Naked and Odd pottery aims to spread body positivity in every cup
While boob mugs and penis cups are all the rage in Europe and America, an off-beat Hamilton potter has found Kiwi tastes are a little more conservative.
Sya Buendia’s New Zealand-made risque-mugs just don’t sell well here.
What started off as art therapy for Buendia, who was fighting depression and suicidal thoughts during 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, has moulded into a humming little side-hustle.
The potter has sold over 100 mugs in about two years, but most customers are in the US and Europe.
Only about 15 mugs were sold locally. Why? Buendia thinks they’re too realistic.
Perhaps that realism is linked to how her enterprise came about. She decided her niche would be highlighting body positivity to overcome her own insecurities.
“I have always been insecure with my body, got bullied a lot,” she said in an interview.
“So I decided to put boobs and penises on mugs, to open up a conversation on the human body.”
Philippines born and raised Buendia moved to New Zealand in 2019 and said Covid-19 isolation amplified her insecurities and depression. Pottery was a way out.
At first she made a mug for herself, but kept going. Soon she was wondering what to do with a box full of boob mugs.
As an experiment, Buendia listed one on Etsy, a website selling handmade and vintage items. It sold the next day.
With every mug - selling for $40 a pop - she sent a handwritten thank you note.
“When more people started buying it, I realised that while it is an art therapy for me, it was also a therapy for the buyers.
“And there is so much diversity with what I can do and that excites me.
“I see people with burn marks, vitiligo, stretch marks, and all bodies are different, that gives me inspiration and motivation to keep going.”
Buendia also customised mugs on request.
“I get customers wanting mugs to gift someone who had a C-section or fighting breast cancer.”
To promote her body positivity mission, Buendia approached about 15 retailers to sell her mugs in store.
While most declined, saying “it’s too realistic”, others did not reply.
And whenever she tried doing a sponsored post on social media, it was always denied.
Buendia said while she’d seen many artists turn their art into full-time job and that would be ideal for her, that was not a sustainable reality for her.
“I still need a full time job in order to support myself.”
The 27-year-old potter said she wanted her products to be different and “true compared to cutesy ones”.
“I feel Millennial, Gen Z and following generations are more open. The reality is not always pretty or cute.
“Even today, commercials use blue liquid to show period blood.”
In addition to boobs and penis mugs, Buendia also made ring holder and shot glasses with the same theme.