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.

This week, I wanted to share an article I recently wrote for CFDA on ethical sourcing tips for artisan brands. I wrote the piece primarily for entrepreneurs and artisan brands who are new to the field but I think it can be of interest to anyone looking for a refresher on how best to incorporate artisanal handcraft production into their supply chain. I dive into what I’ve seen working over the years and have some tips for success in vetting new artisan partners and growing those relationships into healthy, sustainable partnerships.

For those of you who weren’t able to make it to the Peru Gift Show in Lima this April, I thought I would go ahead and share some snapshots. This is an annual show featuring artisan suppliers throughout Peru in categories such as reversed painted glass mirrors and home accessories, knitted alpaca and cotton toys and children’s items, gourd jewelry, Cusco striped blankets, embroidered bags and belts from Ayacucho, stoneware and ceramics, ornaments from a wide variety of materials, reclaimed wooden tabletop, and of course endless pillows and throws made using the finest alpaca.