Having won Scape Brand of the Year 2025, Klay has cemented itself as one of the industry’s most thoughtful and materially driven brands. To understand the philosophy behind their unique clay brick products and the growing appetite for clay in contemporary architecture, we sat down with Chief Operating Officer Justin de la Hunt. In this conversation, he reflects on the rebrand that reshaped their identity, the collaborations that fuel their innovation, and the timeless appeal of a material that remains beautifully imperfect.
Talk us through Klay’s philosophy.
What we love at Klay is making high-quality natural products, and we love seeing our products in people’s homes and in buildings that we can refer back to. It gives us the most amazing sense of fulfilment seeing how architects and designers are using our products. It’s the type of thing where we can refer back to and really be proud of the work we have produced.
Our philosophy is simple: to produce the highest-quality clay products possible, sustainably and with intention. We aim to push boundaries, which sometimes makes life harder for ourselves, but bringing a client’s vision to life is worth every challenge. Watching someone hold the product they imagined, now made real, is one of the most gratifying parts of the work.
Why clay?
Clay, in its purest form, is beautifully imperfect — and that’s exactly why we love it. Although our name is spelled Klay with a K, the brand is really an ode to the material clay. The material’s natural variation, its refusal to be fully uniform, gives it character and life. Our mission is to honour that spirit by producing pieces that celebrate clay’s inherent beauty rather than trying to correct it.
We’ve found that architects and designers have been longing for clay’s natural warmth to return in contemporary forms. When we launched our dedicated Klay concept factory two years ago, the response was overwhelming. Many of them said they’d seen similar pieces internationally, wished they were available locally, and were thrilled that we were finally making them possible. They share our passion for authentic materials and appreciate the tactile honesty our products bring to a space.
“The material’s natural variation, its refusal to be fully uniform, gives it character and life. Our mission is to honour that spirit by producing pieces that celebrate clay’s inherent beauty rather than trying to correct it.”
Your products are available in a variety of unique shapes. What inspires these designs?
Our shapes and colours draw inspiration from global design movements, but we also aim to set trends of our own. Much of our innovation comes through collaboration: architects and interior designers constantly push us with custom requests. Often, those custom pieces become part of our stock range. A great example is our Espresso colour, born from a collaboration with a client, which is now one of our most popular earthy, warm tones.
Right now, our favourite product is Mirage Four, our four-pane screen block in natural terracotta. It’s exceptionally challenging to make, which makes it even more rewarding to see installed on site. That warm terracotta shade in particular feels timeless and elegant; it never falls out of fashion. Mirage Four is just one of many screen block shapes we offer, but it perfectly embodies our love for materiality and craft.
What part of your legacy are you most proud of?
Winning Scape Brand of the Year was an incredible moment for the entire team. It validated a major decision we made recently: to rebrand. Many people questioned why we’d change a name that already carried recognition, but Klay felt truer to who we are and what we love about working with clay. The award felt like a final feather in our hats, affirming that we made the right choice.
Launching our new factory, elevating what’s possible with clay, and receiving the recognition of Scape Brand of the Year all form part of a legacy we’re deeply proud of. But above all, it’s the collective effort, the commitment to the craft, the pride our team takes in their work that feels meaningful.
