We're a couple that was brought together by our love of the craft of metalsmithing, working with hand tools, and making meaningful things. This was back when we were in art school, back when the idea of trying to earn a living making our own artwork seemed practically impossible.
A few years later, while living in an old New England farmhouse we had an idea for a collection of metal kitchenware. We took our inspiration from the practical and beautiful vintage kitchenware that we found at flea markets and estate sales, and got to work designing a collection of cups, spoons, and utensils. When we took our first samples to the American Craft Council show that winter, we never could have imagined the incredible response that our collection received. Realizing that we couldn't run a metalsmithing shop out of a farmhouse, we moved our studio to a 19th century mill in Fall River, MA and partnered with a generations old silversmithing company near Providence, RI to help with production. In 2014 we changed our name from Beehive Kitchenware to Beehive Handmade to reflect the expansion of our work into baby gifts, holiday ornaments, and jewelry. In 2015 we moved our studio to the historic harbor town of Bristol, RI.
In the years since 1999 when we first began producing our work, a few things have changed; we finally finished renovating our vintage cottage and we now work in a beautiful, light-filled studio, but the things that are important to us have not - making objects with meaning that are built to last. And finding time for long bike rides, and living and working close to the cool, blue, sparkling sea.
Our Mission
Bamboozle aims to merge nature and design at your dinner table, cocktail party, and in the kitchen. Clean modern lines combined with organic shapes, sophisticated colors, and subtle texture adds to the fusion of nature and modern refinement. Our broad selection of products give customers a wide range of items to suit their tastes and lifestyle.
Our mission is to bring a unique perspective to the market with products that are practical, affordable, and beautifully designed. Bamboozle's collection is not only fashionable, it is a sensible and convenient step towards green living. With Bamboozle you no longer have to sacrifice style for sustainability.
We are committed to delivering quality products with the least impact on the planet and its people. To meet this commitment, all of our items are made from reclaimed, renewable, and biodegradable materials.
Bamboozle is passionate about making products with a purpose. We strive to inspire others to make a positive impact by choosing to use products that respect the environment.
About
Sculptor Agelio Batle carries the spirit of nature's timeless forms in this series of graphite objects. Batle's reverence for organic forms was inspired by countless hours spent in the grandeur and wisdom of nature, intimately observing and studying. Further nurtured into being through Batle's formal studies in biology and art, this vision thrived and grew. Each graphite objects was meticulously created through a unique process he invented. Carbonaceous graphite (mineral remains of prehistoric plant life) was combined with smudge-resistant compounds under intense pressure. The mass then fused into expression of nature's enduring simplicity you see before you. All their surfaces can draw and the graphite will resist smudging onto your hands. Batle envisions these objects as sculptures, as much as they are implements for inspiring your own vision.
About BIDKhome
It started with a Dutch etagere in 1990. René Barreveld knew he had stumbled upon something special for American buyers, and began importing the intricate scroll-work shelves. From there, a company blossomed.
Today, BIDKhome remains a family-run wholesale business. In 2014, René's sons Sebastian and Eric took the helm. They continue to hand-select unique, ever-changing designs from Europe, while also ushering in renewed energy and fresh perspectives.
BIDKhome offers both traditional and contemporary European products for home, garden, gift, and hospitality. Headquartered in Cold Spring, New York, with showrooms in Atlanta, Georgia, and Wellesley, Massachusetts, BIDKhome delights thousands of buyers with alluring design, continually updated inventory, and dedicated service.
Whether you’re a retailer, restaurant, or designer, we look forward to helping you to create beautiful spaces that inspire.
BIDKhome is a wholesale company, and sells to businesses only. However, individuals can shop with our retail partner, Florijn. Located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and online, Florijn provides the latest European designs for everyday decor, seasonal accents, and entertaining.
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https://www.bridgeforafricawholesale.org/register.asp
Bridge for Africa Wholesale
Bridge for Africa is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting self-sufficiency and the dignity of work in rural African communities.
Bridge began in 2003 with the chance meeting of an African and an American in South Africa; they recognized that while the art emerging from Africa represents an extraordinary blend of tradition, vibrancy and the beauty of modern Africa, local markets are such that artisans are frequently not rewarded with a living wage for their work. These women from two continents then envisioned a non-profit organization committed to Building Resources to Inspire Dignity, Growth, and Empowerment (BRIDGE) through trade. Fair Trade practices – to which we adhere as a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation – offer the guarantee of fair wages, equal opportunities, safe working conditions, and long-term relationships built on mutual respect. Today, Bridge for Africa is a well-established and respected provider of fine contemporary crafts to the American market. We pay the artists a living wage, promote sustainable development in Africa, and educate consumers in the U.S. about the benefits of Fair Trade as a method to fight poverty in the developing world. Our goal is to provide consistent work and a living wage for the skilled artisans with whom we partner, enabling them to shape their own lives and thereby advancing hope for future generations.
Our Mission: Our mission is to realize the incredible potential for making a difference in African artisan communities by harnessing the outstanding artistic talent of African artisans to create marketable products for sale in the U.S.
Our products are currently located in over 300 stores across the U.S , 90 museums and 28 zoo's.
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http://www.blackthorneforge.com/
Blackthorne Forge is owned and operated by Vermont blacksmith Steven Bronstein. He and his helpers have been creating functional and sculptural ironwork for over 25 years. At the forge you will see both the traditional and contemporary tools available to the modern blacksmith. His designs strive to blend the primitive charm of ironwork with the energy and interest of more contemporary design. Clocks, vases, bookends, floor lamps, sundials, garden sculpture and fountains are just a few of the objects for which Steven has sought to blend the functional with the sculptural. Relying on the qualities that make iron such a beautiful material, Steven’s pieces are both delicate and rugged. Blacksmiths have a three thousand year tradition that has changed and grown with the ages. This capacity to adapt and evolve with the changing designs of the day is the blacksmith’s greatest strength. Just as the hot metal twists and bends to create beauty, so does the craft of blacksmithing itself. Steven celebrates this aspect of his art and looks forward to all of its possibilities. Steven’s work is available in more than 100 galleries around the country.
ABOUT STACIE & SÉVERINE
atelier BOEMIA was first conceived in the spring of 2014 by two interior designers and great friends with a passion for travel.
séverine is Swiss and grew up between Zurich and Geneva, speaking French and (Swiss-) German at home. Extensive travels (and perhaps a tiny knack for language) made her fluent in English, Italian as well as Spanish. Completing a degree in interior design in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2006, she worked for several years as a freelance designer until she met her partner in crime (and business) 6 years ago...
stacie is American and has lived in Switzerland since 2005 when her CFnO brought her back to his home country as a souvenir. Stacie grew up in an entrepreneurial household and owes most of her fabulousness to her super creative mom who puts Martha Stewart to shame and her business savvy father (who can also turn quite a colorful phrase as any good Texan can). After studying Economics and International Business, she worked in the family design build firm until going out on her own as an interior designer in 2003.
