ABOUT
Founded in 2014 by family trio Phillip and daughter Kerri (South Africans now based in Melbourne) alongside Kerri’s husband Luke, Klaylife was born from a chance encounter and a long coffee conversation. Phillip was ready to retire from his career in food importing when Kerri convinced him to embark on a “small project.”
The original clay bead chandeliers were created to provide sustainable employment for women whose lives had been impacted by HIV and who urgently needed reliable income to support their families. Today, more than 65 women are permanently employed, and-rolling raw clay beads, sun-drying, kiln-firing and dip-dyeing each one before they are meticulously strung onto custom iron frames. No two pieces are ever the same. Each carries the mark of the hands that made it.
As the brand grew, so did its global family. Collaborations with designers and artisans from South Africa, Spain and Australia expanded the collection, including handmade ceramic lighting from POTT in Southern Spain and jewellery crafted from the same signature clay beads. Showroom partnerships, design collaborations and features in leading Australian renovation and design projects have seen Klaylife lights illuminate homes, hotels and hospitality spaces around the world.
Grounded in craftsmanship and community, Klaylife challenges the idea of mass production. Every piece tells a story of material, culture and connection. From clay bead chandeliers to handmade ceramics and meaningful adornment, the collection reflects a belief that beautiful design can also create opportunity.