Looking Good and Doing Good: Fair Trade Products from Artisan Emporia

We are very excited to be partnering with Artisan Emporia not only because they bring us wonderful, unique products, but they’re also making a difference in the lives of artisans around the world.  They work to “build sustainable trading relationships based on mutual respect, cultural curiosity and shared aspirations.”  They follow the Fair Trade Federation’s standards "to ensure that the artisans we work with receive an honest and fair price for their products while sustainably preserving their cultural traditions.”  Sounds like a win-win situation to us!

Patched Hat The right hat actually can make us think better, be more creative, and definitely look good. Well, that’s been our experience. Patched Hat from Artisan Emporia is one of those hats.  It is made of soft cotton by Mayan women of the Lake Atitlan region in Guatemala.  They use flowers, bark, and leaves from in and around the mysterious lake to make the dyes for these hats. The results are 5 deep, rich colors (Ash, Graffiti, Burgundy, Moss, Flame).  The appliquéd shapes are funky and unusual, and they add insulation to make this an even warmer hat.
Infiniti Scarf This scarf really lives up to its name.  We could only come up with a million things to do with this continuous loop of incredibly soft cotton jersey, but we’re sure the uses are indeed infinite.  It’s a shawl, a hat, a hoodie, a poncho, a baby support, and on and on.  Designer, Patrizia Pizzatti, works with the Guatemalan artisans to create this comfortable, lovely and versatile fashion accessory.
Chalina Necklace Chalina actually means a scarf with a big knot tied in it.  And the Chalina Necklace from Artisan Emporia is just that, made from hand painted ceramic beads.  Look closely at the photo of this accessory - the level of detail astounding.  The women of “El Quinto Sol,” an artisan group in Guatemala, string and weave thousands of beads and semi-precious stones, much like artisans have done for hundreds of years in the region.  It’s a piece of jewelry and a work of art.
Urban Backpack Artisan Emporia also sells a wide variety of bags: yoga bags, hobo bags, shoulder bags, and backpacks.  The Urban Backpack is that perfect combination of smart design and great style.  It holds a lot more than you’d think, and the shiny black flap is actually made from a recycled motorcycle tire flap.  It is made from organically dyed cotton with the look, feel, and durability of soft canvas.  The single shoulder strap even has a pocket especially for your smart phone or MP3 player.  It’s a great travel bag, whether you’re trekking in the mountains or making your way across NYC!

You can’t get these items in any clothing boutique.  We actually met up with Artisan Emporia at the Brooklyn Flea, one of New York City’s premier flea, artisan and food markets. Their products were rich, interesting, and unlike anything else at the market.  And we loved the direct connection between our own urban markets and the artisan markets in other parts of the world.  So if you can’t get to Guatemala or Vietnam, where many of Artisan Emporia’s products are created, you might be able to get to Brooklyn.  And you can definitely get to IndieShop.com from wherever you happen to be.

Indie Winter Wonderland: Great Handmade Accessories

The winter weather is finally here, and it’s time to turn over our closet from our beloved soft tee shirt collection and sandals to our favorite sweaters and warm boots.  Looking for special gift ideas? Here are some items we would love to receive ourselves:

