I’m honored to feature an interview with one of my favorite writers, Dana Thomas. For those of you who aren't familiar with her work, Dana is the author of a number of nonfiction titles on the fashion industry, including Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes, Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano and the New York Times bestseller Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster. She began her career writing for the Style section of The Washington Post and for fifteen years she served as a cultural and fashion correspondent for Newsweek in Paris. I have been a fan of Dana's work for many years, so it is a true delight to feature her on AOW's platform of interviewees.

I am delighted to interview Mathieu of In Tweed We Trust, a colleague I had the pleasure to meet and photograph last year. Mathieu's work is dear to my heart because it ties into the story that I am photographing about the French wool industry. He is one of the few designers working with local farmers here in France to source the fibers for his bespoke textiles. He is truly walking the walk and has a sincere drive to help sustain French textile weaving know-ho

This month, I interviewed my dear friend and colleague Laurie Kanes, founder of 12 Small Things. I have had the honor of working with Laurie in the past and see her as a mentor as she has been working with artisans for quite some time. She masterfully juggles the roles and responsibilities of being a sales rep while taking the bold move to open up a beautiful retail shop in San Francisco as a way to showcase many of the artisan brands which she represents.

I am delighted to interview Chinar Farooqui, founder of INJIRI, one of my personal fave artisanal brands. The company works with artists in India to create exquisite home decor and apparel. Their attention to detail will make you swoon – their products are delicate, chic, thoughtful and timeless. They speak about their products with grace and don't try too hard. Their belief in what they do shines through in the natural voice of their marketing communication. They dig into techniques, materials, and design – always accompanied with beautiful photography.

This month, Annie interviewed with Marcella Echavarria and Kavita Parmar, who just wrapped up TEXTO, so I thought it would be fun to share a quick recap for those of you who were not able to make it. If you aren't familiar, TEXTO was a global gathering of artists and advocates for the artisan sector that took place this past winter in Mexico City. Products were sold from master artists and a lot of conversations were had on the current and future state of the sector.

Since many of you are heading to Paris for Maison & Objet, I thought it would be a great time to interview my dear friend and colleague Fiona Cameron. Fiona is the founder of Storie, a beautiful boutique dedicated to high-quality artisanal goods based in the 14th arrondissement in Paris. I first met Fiona on a sourcing trip in Morocco and we've been exchanging stories, experiences within the field, and laughs ever since. With a background in journalism, opening up a shop seemed like a natural next step in her career considering her love for storytelling, travel and design. At the time in 2011 it was a totally new concept so she saw a niche.