OMET Spotlights Mexican Tradition and Contemporary Design

Hand-carved wooden stools by Juan José Nemer and Mauricio Álvarez. Photo by Andayvé

By

June 20, 2023

OMET, a new marketplace for collectable Mexican and Latin American design, is introducing the world to the region’s diverse culture with their bespoke lifestyle collection that celebrates Mexican heritage.

Award winning Mexican architect Lorena Vierya, known for her residential interior design work, is the founder and creative director of OMET. She brought together eleven celebrated designers, including sculptor Pedro Reyes, designer Héctor Esrawe, and industrial designer Raúl de la Cerda, to launch the inaugural thirty piece collection. Everything OMET offers is entirely designed in Mexico with the help of local artisans.

Lorena Vieyra sits with a chair and rocking chair by Veronica González. Modular side table by Raúl de la Cerda. Photo by Andayvé

“There is pride in Mexican culture and global audiences are increasingly interested in our art, food, and especially design,” Lorena said. “We have a lot to express through our heritage and culture, which is very emotional. As such, the pieces we design are unique, not only in terms of quality, but also because of their timelessness and soul. I see OMET as the umbrella that can showcase all this talent.”

Mexico has an extremely rich craft culture that includes its famed black clay Oaxacan pottery, hammered copper cazos, handwoven serapes, blown glassware with colorful pebble confetti accents, and intricate Mazahua embroidery. The designers have taken these traditional artforms and used them as the basis for their elevated lifestyle collection that offers chaise lounges, coffee tables, candlesticks, and more.

Pedro’s “Metatl Chair,” for instance, is a contemporary showpiece imbued with historical significance. Its form directly references the metate, a tool used to process grain and seeds that become tortillas. Its swooping volcanic stone body follows the arc of a grinding stone, its oblong headrest a pestle that defies gravity. The sturdy tripod base replicates geometry commonly found in pre-Columbian architecture.

OMET is also debuting Lorena’s first forays into furniture design. She presents “Luna,” a chaise lounge that delicately balances its cushioning between two stone supports. The lounge is available in either volcanic stone or travertine, materials strongly linked to Aztec and Mayan artifacts. Carved from hand, they demonstrate the persistence of Mexican tradition passed on through generations, from ancient civilization to modern living.

Soon OMET will open a showroom in Austin, TX where people can study the one-of-a-kind products up close and savor the craftsmanship. Because everything is made by hand all products will vary, which makes it more exciting to study the wood grains and fused glass details in each piece.

Ceramicist stoneware vases by Lili Cortina. Photo by Andayvé

 

omet.co

A magazine cover