Frederic Alcantara

Frederic Alcantara has championed the work of artisans in countries including Morocco, Mali, Egypt, Ghana, Mozambique, and South Africa for decades, and his knowledge of these marketplaces is unparalleled. Those collaborations — between artisans and Western brands, carefully guided by Alcantara — have brought opportunities to artisans in Africa while delivering sophisticated goods to worldwide audiences. For instance: a set of candle holders for Bloomist, which exemplify the qualities he most values: authenticity, beauty, utility, and, more and more, exacting environmental standards. “For Bloomist, for instance, we’ve developed a line of simple candleholders without the glazing,” he says. “We do the products in white clay, cook it, but don’t add a glaze, which requires an energy-intensive process as well as a second cooking of the clay. This way, we avoid using chemicals and save energy. My mantra for all new designs: chemical free, biodegradable, and upcycled. This is the target.”