What began as a hobby for Melburnians Matthew Vrettas and Stephanie Yap, naturally transitioned into Ghost Wares, a successful small business, starring a slew of elegantly understated tableware in a range of beautiful, sleek shapes.
‘We started doing pottery classes together; we have a shared interest in objects and design, so it was a good way for us to explore this,’ explains Stephanie, a graphic designer who now splits her time between freelancing and Ghost Wares. ‘Over time, we got a hold of a wheel and a kiln. Next we were getting enquiries about purchasing our work,’ adds Matthew, who studied and worked in architectural design before moving to ceramics full-time.
Matthew and Stephanie aim to create timeless, functional pieces. Their mugs, jugs, pitchers, pourers, platters and vases are hand made on a pottery wheel in their modest home studio in West Melbourne. ‘We try to make products that feel precious but familiar,’ explains Matthew. ‘We want them to be objects that can blend into the background, but still have enough character to make them interesting and personal.’
The duo also create their own clays to bring variation to the range. ‘By changing the clay itself, we feel that the objects have a sense of integrity, they are devoid of decoration and express what they are made of,’ says Matthew.
Looking ahead, Matthew and Stephanie hope Ghost Wares can reach a point where it’s sustainable enough to explore new ideas and collaborations with local makers, while continuing to create products that feel right. ‘We would love to be able to further explore some of our ideas and have an exhibition to share them – the build up to an event is always an exciting process!’ says Matthew. We can’t wait to see what they surprise us with next.
Ghost Wares ceramics can be purchased online here.
