Gritful

Gritful, inspired by the Southern expression ​“full of grit,” embodies resilience and determination. Born during the pandemic, the brand emerged as Janet, an Asian American expat in Belgium, sought purpose amidst uncertainty.

Janet stumbled onto the world of resin and concrete while looking for something to do while adjusting to her new settings. With her professional background in marketing and e‑commerce, creating the brand just naturally snowballed. 

Everything is made by hand by Janet herself in her home studio in Brussels. 

Grit is a word to describe small loose particles of stone, sand and dirt. The resin material that Janet uses starts off in powder form, once mixed and cured it completely transforms into the beautiful decor objects. 

Janet uses a water-based resin, ensuring each creation is safe and sustainable. Each item is sanded and seal-finished by hand with a food-grade natural wax, protecting against water, debris and UV rays. Not food grade safe to consume food or liquids directly.

It is unclear if the products are circular. If the sustainable resin substitute can be integrated back into the production cycle or naturally break down without harming the environment, it could be deemed circular.

Whether a sustainable resin substitute is considered circular depends on various factors including its production process, raw materials, and end-of-life recyclability or biodegradability. Circular materials are those that can be reused, recycled, or safely composted, minimizing waste and reducing the need for new resources. 

Gritful operates a short supply chain, being a community-based business.

Local artisan Janet creates in her own atelier, distributing her creations to nearby speciality shops primarily through word-of-mouth promotion. 

The brand does not seem to use any animal materials, making them vegan in theory.

Gritful offers timeless functional art. Each piece is unique! The collection includes colourful trays, candleholders, soap holders, plant holders and more. The objects are vibrantly coloured, abstractly designed, featuring playful shapes and terrazzo-like patterns.

Janet makes each item by hand from durable materials.

Gritful may not share where its resin comes from, but its production process is an open book. Led by Janet, a local artisan in Belgium, everything is made by hand in her atelier, with items reaching customers through local shops and word-of-mouth.