Ceramic artist Tamara Solem Al-Issa approaches her work with a deep sensitivity to material and form. Based in Toronto, she creates hand-built pieces that explore memory, tradition, and the emotional weight objects can carry.
In her studio, days are shaped by movement and instinct, shifting between moments of focus and experimentation. It is a practice that values both intention and ease. That balance is what drew us to Tamara for The Art of Ease. Her work reflects a shared belief that thoughtful design, whether in ceramics or what we wear, can support how we move through our days.
The Poppy Barley caught up with Tamara to talk about craft, movement, and how ease shapes her daily practice.
A Conversation on Comfort and Craft
Walk us through your typical day in your studio. How does what you wear support your day?
Most of my days are spent alone in the studio moving between different rhythms of work. It’s physical and a little chaotic, so what I wear has to move with me. I usually reach for things that feel effortless but still make me feel good in my skin.
Your work is rooted in material and texture. How do the materials you surround yourself with, including what you wear, influence your mindset?
I’m naturally a very tactile person so I’m very sensitive to material, whether it’s clay or what I’m wearing. Clothing is similar for me. Natural materials that let me break them in properly. Things that feel comfortable yet durable tend to put me in a more intuitive mindset, which is usually where my best work happens.
Craft and intention are central to both your ceramics and our approach to footwear design. Where do you see the strongest connection between the two?
Both start with the human body in mind. Ceramics and footwear might seem very different, but they’re both about form, structure, and how something feels in use.
I think the strongest connection is that attention to detail. The idea that something can be beautiful, but it also has to function well and feel good in everyday life.
The Art of Comfort is about ease that enables you to express yourself. How does comfort give you the freedom to explore and experiment in your practice?
When you’re comfortable, you stop perceiving yourself so much. That’s when you can focus entirely on the work. In the studio I’m constantly moving, bending, lifting, experimenting. Comfort gives me the freedom to stay present and follow ideas without interruption.
What is your favourite EverEase™ style, and what drew you to it?
I like pieces that feel simple but thoughtful, where the design is quiet but the craftsmanship is really there.
The Marché Flat have that balance. When I first wore them, I was shocked because they felt like I was wearing an extension of my socks! I almost forgot they were on. They feel effortless, but you can tell a lot of care went into how they’re made and how they move with the body. Something that I can wear all day that won’t fatigue me by noon. That’s something I’m always drawn to.
Art in Motion. Comfort in Design. Designed for How Life Moves.
Tamara’s design ethos and craft remind us that when you are fully present and comfortable in your surroundings, you have space to experiment and create with intention.
As a women-owned Canadian brand, we care deeply about how thoughtful design supports everyday movement, creating comfortable footwear for individuals that fits their real life.
The Art of Ease was born out of that same idea. It’s rooted in feeling grounded in what you wear so you can focus on what matters, whether in the studio or in the flow of your everyday, from workday to weekend.
Explore our Art of Ease collaboration with Tamara Solem Al-Issa and see how the philosophy comes to life.
