The silent resistance of craft: in conversation with @João Xará

In conversation with designer @joao__xara, we explore a practice shaped by patience and proximity—one that, in a landscape driven by immediacy, insists on duration, on slowness, on staying close to the hands that make.

@MOCHIS You work with traditional techniques that have been passed down for generations. In a time when trends spread rapidly, do you think looking to the past is a way to safeguard originality?

@JX I don't see it as originality—I'm not even totally sure what it means to be original nowadays. And I don't see it as just the past. It's part of the past, but it's also part of the present and the future. Working with traditional techniques feels more human to me, more grounded, and I think that's why I enjoy it, because I can follow the process closely from beginning to end.

@MOCHIS Did working internationally reinforce your interest in traditional techniques or did it challenge your approach to craftsmanship?

@JX Certainly, living abroad has given me a stronger connection with Portugal in general. Sometimes you have to go out to understand and see clearly what you have, and see it from a distance.

It has certainly given me more

pleasure to work in the Portuguese

field of crafts and other

processes.

I can see that we are very fertile, with different materials, techniques and processes, in a small-scale country.

@MOCHIS During your residencies, surrounded by those who have lived with the tools and techniques of the past, how does the weight of their knowledge influence your own approach to design?

@JX When you work with professionals who have spent a lifetime perfecting their craft, you realise that design is not just about creating something new—it is about listening, understanding and contributing to an ongoing dialogue. Their experience brings a depth to the process that goes beyond anything I can design. That's something I try to respect and reflect in my process.

@MOCHIS With Bora, you and your partners have committed to a path where those traditional techniques dictate the rhythm. What does it mean to build something lasting in an industry that often prioritizes the immediate?

@JX We understand that quality takes time—whether it's choosing materials, perfecting a technique or working with a craftsperson. Building something that lasts is about making choices that prioritise longevity over convenience, process over speed.

I think it's nice to know from A to Z, from where/when the wicker grew in the field until the piece is in the final customer's space.

@MOCHIS What is the biggest challenge of building a furniture brand today?

@JX For me—and I believe I can speak for Eneida, Samuel, and Jorge (from Bora) as well—the biggest challenge is being present and communicating effectively in the digital world. It’s a space that feels somewhat distant from our experience, studies, and habits, so we’re still adapting to it. Finding a balance between our approach and the fast-paced demands of digital communication is an ongoing process.

@MOCHIS As time moves forward, how do you hope your creations will be perceived by future generations?

@JX That’s a very serious question :)

Just something that is comfortable to use, looks and feels good.