Simply look at the cats and other motifs on Ketto’s dinnerware, clothing, jewellery, and other articles and you will understand the enthusiastic response Ketto has been eliciting with its originality, high quality, and amusement. Now how did it all start?
Once upon a time, eons ago (the late 90’s), far off in the distance (Montreal), or much further away, actually, in some distant galaxy (Julie’s imagination)… Huh, where was I? Oh yes! There once was Ketto.
A full decade has gone by! Oh yes, indeed! Ketto’s embryonic start dates from late 1998, when Julie St-Onge-Drouin was a graphic design and visual arts student and had a job at Céramique Café in Montreal. Her cute and funny characters painted on a variety of articles were selling like hot cakes. One day, one of Julie’s co-workers gave her an idea: “how about pushing this further,” meaning her ceramics and motifs.
And the whole thing took off, including production. Julie’s living room was converted into an artist’s studio. And this new and highly creative production line started pumping up a treasure trove of long-lasting dinnerware with its cool hand-painted characters.
Actually, you could say that Ketto’s TRUE story started with a cup. Or to be more precise, it started with a cup featuring a blue cat. Why, yes! That cup with the cat named Barjo, Ketto Design’s very first hit.
But that name, Ketto, where does it come from? Or you could ask: “What on earth is it?” Nothing weird. Ketto means “two” in Hungarian. It once was found while perusing a tourist guide. Does that surprise anyone?
Then success came at a slow but steady pace. In the exhibitions and public markets where Ketto’s products were offered, our first clients made it a reality: “That blue cat has a brilliant future.”
Ketto began to receive orders from stores and boutiques – our first distributors were C’est Si Bon and Farfelu. We were now playing in the big leagues. We exhibited at the Montreal Gift Show, creating opportunities and eliciting many orders. The logical next step was growth! Time to soar! The future looked friendly and we discovered many wonderful people. The Fonds d’Emprunt Économique et Communautaire (a community and business loan fund) and the Soutien au Travail Autonome (financial help for self-employed people) both gave Ketto a needed boost, and Ketto is grateful.
In 2000 Julie went back to Québec City, her hometown. This was when Catherine Fafard joined in. They both have been inseparable ever since, complementing each other perfectly. Julie is the chief designer, while Catherine has the vision and that magical touch for stimulating (or cooling off, sometimes) the flow of Julie’s creative juices. Together they become a powerhouse, a dynamic duo. Their inspiring collaboration is the heart and blood of Ketto. Also in 2000, Ketto Design became an official business.
For the next few years, the headquarters of “Kettoidal” Operations would take place in a shop on St. Vallier Street, directing manoeuvres in all directions. At Place Laurier, Ketto opened a stand for the holiday season (renewed every year) and also exhibited in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
Ketto blossomed in Québec City with many new budding projects. In early 2000’s, Ketto extended its production output from ceramic ware only to a whole new range of products, including greeting cards, ceramic jewellery, and silk-screened glass… for starters. Craving outside collaboration, Ketto helped launching a new product line of dinnerware in Portugal and created three pajama designs for Simons.
With each new creation, the need to find a place that would reflect Ketto’s new image increased. In 2002, Ketto opened its first boutique on St. Vallier Street, right next to its workshop. The store had a “kitchen” feel, the perfect atmosphere for displaying Ketto’s products. The space was first shared with Les Affreux, then with Sophiori, and represents the first step towards a “Ketto-only” store, which would come a few years later.
In 2008, it was time for the workshop to move, this time on Bagot Street, still in Lower town. This all-inspiring new location has the size of Ketto’s imagination. Now, more than ever, both workshop and boutique are Ketto’s epicentres.
And here we are. After so many contacts, friendships, collaborations and good feelings, we are only starting. Ketto’s heart keeps beating at the bold rhythm of its creative team.