Moody Ruby We totally have a thing for scarves because they can dress up any outfit, any time of year.  The reversible Moody Ruby Silk and Cotton Scarf designed by Juli Raja is perfect for the winter.  The black side with a dramatic hint of intense red is just the thing when you’re getting ready for a night on the town.  The reverse side is finely patterned with creams, grays and reds, a great look with a suit. This scarf is handmade by artisans in India from silk and cotton threads, making it light, warm and super soft.  No itchy scarves for us!
Snowflakes for All Occasions Handmade jewelry runs the spectrum of fun and funky to fine and pretty.  These Recycled Vintage Snowflake Earrings pretty much cover all of those bases, plus they are made from recycled materials.  Designer Saskia de Vries uses recycled vintage copper pieces and hypoallergenic niobium ear wires in this pair of earrings.  And they dangle from dainty chain links, so when you wear them, they move like falling snowflakes.  No matter what the weather forecast says, you will want to wear these earrings day and night.
Melt Your Cold Heart If someone or something other than winter tried to turn your heart cold, don’t keep it all inside.  Instead, sport this edgy yet dainty Cold Black Hearts Necklace made by Lauren Haupt and show the world you are completely over it.  Oxidized silver hearts stand out against the delicate sterling chain to create a dramatic effect.  Wear this necklace with a v-neck top or over a sexy sweater dress. And who knows what the season will bring to the door of your cabin in the wood, or your apartment in the city for that matter.
Crystal Calm Persuasion If you love the winter as much as some of us do, you’ll be happy to go outside with the ice and snow.  Although if you’d rather be sunning yourself on a Caribbean Island than skiing down a mountain at Breckenridge, we do understand that too.  Either way, the energizing beauty of the Crystal Calm Bracelet by Cynthia Rybakoff will give you just the lift you need this season.  This bracelet is made of chunky natural crystals strung on knotted grey silk with a sterling silver toggle clasp.  Every crystal is slightly different from the next, and so each bracelet is distinctly unique.  Just like snowflakes. Changes in seasons and wardrobes can be a challenge each year, but with the right accessories you can add a bit of that holiday spirit to every outfit, even on the coldest winter day.

Pretty Puppies and Doggy Decor

Our pets are a part of our family.  There are no two ways around it.  The days of the family dog living out in the backyard all year round are long gone.  At IndieShop.com, we love our four-footed, two winged, and even scaled friends with long tails.  Here are some products from our indie designers that are practical and, well, not so practical but quite fabulous.

The Elegant Dog Crate Cover We understand the value of a dog training crate for our puppies to give them a sense of security at night.  But we don’t have to like the looks of it. So we went searching for a cover up to spring our dogs from their small jail cage.  Luckily BowhausNYC designs beautiful crate covers that turn those ugly metal bars into a boudoir.  Whether you have a beach house or a mod urban pad, this bold cabana stripe crate cover is also a great decorating idea. Get a cushiony matching bed, and this luxury dog "haus" is sure to become your little BFF’s favorite napping spot.  And all this elegance is easy-to-care-for; simply pop the 100% cotton cover and bed case into the washing machine.  (See? Practical.)
The Stylish Dog Carrier for Your Pup BowhausNYC also makes a rich, stylish toile fabric dog carrier  for the pup on the go.  These sturdy tote bags feature 100% cotton canvas surrounded by a natural leather trim that’s only going to look better with time and use.  The bag is fully lined, has reinforced bottom and holds dogs up to 15 lbs. The comfy 14” shoulder straps help make long journeys easier. A safety hook makes your pouch secure. So attach your keys to the handy BowhausNYC logo ring and hit the avenues.
The Cute Dog Outfit & Harness Designer Ada Nieves holds a certificate in dog fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (eat your heart out, Tim Gunn).  Dress up your dog in this tiny red polka dot outfit, perfect for a day on the town.  Pluck your pup out of the damask carrier,  and she’s ready for tea at the Ritz.  However, it is also a comfortable dog harness so that your dog can breathe easily and stay close by as you shop together at Saks.  It comes with a matching leash, naturally.
The Dog Shaped Dome Bed On a slightly different note is the unique and funny Doggy Dome Bed.  It is actually a high-tech dog bed that uses Japanese nano technology to create a clean, fresh sleeping environment for your dog.  This bed won’t match your sofa (hopefully), but it will be a conversation starter in your home.  It comes in several equally fun shapes, but we like the idea of a dog sleeping inside of a dog, like furry Russian nesting dolls.
Bling Dog Collar For the finishing touch on your pampered pooch, we suggest the Bling Collar from BowhausNYC, made from fine Italian leather and covered with crystal rhinestones, each one carefully placed by hand.

 Over the top, you say? Absolutely, my dear. Nothing but the best for our family..

Feeling Blue In A Good Way

Blue is an eternally favorite color, which is not lost on our designers.  Green may be the new black but blue is a color that always feels good.  It’s the color of relaxation, water, the sky, and many of our fabulous designs.

