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.

I am delighted to circle back with a longtime colleague and friend Sara Berks of MINNA this month. I've worked with Sara over the years, and during that time, I’ve watched her company grow leaps and bounds. She started with just a few small lines of rugs and pillows from Guatemala and has since opened up a brick-and-mortar shop in Upstate New York and developed one of the leading artisan brands in the US. What sets MINNA apart – beyond the soulfulness of its art direction, the quality of its products, and the fantastic storytelling – is the cohesiveness of her brand. Sara and her team have developed a signature style that is seen all the way through, from conception to execution, from product designs to how each new collection is thoughtfully photographed. As I work with brands, I always stress the value of strong photography. I am delighted to feature Sara this week as a primary example of someone who has built a strong brand identity through design, photography, and storytelling. Dive into our interview here - I hope you enjoy it. 

This month, I'm delighted to share with you another interview with Maud Lerayer, of Behind of Hill. I have been following Maud's brand for quite some time and what caught my eye was her focus on working with one artisan enterprise in Guatemala, and going deep with storytelling, and a focus on sourcing the highest materials that she is able. There is a story of people, material, and of course, her line of products is beautiful. Maud was born and raised in France but a journey to Mexico in 2003 was life-changing. That was where the seed to start her business working with artists in Guatemala and Mexico was born. She now has a blossoming brand creating contemporary textiles using a variety of heirloom color grown cotton which grows wild, offering gorgeous shades of pink, terracotta, greens, and more. She works with artists who still grow, spin, and weave the cotton, the same way it has been done for centuries.

This month, I am delighted to dive deep into four different artisan groups from India whom I have been working with via Aid to Artisans, to help create market opportunities for artists in Kashmir, India. Over the course of the next month, I will be featuring four new collections, recently designed and developed in partnership with a series of talented designers as a way to bring fresh, new sustainable home décor collections to you.