I am delighted to spotlight one of today’s hottest independent retailers. PORTA brings together European tableware and home furnishings, with a focus on local craft, independent artisans, unique designs, and everyday use.  I was delighted to interview Alice Russotti, one of the co-founders of PORTA, earlier this month. The brand she and her co-founder Francesca have created always surprises me in the subtle ways it pairs traditional textiles and ceramics with contemporary flair. It's an artful balance that’s hard to achieve, but they do it so.
 
During the interview, we chat about running a small business, sourcing inspiration, marketing techniques, and her favorite spots in NYC. Alice didn't hold back when sharing her insights and wisdom.

This week, I’m delighted to dive into the craft behind fique rugs and to showcase the work of one of my Colombian partners who makes them. When I first traveled to Colombia many years ago, these are one of the products that really stood out. I’m excited to share for those of you looking for a new, chic line of rugs. You might be wondering, what is fique? It’s a fleshy tropical succulent plant native to Colombia – you’ll often see it planted next to other crops as many Colombian families plant it to sell to their local artisan markets. The fiber takes three years to grow.

This week I’m excited to focus on one of my partners from Ethiopia, who are crafting some of the most timeless, quality textiles for bath, kitchen and everyday use. They offer a wide range of placemats, runners, scarves, cushions, throws, and other table linens but today we’re spotlighting these beautiful towels which are fairly new to the mix.

This month, I am honored to interview Karen Gibbs, co-founder of ByHand Consulting. The company, which she runs alongside her business partner, Colvin English, helps artisan businesses create marketing plans to increase sales and profitability, and supports artisan brands in developing ethical supply partnerships with artisan producers.

This week we dive into indigo ikat, designed by a French brand that I am repping who works with artists in Guatemala and Mexico. There is so much to explore within their full collection but I wanted to start by sharing this stunning fabric.
The indigo used in this collection originated in the Americas. For thousands of years, communities used this blue color in pottery, murals, and textiles. The dye is extracted from a plant called anil. To produce the dye in Oaxaca, leaves are cut, crushed, and fermented in water for 20 days in a clay jar placed in the sun.

From puzzles to tic tac toe, these games are beautiful when set on a table and are a welcome addition for all of us as we spend more time at home these days. They also have an adorable set of laundry clips and heart paperweights to jazz up one’s desk.