6 THINGS WITH ALAINA THAI

6 Things with Alaina Thai Founder of Little Match Studio

Based in Los Angeles, Alaina Thai is the founder of Little Match Studio, a ceramics brand that shares her love of the matcha process - from the ritual down to the finely ground tea leaves. Alaina is an AAPI creative and we connected over our obsession of tea and she recently launched her own brand of matcha made in Japan alongside her intricately designed line of ceramics. Alaina's designs are characterized by their simplicity and modern inspiration, emphasizing practicality and functionality. We've been eyeing her work and we're honored to announce that we'll be carrying a selection of Little Match Studio's pieces in an exclusive color "rice"  that will be available on our platform on 3/30. 

1. What started it all for you?

Originally, I started my career in fashion. I graduated from FIDM, and began interning and working as a designer for a little over 8 years. I loved it all. When the pandemic happened, my shift of perception around my life and life, in general, made me question my existence and I began questioning what my purpose was, turning my world upside down. I began realizing that this stress was affecting my personal mental well-being and my physical body. I didn’t want to admit it but I was so burnt out in a fast-paced work environment that demanded so much of me. I think things took a dark turn for some reason and I was realizing death was inevitable, unreversible and life was too damn short, given the world’s situation, things just got really real and heavy. Towards the end of my past job, I began wearing too many hats, and it was not revolved around fashion anymore. I realized that as much as I loved working in fashion, I needed to jump ship and figure things out on my own for a while. This was the hard part, either letting people down or letting myself down.

I knew I always wanted to be my own boss one day, and youth was escaping me, I took a big chance and went for what I believed in myself. I was already dabbling in the world of ceramics and went deeper into finding my own voice in this new community. I wanted to pave my way and stand out somehow adding my own personality and pairing it with my obsession with matcha. Since quitting my full-time job in early 2022, it has been a little over a full year now building Little Match Studio into a small ceramic business I have always dreamt of. I was able to give myself some grace and do some inner healing while working on art that mattered to me, and I finally started feeling like myself again. So here I am today and I am so grateful for being able to have such a wide spread of other ceramic and matcha-enthused followers and returning customers who have been watching me grow since day one.

2. What drives your creative spark?

My creative spark is driven by my personal drive of I will make it and my love and obsession for matcha. I love matcha. The taste, the color, the process of preparing matcha, the health benefits, the Japanese culture, and more. I think connecting with others who also love matcha and my art motivates me even more. Overall, I consider myself to be easily self-driven as well. I’m always thinking about the next project and being able to experiment and or fully immerse myself into my own little small business fun world.

3. Most treasured home decor item?

I don’t have a particular item I’m attached to, but I maybe would possibly say my plants. I’ve had some plants for a while now and before, I thought I had a cursed black thumb because even though some plants were considered easy to take care of, I’d still end up killing them. After many years of trial and error, now, I have some plants that are alive and thriving! It really did take a couple of years to finally understand them a little bit more so I really treasure my plant babies for not giving up on me too.

4. What’s the best advice you've ever received?

Honestly, there has been many great pieces of advice that were given to me and or came to me over a period of time. Here are a few that made a prominent impact in my life that I’d love to share in hopes it can help someone too. Something along the lines of, it is your life and you can change its course however and whenever you want, you don't have to be stuck. Another one that hit home was, you either disappoint other people or you disappoint yourself. That was one thing I didn’t want to do and regret not chasing my own dreams for the future me, I never want to grow older and think, I wish I did that but now it is too late.

5. It's 5 o'clock at home. What would you be pouring?

I’m making myself a hot Hojicha latte and or chamomile tea to get cozy for the night.

6. What are your favorite 6 accounts that you follow for inspiration?

@floriangadsby
@enyleeparker
@ssense
@objectidentity
@archdigest
@claudehome

"I was able to give myself some grace and do some inner healing while working on art that mattered to me, and I finally started feeling like myself again. So here I am today and I am so grateful for being able to have such a wide spread of other ceramic and matcha-enthused followers and returning customers who have been watching me grow since day one." -Alaina Thai

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACKY CHAN + ALAINA THAI