Clay and colors: Manga ceramics
Ceramic crafts
Who is behind the Manga ceramic brand?
Clay crafts in Sfax. Molka Akrout graduated from ceramic craft training in Sfax. Nothing escapes him on the question of working with clay. Passionate and motivated, the young craftswoman works full time in her workshop in the Gremda district, at kilometer 9 of the Lafrane road. In this workshop, there are numerous designs in baked clay, with original colors and pastel effects.
It was during the Sfax fair that she decided to highlight the traditional know-how of ceramics. Indeed, in Sfax, the production of handmade clay ceramics is almost non-existent.
With her brother, Molka designs her creations at the request of customers: she adapts to their preferences, colors of their living room, kitchen, etc. With her artisanal technique taught during her training, Molka offers quality know-how, respecting materials and making environmentally friendly production. Clay has specific properties that give a spectacular and elegant result, formed by hand.
Manga ceramics
Molka is the only artisan in Sfax to create artisanal ceramic objects.
The idea of creating a clay-based ceramic brand came to him in 2018. After his participation in the Sfax fair, Molka and his brother began to produce unique and natural objects in white earth, a type of effective clay for its particular properties. After training in ceramic craftsmanship in Sfax, Molka created her own brand: Manga ceramic .
Why clay? This material is ancestral, used for millennia. Easy to work with, it allows you to create original, handmade objects in an unlimited way.
Molka wishes to develop its activity by offering more and more products, participating in more fairs, in Tunisia and abroad. After having reached the national market, it wishes to conquer the European and international market.
Manga ceramic refers to the dexterity of women to work hard to achieve their goal and therefore succeed. Nothing can stop them. Molka named his brand this way to highlight the valorous and natural side of his creations. She makes a point of working with noble materials in an eco-responsible manner.
Molka is the only artisan in Sfax to create artisanal ceramic objects.
The idea of creating a clay-based ceramic brand came to him in 2018. After his participation in the Sfax fair, Molka and his brother began to produce unique and natural objects in white earth, a type of effective clay for its particular properties. After training in ceramic craftsmanship in Sfax, Molka created her own brand: Manga ceramic .
Why clay? This material is ancestral, used for millennia. Easy to work with, it allows you to create original, handmade objects in an unlimited way.
Molka wishes to develop its activity by offering more and more products, participating in more fairs, in Tunisia and abroad. After having reached the national market, it wishes to conquer the European and international market.
Manga ceramic refers to the dexterity of women to work hard to achieve their goal and therefore succeed. Nothing can stop them. Molka named his brand this way to highlight the valorous and natural side of his creations. She makes a point of working with noble materials in an eco-responsible manner.
“Ceramic crafts”
How to work clay to make a unique product
The designer has chosen to make her products by hand and not industrially.
As a result, the result is visible when turning the product inside out: no trace of industrial mold. As a result, the imperfect nature of its products makes them all unique and personal. Among the many existing types of clay earth, between white earth, red earth, clay earth, sandstone earth, fire clay, Molka opted for white earth.
White earth has chemical and physical characteristics specific to Molka’s creative objectives. Indeed, each type of clay has its own reaction to the clay coloring stage. The white earth allows a harmonious and specific rendering which is simply magnificent.
Interview with Molka Akrout
Hello Molka, I'm Pierre from ILEY'COM, I produce articles as part of my civic service in Sfax to promote Tunisian crafts. Thank you for welcoming me to your workshop, it is a pleasure to be in direct contact with social entrepreneurs at the heart of their activity. Can you briefly tell me about the beginnings of Manga Ceramic and what your path has been to today?
Molka: Manga ceramic was founded in 2018, our first participation in an event was at the Sfax fair, it was also the launch of our company, which is a family project, we are specialized in tableware. Our products are very diversified, we are recognized for the lightness of our products and the finesse of our finishes. The originality of the shapes and effects of our creations are proof of the hand-made character of our ceramics.
The idea of working with clay in an artisanal way is very original, how do you see this practice? And can you explain to us the differences there would be with other types of clay?
Molka: I chose clay because as we say in Tunisian, “maymoutch” “immortal”, it always allows creativity, innovation among the many types of clay, white earth, red earth, clay, fire paste, stoneware paste. We use white earth because during glazing, the effects are very interesting, particularly when applying the colors or when putting them in the oven and cooking. The harmony is very successful. Most importantly in clay, which is a healthy material, when you immerse the raw mug in water, a chemical reaction occurs which revives the product. Because when you put it in water, it comes back to life.
Can you explain to us the different stages in the design of ceramic products?
Molka: The first step is the extraction of a ceramic rod, and the formation of a cut using wire cutting. We obtain a slice of clay. The second step is working on the mold in order to form the object you want to create. We call it filming. Then, for the finishes, we use the appropriate profile to finish. The third step is drying the piece in order to place it in the oven for a first firing at 980 degrees. Then we move on to the stage of decorating the clay by adding the colored preparation to the piece. Then a final firing is carried out to reinforce the application of patterns and colors.
The designer has chosen to make her products by hand and not industrially. Therefore, the result is visible by turning the product inside out, no trace of industrial mold. As a result, the imperfect nature of its products makes them all unique and personal. Among the many types of existing clay soil, between white earth, red earth, blaise earth, gray earth, fire paste. Molka opted for white earth.
White earth has chemical and physical characteristics specific to Molka’s creative objectives. Indeed, each type of clay has its own reaction to the clay coloring stage. The white earth allows a harmonious and specific rendering which is simply magnificent.
There are two loading stages. The first occurs directly after the molding is completed. The product is placed in an oven at over 900 degrees. Then after coloring the clay is placed back in a specific oven for cooking which is always close to 1000 degrees.
What makes your products original?
Molka: At Manga ceramic, there is also one very important thing: it is the personalization of products. Each customer will have a unique product, whatever happens, the creation of the pieces is handmade, so it is impossible to reproduce an identical product. It is personalized production, according to the shapes and colors desired by customers.
Clay and colors
And what’s next?
Finally, Molka wants to propel Manga ceramic internationally to promote Tunisian craftsmanship, while encouraging handmade creation. Manga ceramic continues to create unique pottery objects such as plates or dishes that you can find on the ILEY'COM website here.
But Manga ceramic has the ambition to go even further by diversifying the type of product, to offer ever more different colors and patterns, and to create even more personalized products such as mugs or decorative objects.
Manga ceramic is a brand destined to accomplish great things, and which continues to surprise us, so to not miss anything, continue to follow the news on the ILEY'COM website !
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