Are you a shop or brand looking for unique hand-woven natural fiber by the yard? If so, I have a partner to introduce you to that is doing just that. My colleague oversees design and development for a group of expert women weavers in Uganda who make textiles by the yard. You can assemble the final pieces or work with my partner in the US to finalize everything. Their plaited palm material is a really unique product in the market and is incredibly versatile – you can use it to upholster furniture, sew into handbags, frame it as wall art, or turn it into beautiful pillows.

Today I’d like to take you on a journey to Thailand, where I’ve recently connected with a group of artists that specializes in water hyacinth. If you’re looking to bring in a new line of basketry, storage containers, or handbags, they may be the perfect partner for you. For years, the Thai government spent tens of millions of dollars fighting this feisty weed as it clogged rivers and canals. But recently innovative entrepreneurs have found new functions for water hyacinth as an environmentally friendly fiber for their work.