At home with...Tina Tsang


Tina Tsang
Tina Tsang surreal designs makes tea-time flirty fun
© Tina Tsang

Fashion favourite Tina Tsang of Undergrowth has become the talk of the design world with her bestselling quirky and surreal tea cup range, Blaue Blume. She is now a member of our design boutique too. Check out her gorgeous teapot and cake stand (£128), available online through mydeco.

I live in Holborn which is... a no-man's land, especially on the weekend. Unlike Shoreditch or Notting Hill, it’s not too subject to the overbearing trend influence.

I enjoyed arguing with… tutors at Central Saint Martins and I liked the other students who were all very individual and had something to show and tell.

Central Saint Martins is… a creative world where many layers of different realities exist and there are not many boundaries.

To raise capital… I started a manufacturing agency helping fellow designers get products made in China and Romania.

During my childhood… I made clay dolls. When I was 13, I made a whole range for a three-page magazine spread in Singapore.

Tina Tsang cakestand
Tina Tsang's cake stand
© Tina Tsang

I like… my dessert stand most. It makes me very excited having the legs coming out of the cream, being an orgasmic explosion of fun. It's only available online through mydeco.

To be able to understand how to design for people… you need to be able to understand people from their inner core to create something that will stir within them.

The Blaue Blume range... has funny and witty subversive messages with a girly-naughtiness and nostalgia.

I wanted the range to… inspire people to feel more sexy, flirty and fun, as opposed to traditional tea parties where you had to mind your manners.

I admire… Hussein Chalayan and Kei Kagami. They always find a way to do something they love against all odds.

My most sentimental possession is... my 3D fabric sculpture based on a prehistoric fish.

My favorite piece of furniture is… a chair with very short legs that I bought for £5 at a car-boot sale. My best friend re-upholstered for me; it’s very comforting to sit so near to the floor.

The greatest thing in my life is... my wealth of ideas and the fact that my grandparents brought me up. It’s very different being brought up by old people, you suck up their wisdom and calmness more.

My turbulent childhood… taught me to fend for myself and cope with life and society at an early age.

I would love to own… a 100% self-made and designed home, and a big furry cat.

I didn't expect… my tea-cups to become iconic. I was surprised at the overwhelming response. I was designing the teacup out of pure fun and self-indulgence without worrying whether people would like it.

If my house was burning down, I would grab… my La Perla teddie and my Vivienne Westwood shoes.

Recently, I have made… some scorpion martini glasses.

I would really like… to write and illustrate books in my old age and squeeze out all my creativity before I pop off.

Tsang's surreal objects feature frequently in fashion magazines as the trendiest crockery on the market. Browse Tina Tsang's collection.

What is design boutique?

  • Send to a friend
  • Bookmark and Share
  • 2218 views
  • 5 comments

Have your say

3 votes
86% loved

Have your say

Patrick Mallaley

Posted | 6th June 2008

Love, love your work, to be able to let go and do your own thing, Amen, you rock.

Jennifer Vargas

Posted | 6th June 2008

I love the whole set,each piece speaks for itself,amazing it's a must have!!

AnnMarie

Posted | 24th June 2008

What I'd do to invite my gran around for tea and pop the tea set and cake stand on the table...She'd gasp in shock then we both squeel with laughter...Very special...

AnnMarie

Posted | 24th June 2008

What I'd do to invite my gran around for tea and pop the tea set and cake stand on the table...She'd gasp in shock then we both squeel with laughter...Very special...

rosie85

Posted | 19th January

love the idea of glamming up tea time!

1000 characters left

Tags that relate to this article

Help us improve: give feedback