Interview with Rose and Claire from Late afternoon

Les Interviews / April 02, 2025

Interview with Rose and Claire from Late afternoon

Late Afternoon is a brand born from long conversations stretched across time zones and tables—from sun-drenched lunches in Madrid to tea-fuelled chats in London. Founded by friends Rose and Claire, it captures a certain kind of hour: when the day slows, light softens, and everything feels a little more golden. Their pieces—thoughtful, tactile, and quietly joyful—are designed to be heirlooms-to-be, rooted in craftsmanship and the calm confidence of timeless design. We sat down with the duo to talk glassblowers in olive groves, second-hand treasures, and how Madrid and London each left their mark on Late Afternoon’s soul.

By Marie Winckler

From cañas and croquetas in Madrid to tea in London — how did those early conversations shape the soul of Late Afternoon?

We loved thinking about how the different aesthetics of the 2 cities shaped our taste and sensibilities. Madrid is such a colourful city, with bright blue sky, shadowy streets and rainbow buildings. Meanwhile, London is much leafier, with richer, darker colours with more opportunities to enjoy cosiness. We wanted to employ these 2 sensibilities in the brand, using them as our north stars to make decisions about colour, form and language.

Your collection is filled with what you call "heirlooms-to-be." What makes a piece worthy of that title?

To pass an object down, it must be a classic design that will travel well through the decades. To us that means creating something that draws on the essence of traditional shapes and avoids trend-led design decisions.

An heirloom-to-be must also be well-made, from durable materials like clay or wool (as opposed to plastic or polyester) and our pieces are also made by artisans who are using tried and tested techniques that have been used for centuries.

You work closely with artisans and family-run workshops. What’s been the most meaningful relationship you've built through that process?

Our glassblower has been with us from the start. We love this relationship because we really stumbled upon him whilst travelling around Spain and dived off the road to see what was going on. In the middle of an olive grove, he was making beautiful mouth-blown glassware and we could see the potential with a few tweaks to colours for the UK market. We’ve ordered so much that he had to train another glass-blower to meet demand, which is so brilliant to think our customers are helping to keep this skill alive and well.

If your brand were a time of day, what would it be — and what’s happening in that scene?

Well, it would have to be Late Afternoon! We named the brand after that feeling you have at the end of the afternoon. If you’re lucky enough to be somewhere warm, it’s golden hour. You might still be at the lunch table drawing out the conversation, or thinking about a cocktail. Hopefully there’s a good view involving trees or the sea. Your shoes are off, and the day’s business is done. That’s Late Afternoon.

If you could collaborate with another maker or brand on a dream piece, who would it be and what would you create?

Last year we supplied all the plates and bowls for Broadwick Soho, the incredible new 5-star hotel in London’s Soho, designed by Martin Brudnizki. We’d love to collaborate with a new, incredible, creative hotel on designing a bespoke set of tableware for them.

What does sustainability mean to you in real, everyday terms?

Every decision we have made has been about trying to make our impact as small as possible for a business that sells new things. Our products are designed to last and remain in your home forever. The materials are natural, not synthetic. The glass we use is recycled and can be recycled. The wood for our picture frames is responsibly sourced. We use small batch production which minimises wastage. We don’t do big-discount sales with thousands of pieces of leftover stock that was always destined for discounting. All our packaging is re-used, recyclable, biodegradable and large parts are home compostable, which has always cost us more, but we feel it is our responsibility. We source from responsible makers who use GOTS-certified dyes, sustainable wood, recycled glass and natural materials like clay and wool. Sustainability means taking small decisions all the time, even when they are more difficult or expensive, to ensure that we are using the world we live in respectfully and don’t waste anything.

What’s the best compliment someone could give your collection?

Whenever someone chooses to buy a piece and put it in their home, the stage where their life unfolds, that is the best compliment.

What advice would you give to someone trying to make their home feel more like their own?

Homes are individual because of the owner, so follow your heart and try not to choose things based on other people’s opinions. Handmade pieces are by definition individual, so create a more individual look and feel.

Save up for the best quality you can, because poorly-made things will break and wear out quickly, which can be more expensive in the long run.

What other makers or designers are inspiring you right now?

I’m completely in love with Ali Hewson’s pottery. And Fred Rigby’s furniture.

What does the idea of 'flâneur' mean to you?

As 2 business owners with small babies, the idea of flaneur is a fantasy! Memories of when we had time to stroll, observe life going by, maybe sitting in a cafe, thinking about everything and nothing is essentially a dream. We have faith we’ll get back there…

What other Makers make you go “wow” at the moment?

I’m completely in love with Ali Hewson’s pottery. And Fred Rigby’s furniture.

The Curation

Rose & Claire's Edit

Backgammon Tea Towel

£36.00

Mimosa Serving Platter

£125.00

Geraniums, Paper Lampshade, Empire

from £65.00

The Valance in Daisy

from £300.00

Recycled Plastic Set of 4 Gift-Boxed Coasters Sand Mix

£41.00

Tabby Booth Fine Art Print of Painting • SHIP 2

from £25.00

Geraniums Linen

from £3.00

Rectangular Ceramic Lamp

£1,188.75

A Guide to Madrid with Rose

What does a slow morning at home in Madrid look like for you?

For a Londoner, Madrid goes to bed late and wakes late, so it’s blissfully quiet everywhere until about 11am. A slow morning would include reading in bed with the window open framing the blue sky, before heading across the plaza for a desayuno at the local cafe. Freshly-squeezed zumo, a tostada with jamon and tomate and a cafe con leche. In summer, then ideally it would be off to the local outdoor pool with a book.

Where’s your go-to spot for cañas and croquetas with friends?

Casa Macareno is a revived taverna and total all-rounder and I’ve been there more times than I can count with friends. The croquetas are enormous.

Is there a local artisan or market that always sparks inspiration?

Cocol is an amazing shop tucked in a beautiful square in La Latina, and the owner is an expert on Spanish crafts, which she sources from all across the country.

Where would you send someone visiting Madrid for the first time?

You have to visit the Prado and see Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights and the Goya Black Paintings. Then, of course, you’d need lunch, so I would send them for a walk across the beautiful Retiro park to Castelados which is my favourite classic restaurant. Museo Sorolla is also a wonderful visit. But Madrid is mostly about roaming the bars and restaurants and my list of recommendations is too long to publish here!

What’s one hidden gem in Madrid that still feels like a secret?

Casa Gerardo in La Latina is a tiny bar, with all the old fixtures, with no reservations, that specialises in cheese and wine, proving Spain is so much more than Manchego and Rioja. You need to speak up to get served in Spanish bars, but it will be worth it. Beware some of the Asturian blue cheeses are very ripe…