Two Norwegian designers have launched a new range of exclusive porcelain in Europe, manufacturing and decorating the plates, vases and bowls in Bangladesh. The items produced at the Shinepukur Ceramics factory in Gazipur are on sale in Oslo, London and other European capitals, and have already featured in several European design magazines.

Designers Linda Svedal Walsøe and Ragnhild Wik had very little knowledge about Bangladesh before they decided to start their new venture.

In a mail from Oslo, Ragnhild said: “My companion Linda had never visited Bangladesh before we started our design company wik&walsøe last autumn although I had some experience of working with Bangladesh’s Shinepukur back in 2001,”

“From my experience I knew the quality of made-in-Bangladesh products in fine porcelain and bone china was the very best. Bangladesh has a long tradition of handicrafts and the people are very skilled and interested in colours and shape, and enjoy creating new and beautiful things,” she added.

“Our first thought was to make a full design collection based on metal, textile, porcelain and leather products but after a sourcing process during our first visit we found that we wanted to focus on porcelain design only,” she said.

Linda and Ragnhild launched their first collection in the Norwegian market in August this year and are now selling in shops all over the country. The porcelain collections were also launched in London last week.

The designs are inspired by Norwegian nature and folklore. One range features winter trees without leaves, another elves, small mythical beings, symbolizing dreams.

Porcelain, which is a very difficult material to work with, needs high craftsmanship on an industrial scale.

“Everyone at the factory is willing to listen to us as designers and try out our new ideas. They are very interested in cooperation, development, learning and trying our new things,” Ragnhild said.

“Our experience so far has been very positive. Most important of all, we like the people of Bangladesh and we feel very welcome.”

On the future plans, she said, “Our first goal is to expand and sell our designs in Scandinavia and the rest of Europe and hopefully we will sell worldwide in the future.”

Ragnhild said she hopes the project will contribute to employment, skill development and economic growth in Bangladesh.

Md Ashek Alam, Shinepuker’s head of intenational marketing, said the company welcomes new designers like Linda and Ragnhild.

“We always welcome new designers and offer them good support to realise their creative ideas through custom made products like porcelain,” he said, adding that the company is making a new initiative to attract quality designers as part of its international marketing policy.

Shinepuker has been exporting ceramic products since 2000 and now counts brands such as Royal Doulton as its customers. Producing ceramics is labour intensive and foreign customers are attracted by low labour costs and skilled workers.

In 2007 exports of ceramics reached more than 30 million US dollars, up from around nine million dollars in 2000, Ashek said.

“Although quality designers often order small quantities, we don’t mind since we get international exposure though quality and trendy products,” he added.

Shinepukur Ceramics is also taking various measures to train their own designers at world-class institutions.