Almudena Martín del Valle

My name is Almudena and I run my business from Madrid (Spain). I am the creative mind behind Maralle Ceramics and the Genius Loci collection. With a background in Pharmacy and Interior Design, I discovered ceramics back in 2006 and started learning as much as I could from highly skilled craftswomen. As time went by, I found my own way to integrate my three natures: the scientific makes the research needed to run the tests to obtain safe and stable glaze formulas; the creative balances together form, function, aesthetics and story of each design and the crafter devotes to handmaking the collection and share it with the world.

In 2018, soon after a personal loss, I launched the Genius Loci collection, using wood ash from forest fires as an ingredient for glazes. For me, fires are the perfect metaphor for irreversible losses and ceramics the proof of creating as a way to revert destruction, because fire it´s needed to turn clay into warm daily objects that last a lifetime. Genius Loci was the term used in ancient Rome to name a protective and magic spirit, which takes care and represents the soul and essence of an exact location. By using its ashes, who I already am and know, I can take that genius loci back to life and share a powerful story about resilience and recovering with others.

My business objectives are:

I am looking for collaborations with other professionals and opening new ways of creating. In the long run, building a team is key for me. I´d love to see my products flying overseas.

My learnings from the Crafting Business Programme:

• To have insights from any aspects affecting my project (financial, global trends, customer habits and experience…).
• I have shifted the way I approach a new range of products. It can be overwhelming at first sight, but having a wider vision introduces more data (which is absolutely creative material).
• You are both a creative professional AND a business owner, and that is pretty cool.Two things can be true and congruent at the same time.

My 5 top tips that I have learnt on this journey:

1. Ask for help when needed. Nobody can do it all alone.
2. Be bold, be authentic and be careful.
3. No small step is too small. Learn something, do it bit by bit, make tiny improvements and then do it again (but a little bit bigger).
4. Value yourself more while staying humble.
5. Any individual human concern is not only yours, it is universal. Share it with the world and then see what happens.