Today we’d like to introduce you to Simon St. James LeComte.
Simon, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was always making something, even when I was young. It never really mattered what it was, I just had to be hands on. Over the years, my aesthetic matured into producing things that were more practical, due in large part to the people and lifestyle around me.
The combined influence from both of my parents has helped shape me and ultimately led me to my current creative path. My mother is a mid-century purveyor and owns Amsterdam Modern, where she imports mid-century modern furniture from Amsterdam. Being able to walk through the 10k sq. ft. warehouse and see these iconic pieces of design in person has been a massive source of inspiration for me. What I love most about this era of design is that it exemplifies simplicity and function, and those are two attributes that I try to stick by in my designs.
My father, who is actually from Amsterdam, is a Classic Car collector. He specializes in European pre-70’s classics, and because of him I’ve been able to acquire a small collection of cars and vintage motorcycles for myself. I grew up in a mid-century house designed by Edward Fickett, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s protégées. Needless to say, I was raised in this unique era of mid-century and European style that greatly contributed to my personal aesthetic as a designer as well as led me to a point where I feel very confident in what I do, especially at a still relatively young age.
I now own and operate have two design entities. The first is under my own name, Simon St. James Studio, where I primarily focus on custom lighting design for bars/restaurants, hospitality, as well as private clientele. I’ve been fortunate to have worked on projects such and Café Birdie, Oriel Chinatown, Firehouse Hotel Arts District, SOHO House, and Hoxton LA to name a few. The other design entity is NewMade LA, which specializes in home goods such as planters, lighting, furniture, and other home accessories. I believe that mid-century design should be affordable and accessible to everyone. NewMade LA was my attempt to provide great design at an affordable price. Vintage inspired. Made in Los Angeles.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing is ever as smooth or as easy as we would like, and starting a business is no different. It will always have its twist and turns. The lessons that I’ve been able to teach myself along the way are ones that I would’ve only learned through experiencing them first hand. The business mindset that I have now compared to a year ago is like night and day, and I’m still learning.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with NewMade LA – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
NewMade LA is a product line that specializes in home goods and accessories. Over the last several years the market for mid-century goods has grown exponentially, driving prices to levels far beyond the reach of most. NewMade LA was our answer to this need and want for home goods that were not only aesthetically pleasing but were also functional and available at affordable prices.
Our most popular category of product would probably be our planter series. The wall and hanging planters are designed in geometric shapes with classic Mondrian style colors that allow for every person to have their own unique choice of style and color to display their little green friends. Some of our other popular products include our Toilet Paper Holders made out of formed sheet metal, our Geometric Wire Formed Hooks, and the Folding Birch Stool to name a few.
I think our ability to capture the ideals of simplicity and function have allowed us to be recognized within the design community. Our clientele base has also been a huge support system for us. We started small and our goals of simple design and community involvement have allowed us to grow. We manufacture everything in LA to ensure that we have a firm grasp of the quality of our product and to ensure that we’re also aiding to the workforce in this city. We always try to team up/collab with likeminded brands and people to ensure that we stay true to our ideals as well as support other creatives within the community.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Los Angeles has been such a great influence not only for design but also for lifestyle. California in itself has such a timeless vibe and sticks to its roots of style and a laid back mentality. Over the years, LA has become a leading city within the design, fashion, and artistic communities. It’s great to see how they all influence each other and how creatives are able to collaborate across such unique forms of art.
Pricing:
- Most NMLA products are under $50
Contact Info:
- Address: NewMade LA
134 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026 - Website: newmadela.com
- Phone: 2132217380
- Email: info@newmadela.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newmadela/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newmadela/
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