Zoa Chimerum Jewelry, a biomorphic, deceptively soft, touchable line of rubber jewelry inspired by the growth patterns of flora and fauna.
Zoa Chimerum Jewelry is a partnership between Creative Director Sue-Yee Leung and Design Director Ian Henderson. Ian has designed jewelry for twenty years. They met at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Zoa Chimerum is biomorphic handmade jewelry featuring rhythmic, flowing patterns of cut rubber layered over forged aluminum. The collection conjures images of prickly sea creatures and thorny blossoms, but uses soft rubber to ensure each piece is comfortable to wear and pleasantly tactile.
Our designs are developed intuitively and iteratively as dialogue with process and material. We set up rules for ourselves at the start of a project, and follow those rules. Each segment of rubber is cut and assembled in accordance with a predetermined procedural requirement. Rather than making and assembling the small pieces in service to a predetermined form, we make and assemble small pieces in accordance with a rule set, which ultimately generates (grows?) a form that we would not have imagined otherwise.
Our Business
Our business is shaped by our clean, minimal aesthetic, our methods of approaching design through experimentation, and the overall look of our brand. We not only consider the design of each piece, but consider the way it's presented and packaged. Our pieces are defined by all the details, the materials chosen, the clasps, the mechanics, and these touches are what sets us apart. We also try to source local as much as possible. Providence and surrounding areas have such wonderful resources, thanks to the once dominate jewelry industry. Our use of AS220 community arts lab space, local casting and finding companies, and our extensive arts community friends and colleges help support and inspire our business.
About Us
Philosophy
Edgewood Made exists within the intersection of nature and manufacturing. Understanding the space in which these entities coexist is at the foundation of what drives our design. We utilize nature as our inspiration and manufacturing as our medium – following the rules that both set in place, but never allowing for one take over the other.
Product
Edgewood Made creates goods for every aspect of life in the home. We believe that well-made objects should be a part of our everyday lives, and that these objects should intrigue and draw in the user more and more with each use. Our forms and proportions reference nature and its hidden geometries that dictate how natural structures grow and form shape.
Quality and Materials
Behind our products is a drive to not only bring manufacturing back to America, but also make sure that it is of the highest quality. For us this means obtaining materials at their rawest form, and maintaining close control over each step that brings them closer to functional objects. Great care is taken in each detail and step of our process, insuring that our craftsmanship is at the highest level.
From the very start I set out to make a change. In our country, in the objects we design and the way we incorporate them into our life. Formally trained at the Rhode Island School of Design and a freelance product designer for almost 20 years, I approach all design projects through the lens of Industrial Design. This foundation results in solutions that are fundamentally different than the corporate, image-driven, over featured, secretly made, copycat designs that currently fill our choices. I want to remind us of a forgotten art and make a fundamental change in the creation of everyday goods. Step 1 - get back to honest simplicity and durable construction.
In the 1970's German industrial designer Dieter Rams introduced the idea of sustainable development and articulated what is now celebrated as the "ten principles of good design". These rules, now almost 50 years old seem to be a forgotten behavior and are more appropriate today than ever. They represent the soul of Industrial Design and eqpd believes deeply in carrying this torch.
Handcafted Beaded Jewelry by Balinese Artisians
By purchasing from our handcrafted beaded jewelry collections you are helping to keep alive the fine art of Balinese handwork and the employment of the artisans that love to create this wearable art for you!
Kim’s design experience is reflected in her current glass beaded jewelry collections of wearable art. Always being a step outside the current market of mass production design, Kim Erixon and her small group of skilled Balinese artisans have been creating uniquehandmade jewelry, tableware and handcrafted accessories together for over 20 years.
From the years 2007 through 2009 her collections were sold exclusively on the shopping channel in Japan where the demand for perfect quality became the cornerstone for the detailed excellence of the current final product.
By taking full responsibility for her artisans welfare and teaching them beading techniques new to the craftsmen there she has formed a unique business partnership.
About Kim Erixon
Kim holds a degree in Anthropology from the University of Colorado in Boulder and has taken her love of cultural diversity and indigenous wearable art as an expression of cultural identity; from designing clothing collections in India, having a Folk Art gallery in San Francisco and designing textiles for production in Japan, Italy, Korea, Hong Kong, India and the United States.
Escama Studio is a social enterpise based in California and Brazil. Our mission is to create innovative on-trend fashion accessories while promoting sustainable development through trade.
The word 'Escama' means 'fish scales' in Portuguese; the name was chosen because our flagship product -- crocheted accessories with post consumer pull tabs -- appear as if they're made from big metallic scales of a fish.
To achieve our unique aesthetic, the Escama Studio team adapted traditional Brazilian crochet work and imbued the handmade crafts with a modern design sense and new materials. With designs originating from both San Francisco and Brazil, the pop top bags are handmade in Brazil by artisan groups who are not just contract manufacturers, but an integral part of Escama Studio.
Escama Studio is a green company, a fair trade company and an ongoing experiment in sustainability. We measure our success by the strength of our partnerships with producers in underprivileged communities and by the sense of wonder that our products bring to our fans worldwide. We are all sincerely grateful for every customer who loves these handbags and supports this venture.
ABOUT
Patty Nulph has been presenting collections to the wholesale marketplace since 1983. She began by importing and selling one of a kind jewelry, beads, and textiles. Surrounded by beautiful art, ethnic culture and influenced by her travels she set up a design studio in Tacoma, Washington and created her first sterling silver group in 1993. A trip through Japan with her mother in 1997 led to the creation of the "Temple Series" which has served as the building block for the contemporary feel of FAI today.
Her work is sold throughout the United States in Museum stores, galleries and gift shops and fine women’s clothiers and has been sold internationally in Canada, Central America, Europe and Japan.
http://globalgoodspartners.org/collections/jewelry?gclid=CKiZtafGvM4CFY88gQodHssOWQ
OUR FOUNDERS' STORY
As professionals in the international development field, Catherine Lieber Shimony and Joan Shifrin traveled to impoverished areas around the globe to support community-based economic initiatives. Time and time again, they met dynamic women that were producing beautiful, handmade goods, yet lacked access to sustainable markets in which to sell their products. Catherine and Joan saw first-hand how women in marginalized communities throughout Asia, Africa, and the Americas were able to advance their families’ well-being only after their income was stabilized. In 2005, Catherine and Joan were inspired to found Global Goods Partners to create effective income-generation opportunities for women and their communities through access to the consumer market for handmade, fair trade products.