Beautiful Hand-Blown Glass Bowl The blue Strata Bowl is a blown glass vessel made by William Couig of Furthur Design.  It is a wide-open bowl with clear and opaque lines of different shades blue that feel like varying depths of the ocean, or the layered tones of a blue jazz number.  It is a small bowl, 7” in diameter by 3.5” tall, and a beautiful piece of art glass for your home or would make a great wedding gift.  And the price is incredibly reasonable for hand-blown glass.
Envision Your Room with Light Blue Anemone Wallpaper We just can’t get enough of this anemone wallpaper in the blue tones by Jill Malek.  The graphic is beautiful and versatile, great for a single accent wall or an entire bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, or pretty much any room in your home.   The Snowflower color scheme has a base of pale blue with dark blue and grey anemone designs layered on top, reminiscent of a winter’s day.  The Alique color scheme is lighter shades of blue, grey and white on a light blue background, for an overall lighter feel.
A Wishful Necklace in Shades of Blue There are many shades of blue, and these gold necklaces by Wink & Flip come in three of them:  Cerulean, Turquoise, and Robin’s Egg Blue.  Each necklace features an asymmetrical quartz stone hanging from a gold-tone metallic pendant and a tiny blue crystal accent.  They are one of Wink & Flip’s most popular designs, and we can see why.  You can wear one or all three shades together like an azure sky to dress up a tee shirt or an outfit for a night on the town.
Inspirational Blue with Bird’s Nest Art A House of Blues for birds?  This blue print of a nest with four tiny eggs is a lovely piece of art.  The image was captured in Peconic Bay on Long Island by Matt Shapoff, using a 19th century printing technique known as Cyanotype.  This item is 4.5” x 4.5” inches and would be a lovely splash of color in your kitchen, or even a nursery.

Check out the many shades of blue on IndieShop.com in clothing design, home décor, jewelry, pet products, and so much more.  You’ll be thrilled to get the blues! 

We Love Our Skulls!

Here at IndieShop.com, we’re thinking about skulls.  It’s partly because of fall and Halloween, but we also have to thank those ubiquitous Ed Hardy shirts, and the bikers of long ago who never dreamed they were trendsetters for the new love of skulls in indie design.

New York design duo of Ronen Aminov and Cynthia Catera of Fancy Sexy Me brings us the hell-raising Skull Crusher Knuckle Duster ring.  Between just us girls, it’s super cute, with little, detailed silver and gold skulls, kind of like big diamonds, but not.  Don’t tell the guys – they can hop on a Suzuki – ahem – a Harley, and be the envy of all their friends at the biker bar. (That’s how it works, right?)
The Skull Burnout Tee Shirt from AdAm and Hiromi is another one of those tee shirt designs that works for women and men.  It reminds us of the traditional Day of the Dead skull drawings with all the flowers in the background.  We adore that the teeth feature the word ‘love’ on them.  And these skulls are not front and center – they’re on the shoulder, down the side, and on the hip.  The shirt itself is super soft and extra comfortable.  It’s the awesome and unexpected details like these that make us love indie so much.
And we can’t forget the puppies!  IndieShop.com has some of the coolest pet accessories for your best friend.  The Skull Collar from BowhausNYC has great accents, including an Austrian crystal encrusted skull with glowing sapphire blue crystal eyes, affixed to a fine Italian leather collar.  Glamour up your pup!
OK, so maybe your dog is a bit more precious.  Check out this fun skull tattoo dog harness and matching leash.  It’s not something you’ll find in just any pet store!  The white skulls and black background are dotted with blood red crystals to add some bling and vogue to this ensemble.  A tiny Chihuahua will walk with a bit more swagger in his step!

Check out all the great indie design on IndieShop.com.  Indulge your skull!

Soft, Safe, and Stylish: Indie Design for Kids

When we think about independent design, we think of fashion, jewelry, home décor, and art.  But we don’t always think about indie design when it comes to our children.  At IndieShop.com, we believe that good design is important and valuable for everyone, especially kids!


Kids Create Their Own T-Shirt

 

Create your own T-shirt with T-Me Kids and T-Me Baby Kits by Poloppo. Using the markers and paper included in the kit, you and your child can create an original design and have it printed on a colorful T-shirt or onesie.  Expecting a new baby?  Older brother or sister can draw a picture and see the new baby wearing it on her first day at home.  Simply create the image, use the pre-paid mailer that comes in the kit, and within days Poloppo will send you back a one-of-a-kind cotton T-shirt or onesie.  T-Me kits are also great for baby showers.  Each kit includes a prepaid envelope for sending in the design and also the cost of shipping back the final item.


