Robert Ramirez AND Melissa Riling, FOUNDERS OF STUDIO NUDO

Founded by Robert Ramirez and Melissa Riling in 2017, NUDO is a luxury hammock company which aims to honour traditional Salvadoran designs and weaving techniques within an ethical business model. Robert works together with his father, Rafael, and with Co-Founder Melissa Riling - a Brooklyn-based designer, as well as with master weaver, Anderson Cruz from Chalatenango, El Salvador. NUDO combines these various influences to produce traditionally woven hammocks based on contemporary designs.

Describe yourself and your designs to us?

I have a theatre background and I used to be a sports instructor. I've had a couple of business ventures in the pass, but NUDO is truly my proudest and most passionate project. NUDO, which means "knot" in Spanish, is a modern furniture design studio that specialises in hammocks and swing chairs. The company is based in Bushwick, Brooklyn but the products are handwoven in Chalatenango, El Salvador. We officially launched its website in late 2017. 

I am half-Salvadoran (on my father's side) and as I was building the brand with my business + life partner, Melissa Riling, we’ve enlisted some members of my family and artisans on our production team in Chalate. Melissa comes from an extensive creative background and knew a lot of Brooklyn based artists that could help the brand. She has introduced me to designers and makers for every step of the design process, including the woodworkers in Industry City, who have produce NUDO's hammock and swing rods.

NUDO's products are made up of traditional Salvadoran weaving techniques, with modern design concepts. My goal with the company was to have people reconsider hammocks and swing chairs as interior and exterior furniture pieces. 

TELL US YOUR STORY?

My father is from El Salvador, my mother is from Boston, MA. I was born in Carroll Gardens area in New York, but was raised in Boston. I grew up with a lot of Salvadoran motifs my father had brought over with him in 1975. 

One of those things was a creme-coloured, cotton hammock that he has hung against the wall in our living room. Being in Boston, you didn't really see a lot of hammocks in my neighbour's backyards or at friend's homes. However, we had and used hammocks in our house and they were definitely part of the charm of my childhood home. 

I've travelled quite a bit in my younger years, moving from Boston to New York and Alaska, and eventually back to New York. I've always brought that hammock with me. I definitely viewed it as a sentimental heirloom, because it was handwoven by members of my family (NUDO makes one exactly like that hammock and I named it “Delmi” after my aunt). It reflected the rich culture of my roots as well as family that I have not had the opportunity to meet.

When I finally moved to the Clinton Hill area in Brooklyn, I decided to hang the hammock in my studio and utilise it as a functional furniture piece. My place transformed into a relaxing oasis that I could escape to when the pressures of the city life got to me. I would just relax for hours in my hammock - decompressing, reading, listening to music and swinging away. I thought, "everyone should have this in their home" and that's when it all clicked. 

HOW DID YOU AND MELISSA COME TO SHAPE STUDIO NUDO TOGETHER?

When I first got my work studio and started posting job listings in 2017,  I came across Melissa's resume she had sent pretty late at night. She had a lot of experience in textile, production, design and had at one point, a store of her own in South Slope, Brooklyn. I was very impressed with all of her creative knowledge and professional experiences and I definitely wanted her on my team.

Together, we strategised on how we can translate the influence of this hammock into a business that celebrates Salvadoran artistry and modern design. This involved lots of research, experimentation and exploring all these ways we create an ethical business model. I am super happy with this journey NUDO has taken us on. 

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR PROUDEST MOMENTS FOR STUDIO NUDO?

I think the proudest moment was participating in our first trade show, the Shoppe Object show in NYC, in early Feb of this year. Shoppe Object is an independent home and gift show that launched last summer. There were about 175+ visionary brands and makers. We had our booth right next to our good friends at Closed Mondays and got to meet other small business owners and companies.  It was really great learning about everyone’s journey and seeing their companies flourish. NUDO has been operating solely from our website and as the business is growing, we wanted to partner with different stockists. Thanks to Shoppe Object, NUDO is now in in the process of sharing our products with global retailers. 

HOW DO YOUR PRODUCTS REFLECT CENTRAL AMERICAN CULTURE?

With NUDO, the team always tries to combine traditional with innovation. Melissa is always inspired by fine art and fashion, and you can definitely see that in the patterns and colours in our products. It's really important to me to have the products reflect aspects of Central American culture. The colours and patterns we use remind me of scenic landscapes my father would capture in photos and show me as a kid. When I eventually visited El Salvador, I knew I wanted to capture the vibrancy and reflect it in the products. 

Melissa introduced the idea of finding ways to incorporate sleek, modern fixtures and hardware. Traditionally, hammocks are handwoven and people use rope or simple metal hooks to hang them. We now produce fixtures you can use to hang our products in your space. We are in the process of also introducing new rod designs that have more dimensional shapes and experimental materials, such as a cast resin rod, that is sculpted by hand and coloured using a variety of custom colours. 

What advice do you have for emerging designers? 

All artists and designers should remain authentic to their craft. Utilise all of your resources. I or Melissa are always searching for collaborators and partnerships on our of social media platforms and artists communities. You can discover great work and personal relationships by participating in events, shows and exhibitions.  Never be afraid to ask a successful artist or designer for any advice. Take your time and know that sometimes slow and steady wins the race. Find ideas everywhere and keep your eyes open to inspirations nearby or even worldwide. 

Robert Ramirez of Studio Nudo.