ABOUT US
Focus America Corporation was established in August 2012 with a single purpose – to bring ‘Made in Japan’ craftsmanship, quality and design to the world.
We collaborate with manufacturers to select and develop items suited for the discerning US consumer. By forging partnerships with manufacturers and craftsmen, Focus America is able to deliver innovative and beautiful products for home, kitchen, and lifestyle use.
We offer a wide range of products from traditional Japanese to simple, modern designs. Our goal is to source the unique and hard-to-find, exposing new consumers to the best Japan has to offer.
Founded in 2005, gleena studio is located in Pawtucket, RI. All gleena tableware pieces are porcelain and are hand poured and crafted in small batches. We mix our own porcelain slip and glazes using food-safe clays and minerals.
"gleena" means "clay" in Russian. Our organic shapes, soft sugary colors, and imagery are inspired by childhood summers spent at grandma’s country house outside of St. Petersburg, Russia. Surrounded by carefully tended gardens and apple trees, the country house was a gathering place for family and friends. Evocative of those leisurely days, the gleena line is meant to be used on a daily basis.
gleena porcelain is dishwasher safe, but we do not recommend it for the microwave.
http://www.kevinharristextile.com/
http://www.harshitadesigns.com/
ABOUT US
Inspired by her grandmother in Kolkata, India, Harshita Lohia took to craft and arts at the early age of ten. Belonging to the sixth generation of the Chamong tea family, business skills came naturally to Harshita. Her early interest was making and selling cards and envelopes for weddings. At age thirteen her father gave her a set of paint brushes and a wide variety of paints and from that moment Harshita developed her serious interest in fine arts. At age fifteen she held her first solo exhibition in Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata followed by a solo exhibition in Singapore at seventeen. In 1997, Harshita traveled to Chicago for summer school at the Art Institute of Chicago and a year later enrolled into Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. After finishing her BFA in textile design she went on to finish her Masters in Digital Printing from Philadelphia University. Harshita created Harshita Designs to carry on her mission of creating wearable art and original accessories. Her collections represent her rich heritage and her sensitive way of blending east and west.
At Harshita Designs you will find uniquely designed wearable art for women and men,including scarves, shawls, handbags, jewelry, tunics and jackets. Each creation starts with thoughtfully created designs. Carefully chosen colors and final designs are then printed or embroidered to enhance the wearable piece of art. The inspiration for Harshita's designs and colors comes from elements of nature, man made structures, symbols of Indian culture and simple geometrical figures and her choice of high quality material includes chiffon, crepe, georgette and charmeuse silk.
Gogo Jewelry has been transforming nature into wearable art for over 30 years…
It all begins with a daily journey through an old maritime forest to the beach, something glistens, uncovered by the tide, awaiting to be transformed into timeless jewelry. This is the routine of jewelry designer Janet 'Gogo' Ferguson. Cumberland is the southernmost of the Georgia barrier islands, home of the Carnegie family for seven generations.
Island matriarchs Lucy Carnegie and granddaughter Lucy Ferguson instilled their wisdom and passion for the natural beauty of the island in generations to follow. Growing up on Cumberland has gifted Gogo with an insatiable sense of wonder and respect for her surroundings; a legacy that is a constant in their transformations of the natural world into their designs.
In her extensive travels she has recognized the foundation that nature provides in design throughout all cultures - from adornment to functional art and sculptures.
Because every intricate detail of the original form is perfectly retained, holding a piece of Gogo jewelry in your hands feels like you are truly entwined with the spirit of the creature or plant that inspired it.
Gogo designed for the Atlanta Olympics, the G8 Summit Meeting held on St Simons Island at the Cloister, and has been featured in films as well as collected by many celebrities and dignitaries around the world.
In 2013 The High Museum in Atlanta Ga. honored Gogo with an eight month installation, Gogo: Nature Transformed, presenting the evolution of her creativity. Her most famous pieces were on display alongside exclusive designs created especially for the exhibit, as well as some of her first natural bone designs and pieces donated by celebrity clients. The exhibition then moved to the Montgomery Museum Of Fine Arts and is looking to move to New York City in 2015.
Most recently Gogo was featured on CBS Sunday Morning’s ‘Where Nature Feels Large’, where Gogo talks about life on Cumberland Island and the inspiration for her unique designs.
Look out for Gogo Jewelry in the upcoming science fiction movie 'Tommorowland', directed by Brad Bird, Featuring George Clooney.
http://hippyfly.com/index.html
Hippyfly
Hippyfly is wild about sharing our love of nature with you! We know that insects are mostly overlooked and often misunderstood but they are a crucial part of our fragile ecosystem. Our hope is that you too will see the tiny wildlife through a Hippyfly lens, and see just how beautiful a bug can be.
Our 100% far-out cotton tees are made using eco-friendly water based inks. We are proud to make environmentally conscious choices in our company.
About Tabbatha Henry
I have been working in clay since I was a little thing and made my first sculpture, an ice cream sundae, only to be followed by a pair of owls on a log.
I studied ceramics in earnest during college, then spent the next 10 or so years honing my technical skills during studio exchanges and work studies in private and community studios. Finally, after learning what I could through sheer trial and error, yet still yearning for serious feedback and aesthetic criticism, I went back to graduate school. I received my MFA from the School for American Crafts at the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2005. Ready to take on the world, I moved back to Vermont soon after, and in 2008 launched Tabbatha Henry Designs.
The process of ceramics has fascinated me since my Intro to Ceramics class in college (or, if you ask my mom, even longer than that). When working in clay, the first thing one might notice is a dialogue that emerges between themselves and the clay. Whether trying something for the first time, or making something for the 100th time, there must exist an understanding between maker and material. Really, it is the maker who must come to understand the material, but through doing so, the material becomes limitless. My challenge, and perhaps everyone's who has ever worked in clay, has been to find the sweet spot between my needs and the capabilities of the material. If the clay does not abide, then I, my approach, or my attitude, must work around it. The process can be humbling and challenging, and keeps me on my toes. Once I find that place though, the only limit is my imagination and willingness, or not, to succumb to the material.
I am of course inspired by the winter landscape here in Vermont. The ever-changing subtleties of light and shadows and the resulting shapes and patterns are a constant source of awe. Hiking through the woods and noticing the intricacies of the moss, the composition of leaves fallen on the ground now covered with frost, dark branches against the grey sky as they splay out from the trees, or the path of the half frozen river…though I have seen these things a million times, somehowit is always new and magical, as if for the first time.
The influence of nature in this way, along with my love for the simple clean lines of Scandinavian design inspires me to make beautiful objects that even the most discerning animal would have in its den.
