Michael Hofman and Dorene Gorman combine handmade porcelain and upcycled denim to create a new tableware collection grounded in comfort, function, and craft at Hofman Studios

This spring, Hofman Studios unveils a new line of handmade dishware that distinctly shifts from Michael Hofman’s signature porcelain and lace formula. The line, titled Denim, represents both a visual departure and a deepening of Hofman’s exploration of material, memory, and comfort. “It is the first time I’ve veered from the formula that I’ve used for 20 years, lace plus porcelain,” Hofman says.

Denim is born from creative collaboration and a bit of persuasive persistence. The idea came at the urging of longtime friend Dorene Gorman, who approached Hofman with a request to design dishware that could accompany her new venture, Reknow. This brand upcycles used denim into the unique table and home goods. A seasoned fashion industry professional, Gorman isn’t one to idle in retirement. Hofman recalls, “Dorene retired from the fashion industry after many successful years. However, Dorene doesn’t do retirement very well.”

Gorman’s creation of Reknow marks a full-circle moment—an effort to honor a lifelong passion while embracing sustainability. For Gorman, denim is more than fabric; it is a story worth reimagining, one stitch at a time. Through Reknow, she invites others to help turn waste into art and see value in what is often discarded. A renowned denim designer, Gorman left the fashion industry for a nomadic life. Upon returning home, she remained troubled by the waste in denim production. In response, she launched Reknow Home, a collection made from leftover denim. Her work raises awareness, reveals beauty in reuse, and inspires more thoughtful material use, for more info.reknowhome.com 

When Gorman asked Hofman to create a new collection to accompany Reknow, his initial response was a firm no. The timing, he explains, couldn’t have felt worse. “We had just had a hurricane, and I had no idea what the future held,” Hofman says. But Gorman, much like the storm that had recently swept through their community, refused to be ignored. “Like Hurricane Helene, Dorene is a force of nature and would not accept a ‘no’ as an answer.”

Reluctantly, Hofman agreed to produce a few sample plates to satisfy his friend’s request. But during the process, something changed. “Along the process, the idea grew in me,” he says. The result is Denim, “a line of dishware intentionally designed to feel as casual and familiar as a well-worn pair of jeans.” 

Although Denim is a conceptual departure, it still employs many core techniques that have defined Hofman’s studio work for over two decades. He uses surface treatments and finishing processes that evoke the faded textures and tonal variations of denim fabric. The collection currently includes three core items: the Rancher’s Dinner Plate, the Miner’s Salad Plate, and the Overall Bowl. Each is available in three earthy, wearable hues: Dungaree, Faded Denim, and Khaki.

The collaborative launch of Denim by Michael Hofman and Reknow by Dorene Gorman will have an opening reception at Hofman Studios in the River Arts District on Friday, April 18, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. For those unable to attend the reception, Hofman and Gorman will be at the gallery throughout the next day to meet guests and answer questions.

The Denim line is a blend of tradition and transformation, created through persistence, friendship, and the enduring pull of new ideas. What began as a reluctant detour has evolved into a collection of comfort, utility, and reinvention—hallmarks of denim and Hofman’s evolving ceramic language.

Hofman Studios specializes in handbuilt porcelain creations that blend the delicate patterns of lace with the strength of porcelain, resulting in unique, cherished pieces.

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