There's a moment when you know you've found exactly what you’ve been searching for—even if you hadn’t been able to put it into words.
For me, that moment came in a clay-dusted studio outside San Miguel de Allende, watching experts hands transform earth into something beautiful. The late afternoon sun streamed through open windows, casting golden light across kilns still warm from firing. This wasn't just a factory visit—this was a pilgrimage to the heart of what Casa Zuma has always been about: the magic of human hands creating something truly special.
The Pull of San Miguel
San Miguel de Allende has long been at the heart of Mexico’s artisan culture. There's something in the cobblestone streets, the colonial architecture painted in warm terracotta and sage, the ringing of the centuries-old church bells. But beyond its beauty lies a reverence for craft and a desire to take time to do things right.
When our friends at Clay Imports first invited us to visit their studio and the artisan partners they work with, I didn’t think twice. They’ve spent years building relationships rooted in respect, fair wages, and a shared commitment to preserving traditional techniques. Our partnership was a chance to join an artist's story already years in the making.
We traveled to the factories located in a village near San Miguel. Inside, the air smelled of wet earth and wood smoke from the kilns. Shelves were lined with unfired pieces in all shapes and sizes, and I wandered among them, letting my imagination run wild. What if we increased the size of this platter? Or tried a matte glaze on this bowl? We were able to test and experiment right in the factory—trying out different shapes and placements for our stamps with real-time feedback.
The Design Process: Where Intention Meets Intuition
Back in the studio, I knew I wanted to create more than just a new dinnerware set—I envisionied vessels for life's most meaningful moments, each one as unique as the hands that made them. Over the coming weeks, we worked with the team to finalize the shapes and glazes that would become our signature collection. A shallow bowl that’s generously sized for pasta. The flat bottom of a plate that creates a casual stack on open shelves. Every curve was considered, every dimension tested against how it would feel in daily use.
And of course, the real magic happened in the details we couldn’t totally control. The natural speckling of the clay, subtle variations in glaze thickness, and the way each piece slightly changed in the kiln, making each piece one-of-a-kind. Perfection is predictable, but these small variations give each piece a soul.
What We Brought Home
Our week in San Miguel gave us more than just prototypes and production plans. We brought back a deeper understanding of what it means to create with intention. To honor tradition while making something uniquely our own. To invest in relationships that go far beyond a single transaction.
Every piece in our Casa Zuma CLAY collection carries this story with it. When you hold one of our speckled dinner plates, you're connecting with the artisan who made it, centuries of ceramic tradition, the earth of Mexico and the fire that transformed it.
You’re also adding your own chapter to the story. The rituals you create with these pieces and the way they look on your table, surrounded by your people, elevate them into something meaningful.
The Art of Gathering
In our rushed culture, choosing to set a beautiful table is a signal to slow down and appreciate. It’s a way of reminding ourselves that this moment, and the people around the table, matter. That taking time to nourish ourselves—body and soul—is worth protecting.
Our CLAY collection was designed for these moments. For Sunday brunches that stretch into afternoon. For weeknight dinners where phones stay in other rooms. For the kind of entertaining where the best conversations happen while doing dishes together.
These aren't precious pieces meant to save for special occasions. They're meant for Tuesday morning oatmeal and Saturday night dinner parties. Make them part of your story, marked by use and made beautiful by the life lived with them.
Casa Zuma CLAY is available now. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, made by hand in San Miguel de Allende.
Share your stories with us at support@casazuma.com or tag us @casazuma—we love hearing how our pieces become part of your most cherished rituals.