Mission
It is our goal to create inspiring designs infused with nature, crafted with integrity.
Each piece is made by hand in our Vermont studio. Assisted by Greg Socinski and Jenn Anthony, I cast, decorate, fire, and ship from an old grist mill, overlooking an ever-changing river in Northern Vermont. We do our best to create unique and inspiring works of art to be enjoyed for generations to come.
http://www.italianissimoinc.com/
ABOUT US
Ciao !
ITALIANISSIMO® is a superlative that translates to “very Italian”, and is the essence of what we represent.
ITALIANISSIMO Inc. was founded in 1986 by Diane and Mauro Gennaretti (an "americana" from Boston and "italiano" from Roma), with the intent of introducing the U.S. market to a unique collection of contemporary design products of “very Italian” quality, style, and craftsmanship, never before seen in the USA.
As the exclusive importer and wholesale distributor of products that ranged from hand-painted collectibles, to modern Murano glass vases, to designer kitchenware, to amazing wavy photo frames and avant-garde clocks, ITALIANISSIMO Inc. proudly represented numerous exciting and emerging Italian designers throughout the USA for well over 25 years.
As market trends and currencies made dramatic changes worldwide, in mid 2012, Diane and Mauro decided to take their many years of expertise to design and launch their very own brand of unique fashion jewelry called TUBINO, which is the Italian word for the legendary "little black dress", and literally translates to "little tube".
True to its origins, TUBINO linkable jewelry by ITALIANISSIMO® is Made in Italy with "very Italian" quality, style, and craftsmanship.
Creative, colorful, versatile, and chic, TUBINO is a fresh, easy to wear, modern collection of luxurious soft Italian rubber bracelets and necklaces that link together with an array of beads that include industrial nickel-free metal, elegant handmade murano glass, and sparkling Swarovski crystals.
TUBINO offers unlimited creativity...endless combinations of colors and styles...from simple to elaborate...YOU design...any way...any wear!
We believe that TUBINO is as fun as it is fabulous, as creative as it is affordable, will never go unnoticed, and should always make you smile.
To this day, driven by our passion for modern Italian design, we continue our travels throughout Italy, meeting with artists, designers, and manufacturers, to discover creative and innovative new design products and ideas for our ever-evolving ITALIANISSIMO® collection.
GRAZIE...THANK YOU for your interest in finding out more about us. We hope you enjoy discovering TUBINO as much as we have.
http://www.beimpressedbynature.com/
story
process
design
IMPRESSED by nature evolved organically from a desire to preserve the beauty of nature in a wearable form. An elementary teacher by trade, Kyla has been creating pressed flower jewelry since the summer of 2011. She has always loved creating things with her hands, including a thriving vegetable and flower garden in her backyard in Oakland, CA. Kyla has had a deep love for flowers from a very young age and she finds immeasurable joy in working with plants each day. Like snowflakes, no two petals are alike, making her work inevitably one-of-a-kind and her job interesting.
IMPRESSED by nature's goal is to preserve the brief, wondrous life of a plant, in a simple and stylish way that allows botanical sublimity to speak for itself.
When Kyla began making floral jewelry in 2011 using the traditional pressing technique, she was inspired by the unique character of each petal and was determined to find a way to highlight those botanical details. Using alternative materials (lightweight plastic and earthy copper), IMPRESSED by nature's designs have an effortless feel, which allows the flowers to take center stage. Each piece of jewelry begins on a locally grown plant--sometimes even from my own garden! Once harvested, the plant materials are preserved in large wooden presses for four weeks. They are then sealed in a thin plastic, making them durable and lightweight, and cut by hand to ensure their integrity. The jewelry is created using copper findings to complement the natural tones in the petals and leaves. With every piece of jewelry we hope to connect individuals with nature in a beautiful, wearable form.
IMPRESSED by nature offers a unique medium for wearing real floral jewelry. Pressed flower jewelry is typically made using glass or resin, which can be heavy, environmentally toxic, and distort the organic shape of the plant. Alternatively, using a thin, durable plastic sealant provides a very lightweight and natural looking product—as we can cut to the exact form of the petals—while also maintaining durability. From the earthy copper metal findings to the natural beads used to complement the flowers, the priority is highlighting nature. Many customers love to make a connection to the gifts they are buying; whether the rose petal earrings remind them of their grandmother’s garden or the sunflowers are their favorite flower, the focus on nature allows them to connect with the jewelry.
sustainability
IMPRESSED by nature is committed to building a sustainable organization using locally hand-harvested plant materials. All preserving is done naturally using handmade wooden flower presses, which are energy-free, and as little plastic material as possible. All packaging is made from recycled or salvaged materials. In a world where much of fashion utilizes synthetic materials, IMPRESSED by nature jewelry aims to bring consciousness of plant life and the natural world to the forefront.
Click to read more about sustainability.
http://www.jacarandaliving.com/
Jacaranda Living is a privately held company founded by Cathy and Martin Deale in 2004. It is headquartered in Wellesley, Massachusetts (a suburb of Boston). Cathy and Martin were born on the Kwa Zulu Natal coastline of South Africa and grew up there until 1997 when they moved with their two young children to live in Boston, Massachusetts. Cathy has always had a passionate interest in fine linens and enjoyed doing her own needlework. Jacaranda Living has enabled Cathy to convert her passion into a thriving North American business that also helps support producers whose personal circumstances are less fortunate than ours.
It all started with Cathy’s admiration for the high quality of workmanship produced by talented local Zulu women along the South African coastline. She became determined to try and help them expand their market horizons beyond South Africa. Jacaranda Living (named after a beautiful lilac flowering tree that is prolific in South Africa) was established to support these many wonderful people and their families, who suffer daily with financial hardship and live in an environment that is further compromised by crime and AIDS.
On a trip back to South Africa, Cathy suggested to some embroiderers that she show their beautiful linens to some shops in North America. Of course they were delighted. So, armed with her basket of samples, Cathy walked in and out of gift stores on Newbury St in Boston and nearby Wellesley in Massachusetts. The first orders brought “whoops” of delight, and even more so when those shops reordered after selling out of their towels in only a few weeks.
From those humble beginnings, the company has been able to expand its product mix and introduce other items made by different groups of African women living under similar circumstances. More recently, new items made by women in other countries have been added. All our products are made of natural fabrics - pure cotton, linen, bamboo and silk. Our look is classic European – beautiful embroidery both by hand and machine, whispers of cotton lace, applique or simply unembroidered. In every case we strive to remain true to our mission – to produce beautiful, high quality linens and gifts in a socially responsible environment.
