Artisan Spotlight @ New World Crafts: Itza Wood
As many of you know, I have partnered up with New World Crafts, an online fair and sourcing platform featuring the work of artisan producers and brands from Guatemala and throughout Central America.
This week, I’d like to share the work of Itza Wood, an enterprise that is featured on the New World Crafts online platform and that I am very proud to represent personally.
This enterprise stands out for many reasons. They bring a fresh design aesthetic to woodwork and natural fibers while centering their mission and ethos at the heart of everything they do. Based in the beautiful Peten forest of Guatemala (the second-largest tropical forest in the Americas), they work with natural fibers and exotic woods that are either upcycled or have FSC certifications to create their beautiful tabletop and home decor pieces. Not only is the material sustainably sourced but they are actively using the enterprise as a way to support the local community through educational initiatives. I see Itza Wood as a true leader and a prime example of a visually beautiful but also socially and environmentally conscious enterprise.
Quick interview with Eliza of Itza Wood below:
How many years have you exported to the US?
5 years
What is your best-selling product?
Our serving boards and utensils (spoons, salad sets, scoops, picks, spreaders)
What is the product you are most excited about this year?
Our new fibers collection!
What is your minimum opening order + where do you ship from?
Our minimum opening order is $300 and we ship from Guatemala
Itza Wood Founder, Eliza Babarczy, On What Sets the Brand Apart:
"We're located in Peten, Guatemala which is a very remote and underdeveloped part of the country. Looking around to see what we could work with to create more job opportunities in the region it was hard not to notice the stunning tropical woods. There are plenty of natural resources available in this area and there is also a longstanding carving tradition, especially of smaller objects because it’s the best way to use branches and offcuts of wood that is cut for lumber.
As much as we love a well designed wooden desk or table, we see so much good and opportunity in designing around the offcuts and making smaller objects. The value chain feels very pure. We take something that would rot in the lumber yard and turn it into something beautiful that helps people break out of the cycle of poverty.
We’ve seen firsthand the devastating effects of deforestation and know that the solution is not to never touch the natural resource but rather to add value to it such that it makes more sense to protect the forest than to destroy it. Sustainability is key. That is why we also have a boutique carpentry shop, not some huge industrial workshop. We don’t want to industrialize the jungle."
Email me to get in touch with Itza Wood or click here to see the full lineup of exhibitors at the NWC show. Looking for something specific? Be in touch and I can help match you to the appropriate vendor.