AOW Insider | Interview: A Conversation with The Citizenry

This month, I'm so excited to bring another interview to you, this time speaking with Haley Seidel, Vice President of Design and Development for The Citizenry. In my eyes, The Citizenry is one of the leading artisan brands in the field today. They design and curate a thoughtful assortment of items for the home, made by talented artists around the globe.

It’s been such a joy to watch this company grow over the years. I met the founder Carly in Guatemala eight years ago when she was just brainstorming her dream. Then a year later, I reconnected with Carly and her business partner Haley in New York, and their concept was already coming to life in such a strategic and beautiful way. They saw a place in the market for their vision of artisan goods, designed exclusively for their brand. Years later, they now have not only a leading home decor brand creating real impact for the artisan sector but also a newly opened shop in the heart of SOHO. They continue to inspire the field and their consumers.

I’ve had the honor of working with The Citizenry and helped with their sourcing in the beginning stages. It’s amazing to see them stay committed to their partners and push design to keep their brand ahead of their competition.

I spoke with Haley about the business, the challenges of her role, what inspires her, and how her design team stays ahead of the curve.

Read the full interview below!

Can you tell us a bit about your role at The Citizenry?

I oversee all design, product development and sourcing at The Citizenry. We have a small but mighty team of four and work closely with many or our artisan partners to create unique designs each season. 

What are some of the biggest challenges in your work?

One of our biggest challenges is time. We love dreaming up designs that you won’t be able to find anywhere else but there isn’t enough time in the day to develop everything we want to! We try the best we can to keep on a seasonal calendar but we know we have to be flexible and if something has to push to the next season, that’s ok. Good things take time.

Since you have been working in this field for some time, I'm curious, how do you see this sector at the moment and where do you see things moving in the future?

With artisan and handmade design becoming more mainstream, it means there is more awareness and appreciation from a broader audience. I love that customers are becoming even more mindful of the impact their purchases have and are excited to be engaged with how and where things are made. In the future, I see more emphasis being made on sustainability throughout the lifecycle of a product – from the material procurement, to the last mile of shipping, to how it may be re-used or repaired after many years of use. 

As you know, the artisan-made market is becoming more and more competitive and saturated. What are some of your key strategies for staying ahead of the curve? 

We like to focus on what our customer will want and what will work best in their homes as opposed to what else is out there in the market. With their needs in mind, we stay aware of the trends but try to create designs that are timeless and won’t go out of style in the next few years. I also think creating collections of exclusive designs sets us apart. Our customer loves to shop with us for things that can’t be found anywhere else.

What does a day in the life of Haley look like today? 

Every day is truly different but that is one of the things I love about working at The Citizenry. There is always a new problem to solve or challenge we didn’t expect. It never gets boring. On a typical day my team and I are planning for the next season’s collection, sourcing new products, sketching new designs, and reviewing samples. We’re often hopping on a call or chatting back and forth with our artisan partners as we work through the design process.

As a designer, what are some of your sources of inspiration?  

When starting a new collection I look to a few things to get inspired: art for color inspiration, fashion for texture and detail, and interiors for styling. I’m often looking to the environment, architecture, or vintage styles from where the product is made. Working with our artisan partners we want to create a sense of place through each piece while respecting traditional techniques and craftsmanship. 

I’m always on the lookout for books on interior or product design. One of my most recent buys was Rattan: A World of Elegance and Charm while designing one of our upcoming furniture collections.

What's in store for The Citizenry in 2022? Anything new you can share with us? 

After two long years of a pandemic we’re ready to bring a little optimism and joy into our homes through pops of energizing color – shades of yellow, pink and red will complement our calming, neutral palette. 

For more info, visit: https://www.the-citizenry.com/