Cathy, Martin and the Jacaranda Living team are committed to supporting their customers with outstanding service. Martin handles business development, marketing, strategic organization and direction. Cathy's tireless energy focuses on the fun part of client interaction and product development. "It's a happy, exciting and fun place to work because our clients have become our best ambassadors" says Cathy.
We hope our products bring a little joy to your home; we know your support will enrich the lives of the women who made them.
Cathy and Martin Deale
http://www.judyjacksonstoneware.com/
I studied at Smith College, New York University Graduate School, Corcoran School of Art, Penland and Greenwich House Pottery. I am a founder of Tribeca Potters, a studio in New York, just outside Manhattan in Long Island City, shared by several other studio potters. The space is bright and very well equipped – we welcome visitors any time.
I am married with two grown children. My husband shares my love of beautiful hand crafted objects and a 6 month sabbatical was spent in a small 15th century village in Wiltshire, England, where I worked at Lacock Pottery and he studied cabinet making.
We live in a rambling Upper West Side apartment and I subway weekdays to my studio. We have built a house and studio in Litchfield County, Connecticut, and every weekend I can work in the country with a break now and then to take my two springer spaniels, Marley and Sam, on hikes. We are surrounded in both our homes with all manner of wood and ceramic treasures – collected from travels, shows and friends.
http://www.jfjonesmobiles.net/
Based out of Greensboro, North Carolina, JFJones Mobiles has been a passion project in the making for almost ten years. Founded by husband and wife team, Jay and Naomi Jones, JFJones mobiles has strived to capture the beauty and whimsy of the natural world and bring it to the public.
In early 2006, Jay was inspired to recreate the leaves of the ginkgo trees that line the streets of downtown Greensboro out of copper. Since then, his work has been featured in print and on NPR, and is now part of numerous private collections. There are now six varieties of naturally-inspired mobiles available and a line of Modern Mobile kits for retail and wholesale.
JFJones Mobiles is carried by galleries in the US and internationally across Europe and Asia. Jay and Naomi are excited to take the business to Paris this September for the Maison et Objet exhibition.
https://www.leakeycollection.com/
Founded in 2002 and based in the Rift Valley of Kenya, The Leakey Collection is dedicated to uniting caring communities worldwide with the women in rural East Africa by using commerce as a vehicle. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation and Green America, The Leakey Collection is built on these active principles:
- Create work opportunity for the Maasai in rural East Africa by using natural, sustainable materials such as contemporary handcrafted fashion accessories, skin care, and lifestyle products.
- Train and educate people in sound business practices in order to enhance their chance for employment, entrepreneurial opportunities and lifelong opportunities.
- Maintain environmental integrity and cultural identity.
- Invest back into local communities in the form of health benefits, education, and infrastructure.
The Birth of Zulugrass
In 2001, a terrible drought persisted for several years and brought devastation to the pasture lands. Thelivelihood of the Maasai disappeared as their cattle died. The men had to drive the few remaining cattle hundreds of miles away in search of better grazing while the women looked desperately for ways to feed, clothe, and educate their children and obtain medical supplies.
Founders Philip and Katy Leakey, who live among the Maasai in East Africa, wanted to provide their neighbors with work opportunities. They came up with an imaginative idea to utilize the excellent beading abilities of the Maasai women by using a readily available, sustainable resource- GRASS- as the primary element. Previously used in the furniture industry due to its strength, the reed-like grass was dried, cut into bead-size pieces, dyed with E.U. approved, environmentally-friendly textile dyes, and strung on durable elastic with hand-blown Czech glass beads. Mobile work stations were set up so the women could bring their babies and toddlers with them and work when they chose. As word passed through the Maasai community, women started walking as much as two hours each way to have their first chance to earn money. Now, even the men have joined in the entrepreneurial opportunities.
Who Are Philip and Katy Leakey?
Philip Leakey is the third and youngest son of paleo-anthropologists Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey. He was a Member of Parliament in Kenya for 15 years, a Deputy Member of the Cabinet for 14 years, and a Member of the Cabinet for 1 year. Philip is known in Kenya for his dedication towards improving conditions for all Kenyans with particular attention to the areas of business opportunity and the environment.
Katy Leakey is an artist and a designer. Her interest as an artist has been to connect diverse cultures through understanding using art as a vehicle. Katy spent time studying ancient cultures in the unexplored areas of the Amazon of Peru and Ecuador before moving to Africa in 2001. In 1964, Allen and Helen O'Brien along with Katy Leakey's parents, Robert and Evelyn Moodey and three others, co-founded the L.S.B. Leakey foundation, lending a cultural anthropological bent towards Katy's lifelong work in art.
About Us
LOTUSLAND IMPORTS:
Vancouver owned. Founded in 2011 by Susan Bibbings. Fair Trade. Curated Luxury Ethical Designs.
Lotusland Imports is rooted in ethics. Every item is produced sustainably, acting as a vehicle for positive social and environmental change -- And the result is beautiful.
THE KILIMANJARO KOLLECTION:
An extraordinary conversation-starting jewellery collection. Fashionable, statement pieces designed under the mentorship of Francesca Torri Soldini at Italy's prestigious Istituto Europeo di Design. From there, Maasai artisan women meticulously handcraft the designs into breathtaking jewellery -- right in their own villages at the foothills of Kilimanjaro -- replacing deforestation with artisanship.Think high fashion fusion where Milan meets Maasai.
View complete Collection here
THE OUT OF AFRICA COLLECTION:
Chic handbag and bag designs with a unique African feel. Exquisite artisan craftsmanship using supple, locally tanned cowhides, suedes and cowfurs in fashionable colours. Impressive attention to detail finished with imported fittings and beautifully designed cloth lining. Featuring locally sourced embellishments such as ostrich shell and "Angoni" cow horn. This cottage industry has revived leather craftsmanship in the area with training initiatives and fair trade employment, while salvaging cowhides that otherwise would have gone to waste.
THE TEMBO TEXTILES COLLECTION:
Unique hand-painted and silk-screened organic textiles from the heart of the African bush -- cushion covers and table linens. The designs are a mix of traditional African motifs and contemporary art. Local men and women paint the textiles in a rich palette of hand-mixed colours. In an area where employment is scarce, they take great pride in their craft. And it shows.
https://instagram.com/lotuslandimports/
https://lotuslandimports.wordpress.com/
Want to learn our backstory?....
The idea for this jewellery project actually came as a creative and collaborative environmental solution to help stop deforestation in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, East Africa, while simultaneously addressing the poverty of the local Maasai tribe by using an innovative business solution. Until our jewellery project, the Maasai tribeswomen in this region generated income by cutting down trees and making and selling charcoal. This resulting deforestation was unsustainable and destructive to the balance of the ecosystem.
