1. How do you incorporate sustainability into your materials and production process?
At Taku+Taku, sustainability isn’t just part of our process—it’s the foundation of everything we create. If our art is about celebrating nature, our materials and methods must honor it as well.
Our luxury products—from fine bone china and bedding to wallpaper, décor, and textiles—are crafted with an unwavering commitment to responsible sourcing and ecological integrity. We work with world-renowned artisans in regions with centuries-old traditions, such as Staffordshire for fine bone china and the Baltics for linen. These are not just masters of their craft; they are also deeply committed to ecological and ethical production practices, ensuring that luxury and sustainability are seamlessly intertwined.
For our original nature prints, our fish are all sustainably caught, often by the very fishermen who bring them to us to print. The catch then becomes a meal, as we use non-toxic, often food-based inks to create our prints. When printing tree rings, we source wood from fallen trees or work with landscapers who need to remove a single tree—giving it a new life through art. Many other elements, such as feathers, shells, and leaves, are found on walks, chosen for their natural beauty.
We also print on handmade Japanese paper and organic fabrics, keeping our materials as simple and natural as possible. The complexity comes from the skill of printing itself—a process we have spent years refining to capture nature’s essence, honor the subject, and leave only a positive impact.
To us, sustainability goes beyond materials. It’s also about durability and timelessness—creating products that are built to last and never go out of style. That’s true sustainability: making things that stand the test of time.
2. What role does nature-inspired design play in enhancing guest experiences?
Guests increasingly seek spaces that feel grounded in nature—not artificial, but rich in organic textures, patterns, and stories. Our work offers that by preserving real imprints of fish, flora, and forests, capturing the fleeting beauty of the natural world in a form that elevates luxury interiors.
At Taku+Taku, we bring this philosophy to life by using the ocean and plant life as our muse. Our designs don’t just depict nature; they preserve its essence—whether through fine bone china adorned with delicate fish prints, linen bedding featuring the textures of tree rings, or wallpaper featuring a cherry blossom branch swaying in the wind.
In luxury hospitality, every design element shapes the guest experience. Nature-inspired interiors create serenity, authenticity, and a strong sense of place—all essential for a memorable stay.
And when guests discover that these aren’t just artistic interpretations but actual prints taken directly from nature, the reaction is always the same: “Wow.”
3. What are Taku+Taku’s long-term goals in promoting nature-inspired luxury design?
Our goal is simple: to bring your brand to life—not just ours. This approach resonates with established businesses, as we offer flexibility in both design and collaboration, making our work accessible to a broad range of clients.
Unlike brands that simply present a finished product and say, “Here, take it or leave it,” we listen. We understand your brand, your aesthetic, and your space, then find ways to enhance it through nature prints and patterns.
While we are developing signature pieces, we see them as a gateway—an introduction to our work that encourages clients to explore more bespoke, immersive designs. For these signature pieces we are launching a Kickstarter campaign this Spring. To us, Kickstarter is not so much about funding, but about only manufacturing the products people already want. It uses the sustainability idea of print on demand, but with the highest quality and durability of product, – more than digital printed items can offer.
So look out for those new products which will be available in hospitality bundles especially aimed at the boutique hotel or independant restaurant market.
We are also expanding our collaborations with eco-conscious hospitality brands, allowing us to customize products beyond décor—creating functional, beautiful, and sustainable guest experiences. For example, we have worked with manufacturers to produce paper clothes hangers printed with our nature-inspired designs, offering an unexpected, delightful touch in luxury settings.
We welcome partnerships with like-minded manufacturers who want to elevate their products with our original nature prints. When we share values, we create outstanding, sustainable luxury together.
4. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in creating high-end, sustainable décor, and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges we face is perception. Words like “luxury,” “bespoke,” and “art” often make people assume our work is complex and costly—when in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Luxury isn’t about price—it’s about thoughtfulness.
Bespoke doesn’t mean complicated—it means tailored.
We can work with hospitality businesses of all sizes—from boutique guesthouses to global resort chains. Our flexible approach ensures that any business looking to bring authentic nature indoors can do so in a way that suits their budget, vision, and brand identity.
Another challenge is educating buyers on the value of artisanal, sustainable luxury. Many assume that eco-friendly design means minimalism or compromise. We prove that sustainability can be bold, indulgent, and exquisitely crafted—without harming the planet.
As a unique business, we’ve also faced the challenge of explaining what we do—what exactly are prints from nature, and how can they be used in interior design? To address this, we’ve created films showcasing our process, have been featured on network TV, and are developing case studies that bring our vision to life.
And one of the most unexpected challenges? Nature itself.
Some elements are seasonal or geographically limited—for example, sakura (cherry blossoms) bloom for only a few days each year, and certain fish species are available only in specific regions. But with studios in Northern Europe and the U.S., we’ve have a wide geographical area to expand our sourcing options.
Whenever we find something extraordinary in nature, we print it in multiple ways, colors, and formats, ensuring that if a client falls in love with a particular species or pattern, we don’t have to wait six months for its return.
We sometimes need to remind potential clients, “If we can source it, ethically, legally and sustainably, we can print it.” They often forget that! But we love a nature challenge and have always found ways to create something that clients love.
