Tongue-in-cheek

Gift shop Loco Lama is a candy store for grownup girls. Chic, colorful and surprising. From fine necklaces to ceramic stools or a one-meter giraffe. You can taste the love of art and their creators.

The concept is based on the personal taste and humor of owner Lotte de Vries. “Art and design touch me. In my childhood I played a museum. I made exhibitions in my room. I like it when art shocks people a bit. Or if it contains silly humor. I also want that ‘out of the box feeling’ in my store.” Lotte once started with a stall at the antique market. “We sold bad jewelry.” After the market stall episodes, popup stores were created with products from small artists and designers. Loco Lama has a permanent location since two years. In addition to major Dutch brands such as Pol’s Potten, there is still room for young creatives. Such as Jasmin Djerzic. Lotte: “He makes products tongue-in-cheek. Such as My Hero: a vase that is about to fall but is stopped by a hero. In the beginning Jasmin came to my pop-up store with a pram full of ceramics. His business is now doing very well. Great to see how suppliers grow with you. I would like to be a stepping stone for them.” The store now stocks jewelery from Delfts Liselot and graphic prints from French Toast Studio, run by design duo Nienke Mulder and Amanda Swart. Loco Lama is still growing and expanding. Meanwhile they’ve set-up their own design studio. This ‘home & gifts’ brand conquers Europe slowly.