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Our tiles are manufactured in various countries, inside and outside Europe and are almost all made sustainably and by hand. We visit our factories regularly and can guarantee that there is no child labour and that the working conditions in the factories are good.
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We also find it important that the materials and waste materials used are not harmful to the environment. We would like to elaborate on this and explain the origin and quality per non-European tile type.
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Cement tile factory(ies)
Over the years we have worked with several factories in Vietnam. This unfortunately resulted in slight colour differences. To solve this, we entered into discussions with the largest factory. This factory has the capacity and expertise to meet our demand and quality requirements. We have made good agreements with them about delivery times and quality. Even with an ISO certificate as a guarantee. This ultimately resulted in streamlined production, virtually without colour differences and neatly on time in the Netherlands, with a few exceptions. We visit our factory in Vietnam regularly. It is really a party to be in Vietnam! The employees in the factory are doing well. They work in a clean, well-ventilated environment where everything is neatly arranged by the management of the factory. They have lunch together and the factory provides for a collective health insurance fund, to which we also contribute. The employees are cheerful and positive about the work they do. They can work quietly without noise and without the absurd time pressure that we often see in Europe. This allows them to work passionately on our beautiful Azule pattern tiles. Child labor is absolutely out of the question. In Vietnam, people love children and do a lot to give their children a good future. Moreover, it takes years before people have all the 'skills' to be able and allowed to make cement tiles!
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The raw materials of cement tiles
A cement tile consists of cement, pigment (marble powder) and some water. The pigments used are organic and are pressed under high pressure. The production process is a cold process that does not require heat and is very ecologically responsible. The water in which the tiles have to harden is recycled. A water purification plant has been installed outside the factory. This ensures that the water used is purified on the site itself. This keeps water waste to a minimum. There is also no waste of materials. Damaged tiles are donated to local schools that use them to make mosaics, or they are used as a rubble bed before paving. Tiles that are rejected because they show color differences or contain production errors also go to the local market where they are donated to schools, orphanages and public places. The entire production process as well as the raw materials and working conditions used are sustainable and socially responsible. Something that we at Designtegels.nl BV can only applaud and support where possible! After seeing the production process, you will understand that these artistic handmade tiles justify their price. After all, each tile is individually handmade, which is unique. We guarantee that our Azule cement tiles are of the very best quality available, and now you know why!
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The Zelliges factory(ies)
Zelliges are processed and sold by various factories. However, there are only a few factories that actually make the Zelliges themselves from the clay. Designtegels.nl BV obtains its Moroccan wall tiles from one of the largest producers in Fez and has had good experiences with them. We visit Morocco regularly and know most of the factories. Controlling the colours is the hardest part. If you order a light green tile today, it may turn out completely different the next time you order it. This colour control and colour control is something we have been struggling with for years. It is very difficult to receive consistent deliveries. For this reason, we always recommend ordering enough, taking breakage into account and considering colour differences as inherent to the production process. We have never heard of child labour in the factories. Unlike in Vietnam, teenagers are sometimes used for odd jobs, but not for heavy, strenuous work. The work can be very monotonous because the employees are constantly carving figures out of a tile. However, it is a very precise job that not everyone can do and that requires a lot of practice. With a hammer and anvil, the smallest figures are cut to size. During the day, the employee is doing well. Mint tea is regularly served and delicious fruits such as dates and figs pass by. The workers are particularly cheerful and very motivated to show you their work. They proudly show how they make a number of even smaller figures from a square tile, and that at a rapid pace! The employees have a good life and are respected because they do specialized work.
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The raw materials of Zellige and Bejmat
Zelliges and Bejmat tiles consist of clay, water and glaze. The clay comes from caves and is further processed in the factories. The factories often consist of a large outdoor area where the clay can dry well with an olive pit oven and a small storage for the dried tiles. After drying the clay tablets are glazed and then put in an olive pit oven. The tiles are stacked entirely by hand in the oven, which is fired with wood and olive pits. This gives the tiles at the bottom of the oven a slightly different colour than at the top of the oven. After baking, the tiles are mixed and packed in jute bags, ready for further processing. The clay is very recognisable by the lime pits. These lime pits can also be just below the surface of the glaze layer, which can cause the glaze to crack. It is precisely these types of irregularities and cracks that make Zelliges so recognisable and should be considered normal. The production process of Zelliges and Bejmat tiles is sustainable and does not use materials that are harmful to the environment, people or animals.
