Clay and Sway by Duali Kapu Inu by Duali Studio

Clay and Sway by Duali Kapu Inu by Duali Studio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Taputapu Tunu, Rīhi, Inu me te Kuku Competition Category.

ParahiTaputapu Kīhini· 2026

Clay and Sway by Duali Kapu Inu

by Duali Studio

Client: Duali Studio

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Taputapu Kīhini Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Clay and Sway by Duali Kapu Inu

Ko te whakaaro a Duali ki te kapu Clay and Sway he waihanga i tētahi kōrero i waenganui i ngā huānga rerekē e rua engari e noho tahi ana, arā ko te pūmau mātao, mārō o te porowhita (uku) me te nekehanga ngāwari, hihiko o ngā tākawe (piu). Ko te wero he hoahoa i tētahi taonga kāore e noho noa iho ana ki runga tēpu engari ka noho ora ki runga. He tūhuratanga mō te āhua o te whakakīnga i tētahi taonga tū kore ki te wairua ora. Nā te tauira waituhi i tuwhanawhanahia ā-ringa ki runga i te kapu, kāore e rite ana ngā kapu e rua. Kātahi ka herea ā-ringa ngā tākawe ki roto i ngā kōwhao i whakawhaiti, hei whakaū i te hononga mā me te pono i waenganui i ngā rauemi e rua.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Clay and Sway by Duali Kapu Inu te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Clay and Sway by Duali Kapu Inu he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Clay and Sway by Duali Kapu Inu i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Clay and Sway mug is a minimalist porcelain canvas, made dramatic with spontaneous, hand splattered ink pattern which ensures no two mugs are ever identical. The half-moon handle has textile tassels which are not merely glued on. The tassels are meticulously threaded and hand-tied into the precision-drilled apertures which are integrated directly into the handle during its formation. This is a first-of-its kind mug which fuses porcelain and textile into a functional coffee mug.
Dimensions & Packaging: The product dimensions with the handle are 292mm x 76mm x 89mm. We used 3D modelling software for prototyping of handle ergonomics and traditional clay modelling to understand weight and balance. The handle’s specific curvature and the tassel’s weight were meticulously calculated and prototyped using 3D modelling to ensure the perfect balance, preventing any tipping or strain on the wrist. Each tassel is hand-tied and cut to precision to maintain the length with the mug body.
Tags: clay and sway, coffeemugcouture, mug with charms, tassels mug, coffee mug with charms
Production Technology: Our product is entirely handmade from fine porcelain. Each mug is individually hand splattered with glaze which ensures no two mugs are ever identical. Each mug body is individually slip-cast, followed by the manual attachment of its handle. We then drill the handle's apertures before the piece undergoes a patient, multi-day air-drying process. The final assembly is an entirely manual stage: skilled artisans, who specialise in intricate thread work, personally tie every tassel to the cured porcelain, ensuring each mug meets our standards of craftsmanship.
Design Challenge: Finding the right textile for the mug that is so functional in use was one of the hardest challenge. Our objective was to identify a material with three key performance attributes - exceptional colorfastness, rapid drying capabilities, and shape retention. After subjecting a wide range of textiles to rigorous and repeated wash cycles, we successfully finalized a specialized thread that meets these demanding criteria, ensuring both the beauty and longevity of the final product.
Research: Our research objective was to understand technical feasibility, see the market uniqueness, check durability and to understand the user experience. Over eight months, we subjected over 20 different types of textile threads to a series of aging tests. The primary test involved repeated washing cycles in a standard washing machine for the colour bleed, shape deformation and drying time. We used 3D modelling software for rapid prototyping of handle ergonomics to understand weight and balance. The handle’s specific curvature and the tassel’s weight were meticulously calculated and prototyped using 3D modelling to ensure the perfect balance, preventing any tipping or strain on the wrist. We then conducted sessions with a curated group of 20 participants, comprising design professionals, home decor enthusiasts, and daily coffee drinkers.
Inspiration: Why must our most-used daily objects be purely utilitarian? Why can’t they possess the sensory richness, the engagement and personality we expect from couture fashion? We envisioned an object that would not just sit on a table, but live on it. The concept was to create a dialogue between two opposing elements, the cool and rigid permanence of porcelain(clay) and the soft, dynamic movement of textiles(sway). An exploration of how a static object can be imbued with a sense of life.
Project Duration: The ideation of the mug started in July 2024 and the mug was launched in June 2025. The entire mug is handmade in our Duali Studio in India and the textile artisans who specialise in thread work have finished the tassel work in their workshop. Our production is a multi-stage process where semi-finished porcelain bodies are transported to be paired with tassels. They are then packaged back in the studio and are ready for dispatch.
Operation Flow: The function of a mug is to hold a beverage. We transformed its true function from a mundane moment to a sensory experience. The entirely non-adhesive method of attaching the tassels ensures a clean, secure and honest connection between the two materials - porcelain and textile.
Patents: This design has an Indian Registration. Indian Registration number is 463008-001.
Team Members: Nishi Patel
Devika Mistry
Preeti Nag
Image Credits: All the images, videos and the sound belongs to our in-house Duali Studio team.