We had the good fortune of connecting with Alaina Thai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alaina, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
The amount of patience and time it takes to make a single item! First you have to weigh out your clay, wedge your clay (or sometimes I feel bold and skip wedging depending if it is a new bag of clay) , throw and or shape/mold your piece, let it dry overnight till it is leather hard to trim the next day and or paint or carve your piece. Then you have to wait for your piece to completely dry out, at this stage it is known as greenware where it is still fragile but no longer moldable/workable. Once it is thoroughly dried, it goes into the first firing that is known as bisque-ware. Next step is to glaze. Glazing is another process where you would then have to either wax resist the bottom of the piece and then smooth/scrape off the excess glaze and clean up any imperfections. Then it goes back into the kiln to be fired again. Depending on what you are trying to achieve, there are other steps that are also involved in the process. This also takes much longer if you fire at studio instead of having your own kiln too.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started Little Match Studio as a side hustle, where I practiced frequently after my full-time job as a fashion designer and on the weekends to hone in my throwing skills hoping to make some Christmas presents at the time. Between then and now, I created an Instagram account to just share my work. It slowly gained traction over time. Currently Little Match Studio is known for the simple Little Match-a bowls and wavy cups. It was a tough year but it all came into fruition from all the hard work. I think the thing that may set me apart is that I also love matcha and connecting with other people who are also matcha enthusiast. I wanted to create Little Match Studio as a brand that brings people’s attention into the present moment from preparing matcha, drinking, and also feeling my ceramic piece collectively. I’m so excited and look forward to this upcoming year with new items, new collaborations, and I had just recently announced my new Little Match Studio Ceremonial Grade Matcha! I have been keeping this on the down low for a while and now I can say it is finally coming!

Getting to this point was not easy at all, first of if you don’t know ceramics is a very labor-intensive hobby/ job. You are basically using your whole body when you throw on the wheel. I’ve ran into some minor back pain and wrist pain already within doing this full time for a year. I highly recommend you take in-between breaks, strength training, yoga, Pilates, frequent chiropractor visits and massages. Before going into ceramics full-time, I was working in the fashion industry as a fashion designer for 8 years. Towards the end of my last job, I began to feel like I wasn’t myself and I didn’t recognize who I was and or who I was becoming and or what my goal was. I had no strong opinion about anything and I thought I was going through some weird slump but I realized it was burnout. I had that mentally of fake it til’ I make it, I felt like I ignored everything my body was telling me. I knew at some point I needed to leave to find my own happiness again.

Initially ceramics was not a long-term plan until it became an idea around peak pandemic. I ended up investing in a pottery wheel and converted my small laundry shack into a makeshift pottery studio. I just kept practicing over and over until I got better. So, once I began posting my work on social media, it started off as friends of friends then random strangers. I started selling through Instagram stories then created my own website and started doing mini launches. Once it became a full-time gig, I branched out into wholesale. I learned so much and grew in the span of throwing for 3 years and running it full-time in the past year, giving it my all. It came to a surprise when my business exponentially skyrocketed with fans and followers, for me, I have never thought this would be possible. Every time I have a drop, it typically sell out within minutes!
The thing is, I’m just a regular girl, and if I could do it, so can anybody. The thing that makes me the most proud is that, I believed in myself when I was at one of my lowest points. If you really believe in yourself and trust that you got it, don’t stop dreaming and waiting for something to happen, just keep working hard and have fun doing it, because in the end, all that matters is if you enjoying the entire process and live your best life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Usually my best friend and I enjoy our nights grabbing a quick bite and spending the night in, where we would make some fun cocktails and watch a movie or two and just catch up on life. But if we were out and about during the day, I would take them to get matcha of course, perhaps at Sachi.la, a coffee/matcha shop located near Del Rey area and then go next door where we would go plant and record shopping, they have such a great curated gift shop. Also another shop I love to visit is called Chunky Gifts located in LA Chinatown. Mei Ling Way, is always fun to visit and sight see! I’d also stop by Thank You Coffee to grab a matcha there too!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I love this! Honestly there are so many people involved, so shoutout to my friends, family, you know who you are, and partner. Without them I wouldn’t have had the courage to preserver and jump into this full force without them having my back and constantly encouraging me. My therapist, who helped guide me to better my mental health and overall well-being, helping me realize many things in my life and allowing me the space to be myself. Lastly, the pottery / social media community for sure! I meet so many creatives and supportive followers along the way in the last year! It is now has been 1 year since I transitioned into Little Match Studio full time!

Website: littlematchstudio.com

Instagram: littlematchstudio

Facebook: facebook.com/littlematchstudio

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@littlematchstudio

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@junniibug

Image Credits
Daniel Nguyen

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.