Getting to Know Love Milo

Hello all!

Love Milo was one of our first makers to partner with us for Ark + Nomad, and now is the time for us to formerly introduce you to each other! Love Milo is a design studio based in Cape Town, South Africa that was founded in 2013 by Nicki Ellis. Nicki's creative journey began as a film colour grader and photographer, but she longed to take it one step further. She desired to take her 2 dimensional work and bring it into the 3 dimensional world, so she naturally found ceramics as her next medium to conquer. After working on Love Milo on her own for a few years, Nicki Ellis found her personal and business partner, Matt Finch, who worked as a professional chef for 10 years before becoming a partner of Love Milo. As Love Milo states, "Matt was meticulous in his work in the kitchen and a perfectionist in production, which he brings though into the production of the Love Milo products, a part that Nicki was unable to oversee." While pulling inspiration from natures "perfect imperfections" and creating artworks that can be used in our daily lives, Love Milo also makes sure to keep their products sustainable. They use sustainable wood that is sourced through alien clearings, eco friendly inks, and locally source their own materials. Now that you know the history behind Love Milo, we took some time to have a quick interview with Love Milo via email and we'd love to share it with you! Get to know them a little bit more:

Why Love Milo? Where does the name originate from?
My sons name is Milo, when I fell pregnant with him I felt the need to make my own things and be an example, I also started getting all the creative ideas which I felt were coming from him, so named it after him.

What inspired you both to start Love Milo?
From a cinematography background I worked as a film colonist but never felt I was creating my own vision, with my pregnancy and the sudden sense of mortality I felt I needed to live in integrity with myself and make things I like as an example to my children.

If you could describe Love Milo in one word, what would it be?
Beauty

Is there a story behind the Ant design? It's so intriguing, we'd like to know more!
I always look at nature and insects and thought the ants crawling would be such a great addition, something we always hate but the beauty of the haphazard way they crawl around actually makes such a great pattern.

What is a typical Love Milo day like?
With 3 children its pretty hectic, go to the studio and try get as much work done as possible, then I leave to go fetch the kids and Matt stays at the studio.

Where do you see Love Milo in the future? What is the #1 goal?
To be the number one South African Lifestyle brand that brings beauty to everyones homes.

We hope you enjoyed Getting to Know Love Milo! Stay tuned for more! In the meantime, you can shop Love Milo here

Thanks for reading

-Ark + Nomad-