In 2006, through a chance meeting of two women in the small Kilimanjaro airport waiting room, a clever but very simple idea was born. Both women discussed how deeply troubled they were by the increasing rate of deforestation and desertification they were witnessing in the region, how bans had failed and were impossible to implement - yet these Maasai women needed a way to make money to support their families. As the women talked the answer became clear. By combining strengths - the design genius from Italy and the rich beading artisanship of the Maasai - a company could be created offering an alternative work solution. Now instead of logging for charcoal these highly talented women artisans are meticulously handcrafting pieces of wearable art using designs created by students at the Istituto Europea di Design in Milan, mentored by partner and Director Francesca Soldini.
The development of this alternative micro enterprise now protects the environment, preserves indigenous culture, at the same time creates a stable and sustainable income source for the women. Now that's a beautiful thing on many levels!
Join us. Every dollar we spend is a vote cast for the kind of world we want to create.
Own a piece of the movement towards fairness, it's a beautiful thing!
Maasai artisan women are able to work from home on their tribal lands, together with their children
Sales revenue from this unique collection has greatly improved life for this entire Maasai community as these artisans now have steady employment with great working conditions where they can work on their tribal land without separation from their children, and are paid fair wages. This stable source of income means they not only gain independence, but with basic needs covered, such as food, medicine and education, they are able to create better lives for themselves, their families and community. Moreover, using this company as a vehicle to teach business and entrepreneurial skills, the Maasai women grow more confident to explore other areas of the company, from design to retail operations.
By helping to develop stable trade channels and access to world markets, Lotusland Imports proudly partners with this international fashion initiative, introducing this stunning high quality Collection to Canada, the US and beyond.
It is our hope that people who purchase and wear our beautiful jewellery not only love their pieces and derive great pleasure in wearing them, but also know that by participating in this global beauty collaboration they are allowing these women a well-deserved opportunity to join the world economy on equal footing and bring their exquisite work to market.
https://www.manifestdesign.in/
About Us
Manifest Design is proud to present its collection of Sculptural Jewelry that is a mélange of Art, Fashion and everything Beautiful!We create timeless pieces that are thoughtfully handcrafted and have a soul that transcends style and cultural boundaries.We hope our Jewelry is collected and shared as mementos that infuse inspirations and rekindle forgotten dreams.
Established in the summer of 2013, Manifest Design a dream project of siblings Manreet & Samraat Deol that has been many years in the making. They set out to create a company that would create authentic meaningful Design while perfectly utilizing their life experiences in the diverse worlds of Luxury design and cutting edge e-commerce businesses.
What manifested ultimately is a brand that strives to make ‘Everyday Wearable Art’. Gorgeous handmade ornaments whose inspirations are varied and eccentric - Gnarled corals, sensuous vines, bold rock sculptures, urban art, opera and street food all somehow influence a unique visual vocabulary that is at once familiar and also unexpected.
The indelible touch of the Sculptor and the metal-smith add an additional layer of intrigue and warmth that truly make the Manifest Design pieces unique.
http://www.melaartisans.com/?gclid=CJvtyuPNvM4CFVc2gQodD8MCNg
Copying issue
http://www.mkporcelain.com/main/
Middle Kingdom wares are inspired by a long and distinguished history of design and craftsmanship in Chinese porcelain, but we contribute a fresh and invigorating style to the genre. Bo Jia and Alison Alten established the Middle Kingdom kiln in 1998 to revive and broaden Chinese porcelain traditions for a modern audience. New works of imperial caliber are now available for everyone.
Middle Kingdom’s highly trained artisans work at a modern facility designed in the regional style near the site of the imperial kilns. The apprenticeship tradition established in antiquity lives on at Middle Kingdom, in much the same way it has for hundreds of years. Our work in all aspects of design and manufacture ensures that Middle Kingdom wares are finely crafted and are of the highest quality. We carefully select the finest clays, work with unique glazes and color blends, and design lyrical works that speak to history and modernity. Our seamless intertwining of design and craftsmanship creates restrained, beautiful works that gain a page in the long story of our chosen medium – earth.
Most recently Middle Kingdom has collaborated with European and American artists who have joined with us to create objects of unassailable integrity. Thought-provoking designs by Foekje Fleur van Duin of Holland inspired from consumer refuse; beautiful cups and carafes that invite a caress, designed by Carola Zee of Holland; classical and forthright garden wares from Cultivated Gardens; or unconventional candle containers by Ragnheiður Ösp Sigurðardóttir of Iceland broaden our collection and invite a fresh look at an ancient craft.
Mizuki Lamps 光 This line of lamps are inspired by the Japanese art of Origami. the structural properties of this technique provided by the crease. The 3 lamps correspond to a single fold line, using equivalent angles with different repetitions the 3 different versions are created.
About Miya Inc.
In 1947, Mr. Miya [pronounced MEE-ya] incorporated his flower shop on 28th Street in New York City. Over the years, this little mom & pop shop has evolved into Miya, Inc., the premier importer and wholesaler of Japanese tableware and gifts on the East Coast. Owned and operated by Mr. Miya's nephew and family, Miya continues to bring the best of Japan home so you can too.
After many years of people asking us how they can get our products, we have finally opened our online ecommerce site for sales directly to the consumer. We encourage you to buy from your local retailer where you can personally see and feel the products but if you are having trouble finding the Miya item you want, it may be available here! For a list of featured retailers, see below.
About Our Products
Our mission is to provide the most unique products made in, or inspired by, Japan for the global market. We make several buying trips every year to ensure that we stay current with the marketplace but we never stray from our vision. Our inspirations are Japanese but our sensibilities cross cultures. Our products are grounded in tradition but have a modern aesthetic. Miya is in its third generation but we've only just begun.
https://www.mode-living.com/pages/about-us
About us
Verda and Tania met at Columbia Business School in 2007, and instantly connected over their love for home decor, cuisine and entertaining. They knew it was only a matter of time that they forayed out of the corporate world and into creating a business of their own, rooted in these passions. In 2014, after over 10 years of experience behind them, these two women applied the skills they gained from their work experiences and combined their taste in home decor to create a company and culture of their own, with products they believed in and knew could be accessible and enjoyable to many.
Mode Living combines Verda’s Turkish heritage and her love of home decor, along with Tania’s Persian value of home cooked meals symbolizing love, family and community. The collection features easy care tablecloths with elegant, versatile designs, and a high quality touch and feel. Each item has been carefully designed and specially coated with an ecofriendly finishing to prevent wine or other liquids from staining. With inspiration from their friends and family around them, the two created a collection of tastefully designed easycare products to make entertaining at home a luxurious yet easy experience.
And thus, Mode Living was formed.
