Photograph by Art Holeman

Mixing & Matching

This all begs the question, are our dinnerware tastes drastically changing? Jagmin’s products are gaining traction in an age when young couples scarcely pick out china patterns, and Target sells enviable dishes for as low as $3.99 apiece.

The rule when setting the table, Jagmin insists, is that there are no rules.

“I think it’s really exciting that you can mix and match and not be so strict about bringing out the best china for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” he says. “You bring out all the pieces you hide away.”

For Thanksgiving last year, Jagmin visited his mother. They unearthed all her old, chipped china and set it on top of his modern plates. The result was an eclectic but stunning place setting, a complete mixture of old and new, vintage and modern, conventional and subversive.

“I love antique plates and mixing them up with the newer plates,” he says.

He’s quietly working on a project that taps directly into that idea. He’s been rummaging through The Salvation Army and Goodwill stores for cool, vintage plates. He’ll add decals to them, resulting in decorative artwork to hang on the wall or prop on a mantel. Recycling and reusing, he adds, are among his business goals.

The idea of mixing and matching comes from his sister, who collects unusual wine glasses. Her parties are always interesting, because everyone gets a unique goblet.

“I know I stole it from her,” he says.

Jagmin’s dishes cost about $106 for four dinner plates, $75 for four bread plates and $66 for a platter. Some come in sets; others are sold individually. He says he barely marks up the price, but his expenses are high because of quality dishware and U.S. manufacturing. He makes just 200 to 500 pieces of each design.

Eventually, he hopes a big company will take notice of his plates. But in the meantime, he’s happy to sell out of independent retailers.

“I can’t compete with a Target or a Macy’s,” he says. “My goal is to sell to little boutique stores because they are interesting people. I love them.”