This week, I am delighted to feature the work of Creative Women. They have been building sustainable partnerships with skilled artisans since 2007, gracefully combining modern designs with traditional production methods, using the finest recycled and sustainably harvested materials. If you are a retailer or large wholesaler looking to find a new partner for wooden home accents, this is a great source!

Creative Women has two strong new collections that we wanted to share with you. This is the first of two emails we'll be sharing this month. 

This month, I'm delighted to share with you another interview with Maud Lerayer, of Behind of Hill. I have been following Maud's brand for quite some time and what caught my eye was her focus on working with one artisan enterprise in Guatemala, and going deep with storytelling, and a focus on sourcing the highest materials that she is able. There is a story of people, material, and of course, her line of products is beautiful. Maud was born and raised in France but a journey to Mexico in 2003 was life-changing. That was where the seed to start her business working with artists in Guatemala and Mexico was born. She now has a blossoming brand creating contemporary textiles using a variety of heirloom color grown cotton which grows wild, offering gorgeous shades of pink, terracotta, greens, and more. She works with artists who still grow, spin, and weave the cotton, the same way it has been done for centuries.

As you’ve seen throughout the last few weeks, Kashmir is home to a wealth of creative craft traditions. I’m delighted to share one more with you. This new collection celebrates the art of crewel embroidery. It was created in partnership with Aid to Artisans/ Creative Learning, Rangustra enterprise, and the Nooraari Crafts Producer Company. The designer is Hemangini Rathore Singh. The end goal was not only to create a beautiful export-ready collection but also to build market employment opportunities to help keep this ancient art alive for future generations of Kashmiri artists. This colorful collection was inspired by the hues and motifs which remind us of summer, working with both cotton and silk that allow the fine embroidery work to shine.

The second of the four new 'Made in Kashmir' collections is a beautiful Papier-Mâché line designed by the Aid to Artisans/Creative Learning (ATA) team and Aviva Maya Shulem Design NYC, crafted by artists in Kashmir. I am delighted to promote this project with the support of ATA, to help create market opportunities for artists in India.

This collection resonates with a sense of innovation, environmental sensitivity, and aesthetic timelessness as the artists transform recycled paper pulp and wood into gorgeous decorative accents for your clients’ homes. The process doesn't require the use of any electricity as the pieces are made entirely by hand. The artists work with upcycled materials and use natural sunlight for drying. Sasha Association for Craft Producers a non-profit organization, is facilitating this project alongside the Zadibal Craft Producer Company in Kashmir.

This week, I would love to tell you a bit about one of my partners from Bangladesh that offers all things made of cane. Traditionally, cane artisans in Bangladesh produced household items like baskets for carrying rice or other agricultural products. It was a skill passed down from mother to child, especially within the country’s Hindu communities. In recent years, however, plastic has slowly crept into the market, competing with natural fiber basketry.

This week, Annie interviews Amira of Archive NY. Let’s dive in! “First of all, I want to say, ‘I LOVE VINTAGE’. I love the faded colors, the history you can imagine each cloth has been through, and the uniqueness of each piece. I love how it’s a historical timeline for color trends and patterns from a specific place. Vintage offers a never-ending anthropological and artistic study.”