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Trend alert! If there’s one thing we love at ClassBento, it’s discovering the latest craft crazes – and then bringing them straight to you! From the hottest textile classes (remember when tufting burst onto the scene?) to the freshest foodie workshops, we love nothing more than being a one-stop-shop to quench your creative thirst! Now we’re back again with the latest trend that’s sweeping social media - hug pottery!
What is hug pottery?
Hugged pottery is pretty much exactly how it sounds – two (or more!) people seat themselves around a large vase or pot and then embrace, so the clay moulds to the contours of their bodies. Then their creation is glazed and fired, and they’re left with a beautiful work of art and a stack of heart-warming memories.
This relatively new take on ceramics has already taken TikTok by storm, with videos of people pulling loved ones close across the clay popping up every day – even Kendall Jenner and Kylie Kardashian have been spotted getting involved! We think this is one trend to watch – and you heard it here first!
We’ve all been obsessed with pottery classes for ages; from delicately handbuilding mugs and mastering the art of wheel throwing, to learning how to celebrate the perfectly imperfect with a little Kintsugi, the craft world has been rolling up its sleeves and getting those hands dirty for years. But you’re definitely going to k-nead (sorry!) to check out this new take on playing with clay – so grab your loved ones and prepare to have a wheel-y (sorry again!) good time at a pottery hugging workshop!
How is hug pottery made?
Usually, the ceramics teacher leading the workshop includes a pre-made pot or vase for you to hug – they have to be pretty big (usually between 25 and 40cm), so it makes sense to have a pottery pro whipping one up in advance.
Then you and your favourite person will sit either side of the vase and hug it out, leaving your unique imprints on the clay. Your teacher will glaze your creation in colours of your choice and fire it for you to pick up at a later date – it’s that easy! Fancy a group hug? Classes can be customised for up to four or five people – and if you’ve got a furry friend you’d like to include, you can even bring them along!
We asked some of the ClassBento Team who they’d love to hug a pot with, and here’s what they had to say…
Phoebe Griffiths, Creative Content Lead
I’d do the experience with my amazing cat, Stella – she’s a new addition to my household, so it would be nice to commemorate it. Also she makes the most perfect paw prints and she's so fluffy, so she gives the best hugs!
Victoria Haynes, Senior Content Writer
I’d take my two children; they’re 12 and 15 years old, so it’s the perfect moment to capture before they slip over into adulthood. Sob!
Paula Leone Doherty, Business Development Manager
I’d choose Buddy from Elf – I just know it would be amazing! Then a snowball fight… and another hug!
Robbie Troth, Business Development Manager
Benny the orangutan from Orangutan Jungle School because he's so cute and chubby; they always put him on a diet and he hates it. Let him live!
Are there any benefits of hug ceramics?
Plenty! Clay making is already known to be super beneficial for the body and mind – and pottery hugging is no different! Here’s our top three reasons why we think you should embrace this new craft trend:
- It’s completely unique! Nobody else will ever have a vase like yours, because it’s moulded to your body (and your hug-ees!) – imagine owning a creation so bespoke that can never be replicated!
- It’s the perfect bonding experience. Not only do you get to spend quality time getting creative with your favourite person, you’ll also take away a beautiful lifelong memento of your day together.
- You’ll own gorgeous pottery to brighten your space. Your ceramics teacher will glaze your vase in a colour of your choice before firing it, so you can create something that fits in perfectly with your home. Alternatively, it would make a super unique gift!
Where can I try pottery hugging?
Right here at ClassBento! We’ve got two hug pottery workshops in London that will let you play with clay in the capital, so whether you’re into ticking off the hottest craft trends or you want to make memories with that special someone – you’ve come to the right place.
Blanc Ceramic are hosting a hug pottery experience in North West London, where you can bring your Mum, your mates or your date and personalise your own piece of pottery to perfection. Ceramicist teacher Raymond told us:
Hug pottery really caught my attention because of its unique focus on form and emotion. I came across it while exploring different styles of ceramics that not only look beautiful but also evoke a sense of warmth and connection. What makes hug pottery special, in my view, is the way the design invites people to interact with the piece – it’s like giving or receiving a hug through the curves of the pottery. That tangible connection makes it stand out from other ceramic styles.
I decided to include a hug pottery workshop in our class listings to give people the opportunity to experience creating something with a deeper emotional resonance, while also learning valuable hand-building techniques. It’s been a great way to introduce both beginners and more experienced potters to a fresh and expressive approach to ceramics.
Claystation London have got all your ceramic needs covered, with a hug vase experience and throwing class in Hackney. Not only will you get to take part in the pottery hugging activity, you’ll also get a wheel throwing lesson – two experiences in one! Pottery teacher Francesco told us:
I've been living in London for the last 15 years and last year my mum Gioia moved over from Italy; she’s been working in ceramics for the last 30 years in Florence so we decided to open a studio in London. She's an absolutely fantastic teacher and a brilliant ceramist; she’s the old-school kind of potter, the one that throws 100 mugs in a day, which I really like!
We came across the hug vase online a while back and didn’t think much about it until last year, when we had a daughter called Rita. One day Gioia asked the three of us to join her at her studio to make something special; on arrival, she had this very large vase all ready and I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical about the process! We got stuck in anyway and had great fun, but the best part was afterwards when the vase had been fired and the imprint felt like a time capsule – it felt like a sensorial picture, and I feel quite sentimental about it now! We thought other people would enjoy the same experience, and so the hug pottery class was born!
So, if you’re ready to get hands-on with the latest craft craze, why not give hug pottery a go? It’s a fun and meaningful way to connect with the people (or pets!) you love while creating a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art. With expert guidance from talented local ceramicists, you’ll be in safe hands every step of the way, whether you’re a pottery pro or a total beginner. Plus, you’ll walk away with a beautiful keepsake that will serve as a lasting reminder of your special experience. So, gather your friends, family, or someone special, and head to one of ClassBento’s hug pottery workshops – it’s a memory in the making!
