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.

This week, I am excited to continue my promotion of talented enterprises exhibiting at the New World Crafts online fair, a wonderful sourcing opportunity for those interested in working with artists from Guatemala and throughout Central America. The work of these two vendors – La Casa Cotzal and Topis Ceramica – really stands out to me so I wanted to share a bit more about each of them.

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 past winter I ventured to Morocco alongside my sourcing partner and friend, Frederic Alcantara. We had an incredible journey exploring the craftsmanship of southern Morocco together. The trip is one I will hold near to my heart as Frederic recently and unexpectedly passed away. I feel honored to have spent as much time as I did with him, to see him in action doing what he loves. For those who knew him, Frederic was a special soul. He had a kind heart and a true passion for the artisan sector. He put his all into opening opportunities for artists in Morocco and beyond.

I am delighted to share some beautiful tunics from my partner in Colombia. These beauties continue to be a best seller for my partner. I know many of your clients are loving loungewear, so I wanted to be sure to share them with you. These tunics are all hand-woven in Bogota, where artist Reinaldo Nino and his team hand weave each piece. They use horizontal looms to neatly crisscross cotton threads in simple or combined ways to achieve stripes and chic colorways.

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.