Designwise India was established by Mukul Goyal in 1998 to provide a channel to his creative pursuits. Today,
Designwise India Pvt. Ltd. – an organization steeped in design, markets its products under two distinct brands –
Mukul Goyal signature brand of giftware and home accents and Tattva® range of Art Hardware.
The company prides itself on the strong team comprising of designers, design sensitive technicians, a well equipped design studio, sampling facility and an organized production environment.
In addition to this there is a team looking after marketing and distribution of the company’s products and brands in India and across the world.
The wide range of products under Tattva® Art Hardware brand can be found at leading hardware and furnishing stores in India.
The Mukul Goyal signature range of objects is now available in almost 30 countries around the world and sold through the finest gift stores.
About Us
Nativa is a women's clothing boutique dedicated to sharing the voice and talent of amazing fair trade artisans located throughout remote villages in Mexico. As a modern shop located in the heart of San Antonio, we aspire to promote the passion of the wonderful artisans we have the great honor of working with by featuring their beautiful, handmade Mexican blouses, dresses, and accessories. As per our name, Nativa, you can be assured all of our textiles and accessories are directly obtained from Mexican natives.
When purchasing a hand woven cotton blouse made in Chiapas or a colorful beaded necklace from Hidalgo, you are not only buying a unique piece that can never be replaced, you are also empowering those who painstakingly make them in order to provide a modest income for their families. This direct interaction with each artisan allows them to continue to create quality products and pass on their traditions for generations to come.
The Origins of Nativa
As a young girl growing up in Mexico, Tressa Castro, owner of Nativa, developed a love and passion for the beautiful needlework on Mexican blouses and guayaberas. She was always entranced by the intricate patterns and lively, bright colors and eventually received a Master's degree in Textile Design. From there, her career focus shifted to graphic design until a visit from friends set her on a different path.
In the summer of 2009, some family friends came to visit in Mexico. Like with any trip, they sought out souvenirs to take back with them. Luckily for us, while they were beginning to gather the typical trinkets, Tressa had a better idea. She sent them back with intricate, handmade blouses and guayaberas made by local artisans as she felt those unique pieces would make much better gifts.
She was right. It was love at first sight. Women and men went crazy for them. Within no time, people were requesting more and more items that she finally had to open a small showroom. Shortly thereafter, in 2010, Tressa opened Nativa in the Alamo Heights district of San Antonio and continues to personally welcome guests to her boutique when she isn't in Mexico visiting with the artisans.
http://shop.nikaia.com/content/4-about-us
Nikaia's president, Nathalie Duncan, is a French native who moved to the United States in 1989. Aware that her Doctorate degree in Philosophy was not going to take her very far on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, she took a job with a key supplier for The Sharper Image in San Francisco. Nathalie later joined the prestigious retail and mail order company to handle their international sales.
It was a fierce yet amazing immersion in the business world worth any MBA she could have pursued. First, the exposure to the retail environment was exceptional. Back then, The Sharper Image was among the top retailers in the high end segment of the market. From merchandising to inventory control to visual presentation, each department was directed by top notch executives. But the Sharper Image was also a supplier to its franchises overseas and it became quickly obvious how one tends to vastly underestimate the cultural differences between international markets and how a super-seller in one country can be a complete lemon in another one.
In 1999, while sourcing merchandise at a tradeshow in Frankfurt, Germany, she discovered and fell in love with the Coeur de Lion jewelry line. The collection, contemporary, simple and colorful, was "crisp" and "clean" like nothing else. Finding out that it was still unavailable in America, Nathalie met with designer Carola Eckrodt and husband /business partner Nils Eckrodt and agreed to import the line into the USA under the name of Rosselini (because of a since resolved trademark conflict).
From those beginnings, NIKAIA has grown to become on of the premier importers and distributors of unique European fashion jewelry lines, including Coeur de Lion, Sandrine Giraud Creations, Samuel Coraux, Laurent Guillot, Thierry Joo, Antares Venezia, and CLIC by Suzanne.
Nikaia has been a distributor in the USA of handcrafted European lines of high end designer jewelry (bridge jewelry) since 1997. We sell directly to individual consumers via this website, and sell to qualified retailers on our wholesale site www.nikaia.com/wholesale.
http://www.peopleofthesun.net/#!weddings/c14av
mission
We want to help low-income artisans build sustainable businesses, which willraise their income and standard of living. In turn this will preserve their cultural heritage and ensure indigenous skills survive for the next generation.
process
We search for the best artisans in the markets and villages of Southern Malawi and invite them to work with us. Those who are keen and committed to working hard become People of the Sun! We teach People of the Sun groups the basics of running a business, work with them to develop bespoke designs and connect them with customers around the world. We also provide them with interest-free loans so they can invest in equipment and materials to establish and grow their enterprises.
sustainability
We monitor and develop every stage of the value chain, to ensure a continuous and efficient supply of products for our customers and our partner artisans. To generate demand we partner with talented designers and respected international brands, creating innovative, irresistible designs, raising our public profile and strengthening brand awareness. This ensures our artisans have regular income, their enterprises grow steadily and their communities are continually enriched.
impact
Malawi has been declared the poorest country on the planet, by the world bank, with GDP per capita at just USD 226.5. With your custom and support, People of the Sun is improving the lives of more than 600 Malawians: artisans, their families and their community members.
http://www.jeremyrandallceramics.com
The origin of Jeremy Randall Ceramics
and the beginning of Rusty Wheel Pottery
Jeremy Randall received his B.F.A. from Syracuse University and his M.F.A. in ceramics from the University of Florida, and has been making his hand built pottery professionally since 2005. He currently lives in Tully, New York, where he owns and operates his home studio. Jeremy is a visiting instructor of art at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia NY, and an adjunct professor of art at Syracuse University. Jeremy has been involved in numerous national and international shows, is represented by Red Lodge Clay Center in Red lodge MT, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, Society of Arts And Crafts in Boston, among others. He also has work included in the permanent collections of Robert and Jane Myerhoff in Baltimore, Bailey Pottery Equipment permanent Collection, and the Southern Illinois University Museum in Carbondale, Illinois.
Jeremy Randall Ceramics was officially started in 2009, with energy placed on making, showing, and selling work nationally and internationally. Retail shows in the New England area have been a new venture with pleasant results, and being able to have personal interactions with my audience has been wonderful. Thank you for visiting, and hope to see you at a show or out in the ceramic world in the future.
