Zazu Faure / Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
Zazu Faure
I am a maker of one of a kind stuffed animals from repurposed materials.
I've been crafting animals since 2007, first just for friends and family. It's now an addiction. I strive to use all the little scraps I hoard away and just what's on hand. I strip down my plush designs to their essential forms-employing a limited amount of moves to render each animal's essential characteristics.
I often catch a glimpse of a face in the folds of fabric and then the rest follows. I am attracted to simple sculptural forms and clean lines, but I enjoy the oddities too. Inspiration comes from all around -nature, architecture, fashion design, fine art and an occasional misshapen vegetable.
Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?
My parents named me Zazu--I didn't need to embelish. They did it for me at birth.
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
With my background in architecture, I am naturally drawn to the structural form of each creature. I would call my style "primitive structural minimalism".
What makes your business unique to the industry?
I make one of a kind pieces. Colorways may overlap but each creation is unique. I strive to make use of all of my raw materials--often making smaller and smaller animals so nothing goes to waste.
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
Keeping up with the demand for more of the same item, I still make pieces when the materials speak to me. Sometimes my shop is full of hippos but it can also be exclusively escargot. I try to keep it as varied as possible.
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
I have loved the one on one aspect of the live show like Jackalope. Putting an animal in the hand of the recipient is so gratifying. Now, I spend more time photographing and writing about each piece. I love hearing now how the creatures have impacted their new homes but nothing will compare to the live show where I interact with the collector directly.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
Watching each creature emerge. They often surprise me as "happy accidents."
What is your *must do* local activity?
The local weekly Farmer's Markets--I frequent 3 in my Northeast LA locatation: La Canada, Montrose and Pasadena. All have great vendors. I buy most of our family's produce and protein from sustainable local sources. The quality is superb. The economic impact on local (So. California) community is so important.
Where to find Zazu Faure / Los Angeles
Website: www.zazufaurelosangeles.com