This week, I am delighted to feature the second new collection conceived and brought to life by Maura Kroh Lall, the founder of Creative Women. Since 2007, she has been dedicated to cultivating sustainable partnerships with skilled artisans across Kenya. I consider her an invaluable resource for retail and wholesale buyers alike, particularly those interested in ethically sourced wooden home accents.

This week, I am delighted to share another export-ready product line and material in which Palestine specializes: olive wood. Palestine is home to some of the world’s oldest olive trees, dating back nearly 4,000 years. For millennia, the olive tree has been the pillar of Palestinian agrarian culture and has become a symbol of peace, beauty, and prosperity. Throughout that time, it was also renowned as a beautiful material from which to make durable, resistant, and sustainable products. The craft heritage was first introduced in the 4th Century as a way to provide souvenirs to Byzantine pilgrims and it remains a cornerstone of the artisan industry there today.