Longpi pottery is a black pottery tradition from Manipur, made using a mix of ground stone and black mud. Its shaped entirely by hand without a wheel. It fires to a natural black in an unglazed state, so the colour is part of the material rather than a layer on top.

Buttons before and after firing

A Longpi button almost feels like a small piece of rock. It keeps the same quiet, tactile quality and small irregularities you’d expect from a ceramic button, but the body is denser and more resilient, so it is drop safe and can handle the kind of stress clothes go through over years of use.