🌿 From a Holiday Cup to a Life-Changing Mission: How One Woman’s Pottery Brand is Feeding Vietnam’s Street Kids
What started as a fascination with a handmade cup turned into a powerful social enterprise. Meet Thushani Lovatt, a former teacher who transformed her love for ethical craftsmanship into Lily and Sophia—a handmade pottery brand that empowers Vietnamese women and feeds street children.
☕ The Cup That Sparked a Dream
In 2016, while teaching English in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thushani Lovatt encountered beautiful handmade cups in a local café. She was told they were created by women artisans at a pioneering, women-run pottery studio—the first of its kind in Vietnam.
Years passed. She moved to Singapore with her husband and worked at UWCSEA, an international nonprofit school. But that memory stayed with her.
In 2023, during a beach holiday in Hoi An with her family, she once again noticed similar exquisite cups at her hotel. This time, her curiosity turned into action.
"I asked the staff multiple times where the cups came from. Eventually, a waiter gave me the address of a wholesaler."
Driven by a strong inner calling, she ventured off the beaten path with her young daughters in tow and purchased a set of six bowls. But her journey didn’t end there.
🔍 A Search Fueled by Purpose
Unable to shake the feeling that she had to find the original artisans, Thushani returned to Singapore but kept searching. After several dead ends and one lucky Foursquare post, a Vietnamese friend helped her track down the elusive pottery studio.
Though the studio had moved, her friend found the new location. This eventually led to a life-changing connection with the women behind the handcrafted cups. And so, Lily and Sophia was born—named after her daughters.
🍽️ Every Cup Feeds a Child
Lovatt’s brand is not just about beautiful pottery—it's about creating change.
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1 cup sold = 1 meal for a street child
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1 bowl or plate = 2 meals
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1 serving dish = 3 meals
Each purchase helps feed children who might otherwise go to bed hungry, through Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, a Vietnam-based nonprofit that supports homeless youth and human trafficking victims.
"As a mother, it’s unbearable to think of children rummaging through garbage for food. If I can provide even one meal, that’s hope."
🧶 Handmade with Heart
Unlike mass-produced ceramics, each Lily and Sophia piece takes 10 to 14 days to create. The process involves:
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Hand-molding clay
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Mixing natural glazes
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Sun-drying
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Double-firing for durability (oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe)
Each item is one-of-a-kind—showing slight variations in texture, size, and color. Lovatt ensures the artisans are fairly paid, often offering 2–3 times the standard rate.
“Business doesn’t have to mean exploitation. Everyone can win.”
🌏 Inspired by Vietnam, Designed with Love
Thushani used her own savings to start the brand. Working directly with artisans, she co-designed 700–800 pieces inspired by her global travels—lagoon shades, ocean blues, petals, auroras, and seashells.
Getting licensed, handling international shipping, and storing fragile inventory in her Singapore condo were challenging. But her first big event—a school fair at UWCSEA—changed everything.
She was told to expect just a few sales.
She sold 96 out of 100 pieces.
“I cried afterwards. People really do care. It wasn’t just a dream.”
👧 A Legacy for Her Daughters
What began as a search for pottery turned into a story of purpose and parenting.
Her daughters, Lily and Sophia, now see giving back as normal.
"My five-year-old once said she wants her birthday gifts to be donations for the homeless. That’s the point. That’s the future I want to create."
💬 Why This Story Matters
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Empowers women artisans in Vietnam
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Feeds street kids through a meaningful business model
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Promotes ethical, handmade products
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Inspires socially conscious entrepreneurship
📦 Where to Shop
You can explore Lily and Sophia’s collection online via their website. Every purchase has purpose—beautiful pottery that gives back.
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