German-born jewelry artist Carina Shoshtary has created some of the most out of the box pieces I’ve seen of late in her What’s Left of Krypton series. Shoshtary uses broken pieces of previously graffitied walls, combining them to form the most interesting brooches and necklaces.
Dino Sanchez’s One Off Goods is a beautifully crafted collection of one-of-a-kind leather and wooden goods. Each piece is so thoughtfully designed and executed that his work is sure to gather heirloom status from each proud owner.
Something about January makes me feel like I should be hunkered down embroidering next to a roaring fire. The problem is I haven’t done so much as cross-stitch since elementary school, so the end results would be nothing as spectacular as the work of Lorena Marañon. The Cuban-born artist is inspired by the landscapes of her youth – northeastern coastlines, rivers, and plants – and the colors that surrounded her. The result is a beautiful body of work that’s full of embroidery, patchwork, and jewelry.
Designer-owners Amy Pastre and Courtney Rowson are creating amazing things for desktop, tabletop, and travel. Within the past year or so I’ve become a massive fan of these ladies and what they’re doing over at Sideshow Press. Amy and Courtney believe in great design and craftsmanship for everyday products and are dedicated to working with remarkable materials and like-minded American manufacturers. All things I stand behind wholeheartedly. It doesn’t hurt that they know their way around a letterpress machine like a couple of bosses either.
I’m forever on the lookout for products that are not only well made and look great, but that give something back. ESPEROS does just that. When you purchase one of their amazingly well-designed bags they give 10% to to fund education initiatives – in fact, every single ESPEROS bag sold helps fund one year of education for a child in the developing world.
But they go even further with total transparency concerning their factory and workers in Shenzhen, China, where the bags are manufactured after being designed in Austin, TX. Average age? 33. Average work week? 45 hours. ESPEROS provides these workers with three meals a day as well as free housing and full benefits.
Oh, and the bags are waterproof, stain resistant, machine washable, and made with durable, fine-aging canvas. Now that’s a purchase you can feel solid about making.
I’ve been a fan of Bridge & Burn from the start. Their classic, functional clothing designs are right in line with what I prefer to wear most days. Since 2009 they’ve been creating classic, understated apparel inspired by the natural beauty and culture of Portland. Each piece is designed right above their flagship store by a small team, meant to stand the test of time and be worn again and again – occasionally from the outdoors to dinner and back again! I picked up the Howell parka (below) and a few other pieces last month and am in love with the quality and fit of every one. This is a line that’s sure to be a staple in my closet for a long time to come.
The Stitch is part of Speak Your Silence, a nonprofit on a mission to conquer the stigma of child sexual abuse. Founder Matt Pipkin was abused by a family friend as a kid and is now doing his best to transform lives and protect future generations. The Stitch is a zigzag symbolizing your unique voice frequency. By wearing it, you become a voice that can help move the issue of child sexual abuse from a taboo to a cause people love and support. When you wear it each conversation you spark carries the power to transform the life of someone you love and break the stigma of child sexual abuse. You can purchase a sewing kit to add The Stitch to your clothing or purchase a t-shirt with it already embroidered and support Speak Your Silence‘s mission in the process.