5 Gift Picks From Camila Navas’ Holiday Shopping Cart
Get your weekly dose of holiday shopping inspo and see what Design Milk’s favorite creatives and designers will be giving as gifts this holiday season by peeking inside their shopping carts! This week we caught up with Camila Navas – founder, artist, and designer behind nlumec.
Camila Navas is an artist, designer, and founder of nlumec – the company behind sculptural, modern candles that only get more beautiful as they burn. Navas, a San-Francisco native, grew up frequenting art museums at home and abroad. After relocating to Los Angeles for college and studying film, production, and museum curation, she followed her quickly growing love for the art and design world by transferring to New York City to complete her degree. “I was really drawn to the gallery lifestyle,” says Navas. In fact, Camila remembers her start in the city with days spent daydreaming at museums and experimenting with painting and sculpture thanks to the guidance of her professors. Post-grad, she continued to pursue her passion for art, discovering the universality and global reach of the modern design world – it was then when she resolved to be a part of it, “I started nlumec to become a part of the conversation and to bring light to people during a really dark time.”
@design_milk @nlumec founder Camila Navas shares the intention behind the brand's modern candles, and shares her holiday gift picks on the Design Milk site. 🔗#fyp ♬ original sound – Design Milk
Camila and nlumec co-founder Alejandro went on to create a line of candles that are more than just candles – these “objects for contemplation” invite users to consider their relationship to the form, and are the makers of warm, intimate experiences in and of themselves. Every nlumec creation is thoughtfully constructed using sustainable, renewable materials (no vessels = less waste!) and is designed to make a sculptural statement in your home even when unlit. Hint: These make for an extra-special gift this holiday season. But what modern picks is Camila excited about for the holidays? Let’s peek inside her shopping cart and find out. Plus, keep an eye on our Instagram this month for a chance to win one of Camila’s picks.
Gravis Candle by nlumec
“The Gravis candle is one of three in our line of objects for contemplation. Gravis means dignified, weighty, hefty – so I really wanted to create a design driven candle that completely removes the vessel. Usually candles are poured into glass, ceramic, or stone and here we’ve completely removed the vessel so the candle itself becomes the vessel that burns. We always say that to enjoy the light you must erase the art. It’s a bit of a tender gesture. These candles are meant to be treated as sculptures as well as an intimate experience. I think candlelight has kind of a religious aspect – it brings people together, you can enjoy meals around candlelight, so I really wanted to bring something special to the design world.”
Turbine Clock by Wooj Design
“I am a big fan of this clock by Wooj design. We’re actually good friends and are working on a collaboration set to release in the next coming months. Their work is super holistic as it is applied to their design thinking. They have a team full of extremely talented designers and I love everything that they have been able to create.”
Desk Mat by Orbitkey
“Lately, I have been watching the Design Milk website for the perfect gift for my loved ones. My boyfriend has his own company like myself, and I know he loves anything that adds an element of design to his workstation. This desk mat by Orbitkey is something I think he would absolutely love for the sleek design and utilitarian attributes it presents.”
John B. Beige Sweater by the Painter’s Wife
“If you follow me on Instagram, you know I am the mom to a beautiful dachshund named Charlie. She is the light in my life, and I have been eyeing these sweater collections by The Painter’s Wife. They are absolutely adorable and living in New York, it’s super important to keep your pups warm.”
Beast Blender + Hydration Bottle by Beast Health
“I was recently gifted this beautiful blender by Beast Health and let me tell you, wow. I’ve had it for about a couple of weeks and it’s the ultimate all in one. As someone who loves to cook, this pairs wonderfully with all my recipes. It’s also very important that any beloved counter space is dressed with beautifully designed pieces and this blender is made for any design driven home.”
>>> For more from nlumec, visit the Design Milk Shop here! <<<
