Q&A: an interview with new interiors brand Kam Ce Kam

A highlight from London Design Festival 2019 was stumbling across new interiors brand Kam Ce Kam at their pop-up on Redchurch street in east London. Their story is one of considered craftsmanship and being honest with materials and manufacturing. After a quick chat with the founder, I couldn’t wait to hear more about how Kam Ce Kam were reviving traditional Indian crafts and giving them a new twist.

Founded by designer Jehanara Knowles, who grew up between New Delhi and London, Kam Ce Kam creates contemporary furniture that marries tradition with a cool, contemporary edge. The designs celebrate local makers and age-old techniques finessed over generations, such as cane weaving and stone carving. Sustainability plays its part thanks to natural materials and off-cuts reused in designs instead of going to waste.

Kam Ce Kam’s look appeals to current trends, but the simple forms and quality give the designs a timeless quality.

I chatted to founder Jehanara Knowles about the philosophy behind the company, the meaning of the intriguing name and her inspiration for the unique designs.

How did you come to found Kam Ce Kam?

I come from a family of designers so it’s definitely in my blood!

I have a background in architecture (I studied for my bachelors at Central St Martins), after which I worked at an interior and architectural design firm for five years. Two years in, I realised that furniture design was my true passion. While I love creating spaces, I found myself becoming more passionate about what goes into them!

I co-founded Kam Ce Kam with interior designer and mentor Shalini Misra (of the award-winning interior design practice, Shalini Misra Ltd.). I was working with Shalini on a project and the whole concept of the house was ‘made in India’. It sparked an idea to create the brand. 

We both have a strong connection to India and wanted to create a brand that celebrated the rich resources of India and showed them in a contemporary light. We sought to make pieces that relate to everyday living and hold in them a story that brings them back to Indian craftsmanship. 

Kam Ce Kam translates as ‘At the very least’ in Hindi – what is the meaning behind the name?

‘Kam Ce Kam’ is a Hindi phrase which can have several connotations, but is widely recognised as meaning ‘at the very least’. I saw it as a starting point: ‘at the very least, this is just the beginning for the possibilities that we have in creating with artisans in India’. It is also linked to the philosophy of ‘less is more’ – investing in fewer quality pieces.

What is the philosophy of Kam Ce Kam? 

The philosophy is celebrating the contemporary hand-made. India is a country of such rich talent and materials and we want to reveal these as we develop the collection.  

The craft and materials I used in the launch collection are a collection of very ‘Indian’ trades which we wanted to contemporise: 

– Timber carving: the most crucial element to building the base of all our pieces. Each piece is hand carved and polished to create a delicate yet strong form.

– Cane weaving: this is one that is very close to my heart. I love the look and feel of cane but so many mass-manufactured pieces have started to use pre-woven sheets. In our pieces the cane is all stripped from bamboo by hand, woven by hand and set into the pieces by hand. It gives the pieces and extra level of richness!

– Stone carving: all of our stone pieces are hand carved out of stone. India has a rich heritage of stone workers who have worked on traditional palaces and sculptures for generations.

– Terrazzo: We have developed enlarged terrazzo tops which use waste materials from our other stone pieces and waste from the marble yards.

How has your childhood – split between New Delhi and London – influenced the collection?

The aim of the collection was to create a language that connected both cultures. I wanted to combine the aesthetics of both places; the rich materiality and subtle bursts of colour from the Indian side, and the delicate refined forms from the European side.

We tend to only see one side of Indian design outside the country – the ethnic, traditional side (which is beautiful in its own way) but I wanted the world outside India to experience the changes that are taking place there. 

Experiencing both worlds, and following movements like ‘Made in Britain’ and striving as designers to better our practices in the UK, it was important for me to make sure that India starts to make those changes too, appreciating and celebrating existing resources. 

Where do you find your inspiration for the designs?

The inspiration for each of these pieces came from a craft process – they are very material lead. In terms of form I am very influenced by architecture and modernist forms from architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn and Le Corbusier. Especially Le Corbusier’s work in India.

We wanted the first collection to be a very stripped back and honest, displaying the craft and staying true to the materials and processes. 

What is your favourite piece in the collection and why?

My favourite piece would have to be the mera chair (above). It may seem like a simple piece but it took so many iterations and a lot of work to get it right!

It has a very slender spoke-shaved frame with a double-caned insert and leather seat. It was inspired by colonial furniture but I wanted to put a very contemporary spin on it. It’s a chair you can lounge in, use as a statement piece in a hallway or a cosy reading chair in a bedroom. 

And finally, what’s next for Kam Ce Kam?

We hope to grow a network of people who want to acquaint themselves with contemporary hand-made products and develop an appreciation for them. 

We are also continuing to develop collections, expanding into different elements of hand-made craft as we develop our products. For a little hint we are currently brainstorming a range of carpets and lighting!  

Thank you so much Jehanara for giving us an insight into the world of Kam Ce Kam. Find out more at kamcekam.com and find them on Instagram here.