In an effort to work with space constraints, fulfill demand for work, and become more connected to the local community, Rusty Wheel Pottery was opened in April of 2015 as a way to house studio making, and a space to teach community classes. Click on the link below to connect to the studio website and facebook page for more info.
http://krileywearableart.squarespace.com
My training and specialties are in textile and apparel design, illustration, and costume history. My botanical and insect inspired collection is linoleum block printed. I design, illustrate and painstakingly hand-carve each linoleum block. Each garment section is printed before construction. I layer prints and colors to get the desired effect, carefully considering all the garment design details before printing. I translate shapes and details from the past, adding a contemporary twist. I strive to create a unique, wearable, and beautifully constructed garment with timeless design, historical references, and impeccable craftsmanship.
Our Mission
We aim to inspire kids to grow one billion wildflowers to bring back the bees and ensure a sustainable food system for their future.
Our Story
Ei Ei is a tree hugging mom with over a decade of experience in environmental, outdoor, and social justice education. In what she laughingly calls her spare time, she is an aspiring writer of short fictions and children stories about kids and the planet.
Chris is a serial social entrepreneur especially adept at building groundbreaking organizations around shared values and bold visions. Having fulfilled diverse leadership roles in organizations such as CouchSurfing International, UCSF School of Medicine, and MyFarm his experiences in strategic planning, operations, human resources and marketing have been both broad and deep. As Co-Founder and Co-Director of Hayes Valley Farm in San Francisco, he thrived on working with people to develop regenerative relationships with the planet and each other.
Orion is a drool factory and a giggle farm. He loves trees and milk. He is the inspiration for his mom and dad to make each and every tomorrow better than today.
Our special mix is …
- Laughter 80%
- Discipline 90%
- Fun 100%
Yes we realize that it adds up to more than 100%, we like giving ... a lot.
Extended Family Members
Seedles wouldn't function without the help of many others along the way, including our growing family of team members.
Kristine Morales
Kristine is an engineer, a designer, a plant lover, and also a little sketchy when it comes to drawing real life as a comic. Although she’s been with us for less than a year, Kristine has re-designed our seed balls to be even more super awesome than they already were. She previously served with the U.S. Peace Corps in Tanzania, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering. When not working at Seedles she enjoys Ultimate Frisbee, smiling and creating scavenger hunts.
You ?
Think you you have what it takes to bring back the bees? Contact us with your passion and your desired position and we'll give it a looksy.
Born on a horse farm, Kent learned fundamentals of leather craft from his mother, and metal craft from his father who is a blacksmith. At Brown University, Kent focused in on new media and arts- where different digital technologies were applied to create art that merged traditional and cutting edge techniques. We believe that a great handbag can engage people in the same way as art.
Meet Our Angels
uscle
A former cobbler and vintage style expert. An eagle-eye in the shop, spotting and eliminating imperfections. Driving production numbers to stratospheric heights.
pecial Ops
Apparel and pattern expert, she will cut you.. a handbag.
Intel
Tapping lines, laying wires, she is there before we arrive and after we leave.
http://www.sudarshantextilearts.com
Sudarshan meaning "beautiful" specialises in creating beautiful hand-crafted textiles
We seek beautiful imperfections by the human hand.
Textile Designer / Artist Hemangini Singh , specialist in hand - crafted textiles founded Sudarshan.
"I love textiles and wanted to make a difference in the lives of artisans by expanding markets for thier beautiful crafts ."
Sudarshan works directly with master craftsmen and Textile Artists globally to create traditionally made contemporary textiles and accessories. Sudarshan’s mission has evolved to create innovative designs that build on sustainable production techniques .
More than selling , focus is on design development and working closely with artisan groups in the fields of natural dyeing , hand blockprinting and handloom . Emphasis is on the artisan’s relationship to the textile , melding contemporary design with local craft techniques.
The textiles are naturally dyed and use carefully handcrafted printing and weaving techniques which are environmentally sustainable.
Sudarshan empowers artisans with a sustainable , fair- trade income through their craft , support for thier community and a global platform for their work .
“DEVI” by Sudarshan is a brand of handcrafted natural products celebrating luxury design througn the process of making . Part of proceeds will go towards funding craft schools in India to educate women in local craft industries and providing them opportunities for empowerment .
BOYD SUGIKI
Boyd Sugiki was first introduced to glass at Punahou High School in Honolulu, HI, where he was raised. He went on to receive a BFA in Glass from California College of Arts and Crafts and a MFA in Glass from Rhode Island School of Design.
LISA ZERKOWITZ
Lisa Zerkowitz has a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from the University of California, Santa Barbara, not far from her native Los Angeles. She received her Master’s degree in Art Education from the Rhode Island School of Design while simultaneously completing the undergraduate program in Glass.
TOGETHER
In 2007, they founded Two Tone Studios in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle, WA. They chose to establish their studio in the Pacific Northwest to be a part of the rich glass community that exists in the region. Their studio name refers to the use of color as well as the two voices behind the work. Each piece is designed and hand made by Sugiki and Zerkowitz, from sketch to finished piece. They are well known throughout the glass community and have been invited to many prestigious institutions to lecture and demonstrate in this country and abroad.
In addition to the Two Tone Studios line, Sugiki and Zerkowitz also make one-of-a-kind pieces that you can see on their individual websites:
Founded in Montreal, and groomed in New York City, Umsteigen bursts upon you like oneiric snapshots from a fairy tale. Susanne Schubert, the creator and designer of Umsteigen, revitalizes traditional clothing like hoodies, tanks and sweatshirts and blows them up into playful works of wearable art.
Made for the discerning woman with a sense of humor and a wink of coyness, Umsteigen's quirky designs hark back to Sunday morning frühstücken at the kitchen table, father reading the Brothers Grimm before bedtime, and the scent of licorice and nutmeg. All designs are limited-edition and individually hand screen printed.
Umsteigen defines the small-scale design-driven fashion house, designed and manufactured in NYC using local resources. To own an Umsteigen is a statement of your individuality, your personality, and your inimitable style. What it comes down to is that Umsteigen is made specifically for you and no one else. Ms. Schubert, rest assured, would have it no other way.
Obsessive Excellence.
- Vetro Vero designs are hand-crafted in America by designers Michael Schunke & Josie Gluck.
- Vetro Vero translates from Italian to mean "true glass." The label speaks to authenticity and integrity in materials, design and craftsmanship; values for which the brand has gained world-wide recognition.
- Schunke and Gluck launched Vetro Vero together in 2011, when their collaborative vision merged Schunke's Nine Iron Studios with Gluck's independent design practice to preserve tradition and express creative innovation through excellence in design and craftsmanship.
- All Vetro Vero objects are individually hand-blown, shaped and finished without the use of molds or machinery. From melting glass to shipping orders, Josie's and Michael's are the only hands that touch the work. Vetro Vero's limited production model intentionally provides the framework for the makers to meet their obsessive standards of excellence.