Handmade Nursery Decorating Ideas

Looking for nursery decorating ideas?  What could be sweeter than nursery décor featuring the Baby Elephant Wallpaper by Jill Malek?  This wallpaper is hand printed with an original design of small elephants touching trunks and tails.  It comes in several colors, including the soft pink Petals and the pale blue Rain; you can purchase 8.5” x 11” samples of each design for $2.  The pattern is printed in straight lines, which makes it simple to match along the nursery walls. Your baby will love sleeping in a room full of elephants, and she’ll love waking up to them even more.


Kids Learn About Seasonal Food

The Buy Local Coloring Book by Claudia Pearson will help you teach your children about seasonal foods and the importance of the local food movement.  The book has one page for every month, with whimsical illustrations of the fruits and vegetables that are in season each month. August features black currants, a peach, a pair of plums, blackberries, and spinach.  Imagine all the bright colors your child can use to bring that page to life!  You can even dream up recipes to cook with your kids.  Just be prepared to answer why we can’t get watermelon all year long.

Toys For Kids With Allergies

New seasons may bring delicious foods, but they also bring allergens.  The Herbal Pals Menagerie Collection is made especially for children with a seasonal allergy.  These funny, soft, machine washable toys from Allergeze are not only perfect for taking a nap or dragging around by an ear, but they also help ease the symptoms of seasonal allergies.  Developed by a Chinese herbalist using traditional remedies that are over 2,000 years old, each Herbal Pal comes with an intense but effective pouch containing a variety of natural herbs with curative properties.  You simply slip the pouch into the little opening on the back of each Pal, and the herbs start working.  Pouches are also sold separately; adults can use them too.  Allergeze hears from happy parents whose children are not coughing but sleeping easier and sleeping comfortably through the night.  And who doesn’t love a cute monster?


These are just some of the projects you can find on IndieShop.com.  Kids will grow out of clothes and nurseries, but they will continue to learn about the world around them.  Indie designs such as these will help you create a stimulating, comfortable, and fun environment for them to explore.

Indie Design Promotes Relaxation with Products from Artisan Emporia, AdAm & Hiromi

Newsflash!

If you're in the New York City area, come see our booth at the Madison Square Market in the shadow of the Flatiron building! Some of our top designers will be in the booth every day during the entire event, from September 25 – October 23rd!

Indie Design Promotes Comfort, Rest and Relaxation in Your Busy Day

It seems that the world kicked into overdrive the day after Labor Day. The realization that summer was over hit us like a ton of bricks. Remember the feeling of the first day of school? The nervousness, maybe a little dread, mixed with excitement, activities, and lots of homework? Often our work days feel the exact same way.

So we need to figure out how to relax and how to retain at least the feeling of those languid summer afternoons. At IndieShop.com, many of our independent designers work hard to create products to help you do just that. We have items that will remind you to breathe, reflect, and enjoy a restful night’s sleep.

Artisan Emporia creates fair trade, organic bags designed to carry your yoga mat. Each bag is made with cotton organically dyed by Guatemalan artisans using ancient Mayan techniques to create dyes from leaves, barks and roots from nearby Lake Atitlan. Even the metal buckles and strap holders are made from a biodegradable alloy.

After your yoga class, pull on a wonderfully soft cotton burnout tee from AdAm & Hiromi. Adorned with a light blue lotus flower, this tee has that lived-in feel that makes it the first thing you grab in your closet when you just want to relax. AdAm & Hiromi also make tees for men, including one with a lovely, traditional Japanese image of a koi swimming up the back.

Designer Jessica DeCarlo creates earthy jewelry with small, sterling silver branches. Her designs inspired by nature translate into delicate necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, some embellished with semi-precious stones, such as vessonite and rose quartz.

Light up this sandalwood and amber scented candle by Curlew and be transported to the mysterious, romantic streets of Marrakech with its exotic scents and hidden treasures.

When your day is finally done, lie back and sink into a set of soft, cotton sheets from A Little of India. These cotton sheet sets come in a variety of beautiful colors and patterns, each hand printed using traditional wooden blocks.

Breathe deep, close your eyes, and wake up inspired for the day ahead. Repeat as needed.