“It makes me happy knowing that there are people out there who find inspiration in what I do and want a piece of it in their own home. I think that gives me the ultimate satisfaction – knowing that what I do speaks to and resonates with people.”

Kate Sbuttoni

Founder of The Ginger Jar Lamp Co.

Our Urban Explorer

Could you please introduce yourself to our guests?

I am Kate Sbuttoni, the Founder of The Ginger Jar Lamp Co. which I launched six years ago.

What was your career before you embarked on this journey? How did The Ginger Jar Lamp Co. come about?

When we first moved to Hong Kong, my role was in Marketing for the British Council. I had no real aspirations to start my own business or be an entrepreneur at the time, but I had a very strong role model in my father who had his own business and so I always admired how much joy and pride he took in having his own company. Subconsciously, it was always in the back of my mind, but nothing manifested. It was not until I took a day trip to China with some girlfriends to Zhuhai where we came across piles of ginger jars at the market that I had a “light bulb moment” where I thought there could be a real opportunity to create beautiful lamps that marries tradition and contemporary design.

How long have you been living in Hong Kong?

Originally from London, I have been living in Hong Kong for thirteen years now. I met my husband backpacking in New Zealand while I was traveling on my own for 10 months, and we met on the penultimate leg of our around-the-world journey. When I returned to London to work for a PR consultancy, he started his legal training at his firm. We dated for several years before getting married. At the time, we really wanted to have another adventure before settling down and starting a family so we started looking for work abroad. My husband applied for various roles in the Middle East, as well as Hong Kong. I had been to Hong Kong for business trips before and absolutely loved it but never thought the possibility of living here was an option. Then six months later, my husband got offered a job here and so we just went for it. We initially thought we would stay for only a few years but a few years turned into thirteen, and now we have two daughters here!

What does a day in the life of Ms. Kate Sbuttoni look like?

I generally like to start my day off with an 8AM gym session that sets me up for the day. Then, I will head home to set up my showroom where customers can book an appointment to come in and view the lamp designs. My business is primarily e-commerce so I will check emails, answer customer queries, and deal with different suppliers throughout the day – be it sourcing the latest collection of ginger jars or a new range of fabrics for the next collection of lamp shades. To sum it up, my day is really a mix of customer service, product design, and planning for future collections.

What does “Urban Explorer” mean to you and how do you think you fit into this term?

To me, urban explorer is more of a mindset. It is somebody who seeks adventure and inspiration in everyday life, no matter where they are. It is about having that lust for life and a love for seeking out hidden gems. Although travel is one of my major passions, I am truly in my happy place whenever I am exploring something new.

The Light Bulb Moment

You are indeed an Urban Explorer because you are always seeking inspiration around the city. Do you think exploring or traveling inspires your work?

Absolutely! I can be inspired by anything. It can be the pattern on a napkin in the restaurant, or a lantern hanging up in the streets ahead of Chinese New Year. It could be a new colour combination I might see on a striped bag in the market or something someone is wearing. Inspiration just comes to me and I absorb it. Because I am so inspired by my surroundings, I believe that is why Hong Kong makes me feel so alive. It is such a diverse city and it is so vibrant. There is always something to take notice of.

How is the sourcing and manufacturing process like – from start to finish?

When I first started, I did all my research online and sourced all my suppliers on the internet. I really value the authenticity, storytelling and history behind these beautiful ginger jars so I went back to Zhuhai and sourced an initial batch from a vintage stock that was around 30 years old or so. Once I sourced them, I sent the jars to the factory to have prototypes made where they would be safety tested. Simultaneously, I would work on the design and fitting of the fabric flex, adding an inline switch and sort out the technical details.

How would you describe the overall aesthetic of The Ginger Jar Lamp Co.?

It is East meets West. Heritage versus contemporary. Old yet new. Essentially, it is a blend of these two opposing forces that work so well together. The traditional blue coloured Chinese artwork against white ceramic, paired together with a touch of contemporary design in the form of bold lamp shades clashes yet somehow works beautifully together. I think it transforms old-fashioned objects and turns them into something that is much more accessible.

We absolutely love your designs! Would you ever consider expanding your brand to other home décor products and accessories like kitchenware, pillows, etc.?

For sure! I am inspired all the time and there are numerous ideas I would love to introduce to my audience. That in mind, it is also really about knowing where to stop and where to go next. I would love to introduce more chinoiserie elements into the brand and more porcelain items. I’ll need to clone myself in order to do more, but watch this space!

If you could collaborate with one brand, who would it be and why?

It would be such a pleasure to have a local artist or a local designer like renowned Hong Kong fashion designer Vivienne Tam create their own version of the Hong Kong skyline on a ginger jar lamp. She really embodies East meets West. It would be very interesting to see her fuse together aspects of Hong Kong, coupled with her amazing fabrics and designs with our own visual identity and motifs. That would be fun!

What do you like most about your job?

What brings me the greatest joy in my work is when someone tells me they really love the product and the design. I really find joy in giving people something that is unique and meaningful to them. Each ginger jar design is hand-painted and has its own auspicious meaning. No two jars are exactly the same because they are handmade. It makes me happy knowing that there are people out there who find inspiration in what I do and want a piece of it in their own home. I think that gives me the ultimate satisfaction – knowing that what I do speaks to and resonates with people.

Exploring The City

So where does your inspiration for travel come from?

I definitely seek travel inspiration from magazine articles, Instagram and word of mouth from friends who are well-travelled. Landscape architect Bill Bensley has been a huge influence to me. He has designed some of the most stunning hotels across Asia like the Intercontinental in Danang, Vietnam. I am also drawn to heritage hotels like the Eastern and Oriental Heritage Hotel in Penang – just places that beautifully and effortlessly blend together the old and new.

What other destinations are on your bucket list?

Myanmar is on my list! I would love to see more of Laos, Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia that are not the typical tourist hotspots.

In 3 words, how would you describe Hong Kong?

Opportunity, Energy, Light

For more information about The Ginger Jar Lamp Co., please head over to their website at https://www.gingerjarlampco.com

Tags