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

Hi Tina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

After working in the corporate fashion industry for 10 years, I created Ren•Vois because I wanted to design a product that wasn’t mass produced or trend driven. I wanted to create an object that was wholly hand made, timeless, and one of a kind.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I create wheel-thrown porcelain ceramics in my Los Angeles based studio. I use a different process where instead of using glazes or paints to color my pieces, I dye the clay before throwing it on the pottery wheel.

It was definitely a long process of trying to get my work seen. I started with craft fairs and slowly more and more people became aware of my work. I also personally reached out restaurants and chefs that I admire to see if they needed new tableware for their restaurants.

I’ve learned along the way to stop trying to predict what the customer wants. I create and design as if the end product will be for myself. Working at the pottery wheel is almost meditative and it has been significantly healing for me in my life. My hope is that each of my finished pieces translates this and creates a moment of pause in people’s lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Both my best friends lives out of the country and I love taking them to my favorite places to eat when they visit. I would start with my favorite brunch spot at Gjusta in Venice and then to Kato in Santa Monica for Jon Yao’s Taiwanese inspired dinner tasting menu. We would also go on my favorite hike that starts in Griffith Park and ends at the Griffith Observatory. I would also take them to visit The Huntington Library in San Marino after getting Taiwanese breakfast at Huge Tree Pastry in the San Gabriel Valley. A visit to LA is not complete unless you spend a day at the beach in Malibu as well as visiting the Arts District in Downtown LA.  I love that Los Angeles is so different and has so much to offer no matter what side of town you are on.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

This Shoutout is dedicated to my husband Eric. He got me my first ceramics class and is involved in all aspects of the business. From sanding each finished piece to manning my booth at craft fairs, he’s been a constant support every step of the way.

I’d also like to give a shoutout to Heather Rosenman and Carol Horst, two amazing instructors who teach at Green & Bisque Clayhouse in Pasadena. I took one of my first throwing classes with Heather and her surface design class literally changed my life. Heather’s class lay the foundation for how I use my current process of dyeing porcelain clay today.  I also recently took a sculpture class with Carol and it has completely changed my approach to design and form.

Website: www.ren-vois.com

Instagram: @ren_vois

Facebook: @renvoishome

Image Credits
Hannah Choi

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.