating algorithmic systems that build trust while preserving the warmth of personal curation is our ongoing education.

What's something people always ask you about your work?

"How do you find these artisans?"

People are fascinated by our travel & network with makers, creators across Southeast Asia. The story behind each collaboration, how our design team identifies and builds relationships with various craftspeople, often becomes as compelling to our clients as the pieces themselves. These connections are the foundation of Kakiku's mission to create harmony between tradition and contemporary living.