Pretty much all of the major brands we associate with 'designers' today are owned by multinational corporations, which often value profits and share prices more than artistic integrity, taking creative risks and challenging the status quo.
At the same time, some wholesalers are pirating designs from independent designers and not paying them fairly for their work. Plagiarism is not cool.
We need artists and designers now more than ever, as we are collectively facing some of the most significant global challenges in human history. In this time of disruptive change, art and creativity feed our souls and allow us to believe in the best version of humanity - including a vision for peace.
In the words of artist and designer Olafur Eliasson, "Art helps us identify with one another and expands our notion of 'we' - from the local to the global".
Here are some of the ways we're supporting independent designers and artists to continue their work and bring us beautiful, functional pieces that make our lives more joyful.
We only partner directly with independent designers and don't go through wholesalers (not because they're all bad, but because we want to support artists to continue to create new and original work).
We always credit the designer, tell you the story behind their brand and the impact they're making on the world. We're just as committed to growing their business as we are our own.
We share the risk - we buy stock upfront to provide designers with financial capital to earn a steady income, continue to buy materials and work with artisans. We don't drop-ship or ask for 'sale or return' arrangements.