about kaia

KAIA means both light and shade. We love to unite opposites. 

In collaboration with European designers, artists from family-run craft businesses and our individual team, which is spread all over europe, we create unique lighting objects of the highest design and quality – a European creative fusion.

OUR VALUES

what we believe in...


KAIA combines the application of art, construction technique and craftsmanship with the vision to explore things to their very essence. Our objects speak their own language: Functional beauty, simplicity, timelessness, purity, elegance often wrought in geometric perfection. All our products are skillfully handcrafted by artisans of a traditional and family-owned Workshop in Germany.  We work closely with our suppliers utilising our different skillsets to explore the widest possible range of materials, always with the aim of pushing the boundaries of conventional craftsmanship and design. We concentrate on every little detail to ensure that our unique and elegant products are of highest quality. All components, being glass, marble or metal go through a thorough quality control process before being assembled and wired in our Workshop near Munich.

DESIGN


Lights aren’t simply functional – they’re a chance to make a statement. An exquisite pendant or hand-crafted wall light can elevate your interior and become a talking point of its own.

D E S I G N


Timelessness is integral to each of Kaia’s lighting objects. The focus is firmly on the quality of the hand-crafted materials we use and our artisans’ technical expertise in manipulating them to create something classic

CRAFTSMANSHIP


We concentrate on every little detail to ensure that our unique and elegant products are of highest quality. All components go through a thorough quality control process before being assembled and wired in our Workshop near Munich.

C R A F T S M A N S H I P


We like to think of Kaia lighting products as the antithesis to mass production. To make this happen, we hand-pick artisans and suppliers from across Europe whose ethos matches our own.

CRAFTSMANSHIP


At Kaia, we have spent years forging relationships with small, family-run businesses who take a low or zero-waste approach to their manufacturing processes.

SUSTAINABILITY


To us, sustainability is about natural and reusable materials, made-to-order products and techniques that champion artisanal tradition.

SUSTAINABILITY


Sustainability means a circular economy in design: choosing products with a continuous life cycle which don’t contribute to landfill or products that can be repaired by the supplier they were bought from.

S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y


By finding out the sustainable values of the suppliers they work with, designers can ensure the materials and products they use are responsibly sourced.

OUR TEAM

KAIA’s small but multinational team of talented and passionate individuals who work together across Europe.
Since 2013, KAIA has been headquartered in London. Initially, the Workshop was situated in Austria, Judenau, and in 2021, it relocated to Germany, Munich, where both the Office and Atelier are now located.

Manuela Szewald

CREATIVE & MANAGING DIRECTOR

“Being passionate about art, beautiful objects and architecture is something I have always been. I love working with innovative and skilled individuals and create something appealing and elegant, which is new in its shape or material composition.

At University I studied law and worked in a law firm in Munich, later as a tax lawyer in a financial institution in Frankfurt and London. In 2010, whilst refurbishing my family’s holiday home, a hamlet of 300 years old farmhouses, I rediscovered my love and profound passion for interior and beautiful design and the preserving of traditional craftsmanship. I realised the path I had successfully taken for work was not fulfilling for me and I felt empty doing it. Consequently, in December 2013 I joined and introduced myself to the inspiring design world of Kaia, opening a refreshing and new perspective in my life.

In summer 2016, I parted from 13 years of London city life and moved with my family to the Bavarian countryside. Living with nature and our beloved animals made me realise the importance of harmony and finding a balance between nature, life and myself. I strongly believe in sustainability, the preserving of tradition and contributing in little changes to make an impact for the environment and for future generations in both my private and business life.”


OUR COLLABORATIONS

We love collaborating with European artists, designers and brands who share our passion. Together we master the challenges of creating special editions as well as our collection line objects.