Hello friends,
Earlier in the month, I attended the Fifteen Percent Pledge gala, which was as beautiful and over-the-top as it was inspiring. The event was held at the NYPL, which never gets old. The interior is so decadent and beautiful; I can't believe it's a public institution!
Attendees of the event included retailers who signed the Pledge (committing 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands), along with their guests. I was a guest of West Elm.
During the event, I was able to meet and chat with other business owners and learn about their journeys and experiences. Later in the evening, six founders were awarded grants by the Pledge, two of whom I met earlier in the evening! It was a joy to witness the entrepreneurs, mainly Black women, receive the grants and hear why they started their businesses and how they plan to use the funding. I was struck by how many of us had a shared desire to create businesses that honor people and place and give back to our communities. I felt privileged to be in that space. The energy was electric, filled with love and good vibes.
Equity Council
The second inspiring event I attended was one I (indirectly) helped bring to fruition! I've shared in past newsletters that in 2020 a few interior designers and I founded Equity Council, which is now a committee in IIDA NY (International Interior Designers Association).
This month we held our first in-person workshops. The workshops are part of a series where organizations, mainly in the design industry, are able to work on their DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives.
We held two of the four workshops in February. The attendees came from diverse backgrounds, had different roles in their organizations, which were of various sizes. Seeing each attendee select and flush out their DEI initiative was an inspiration. Our facilitator was also very adept at providing feedback and a framework for moving forward, which led to palpable learning moments for several attendees.
I'm so proud to have helped create the Equity Council and amazed at how much it's grown in my absence (while I was in London last year). I am humbled that the folks that attended their workshops dedicated their personal time to bringing change to their organizations. Doing this work is incredibly uplifting.
As a prelude (postlude now!), I wanted to add/ admit that I've been cautious about this time of year because of the tokenizing that can occur by large organizations and publications (i.e., I hope we can connect on the other 11 months of the year?). I also feel guilty about this since, as the owner of a tiny business, I'm very grateful for any opportunities that come my way. However, at the gala, I learned that I'm not the only one who feels this way! This month's two events helped me embrace, reclaim and rejoice this time by defining what Black History Month can look and feel like.
Thank you for reading my musings.
With gratitude,
Hana
Here at Bolé Road, we’re busy making plans for this new year and beyond. We are looking forward to working on new collections and collaborations! We'll keep you posted the months to come.
One update that I wanted to share is that starting next month, shipping costs will be added to orders. This was a difficult decision to make. The price of shipping has changed dramatically over the past few years, which has been difficult for us to budget.
Next month, during checkout, you’ll be able to select shipping options and rates. If you are ordering pillows and would like to save on the cost of shipping, you can consider excluding inserts. Simply email us to remove them from your order.
Discount
We will definitely add shipping discounts as part of our future sales. For now, I’d like to offer a 10% discount sitewide with code SHIPME, which you can enjoy (with free shipping) until the end of the month.
Thank you for your continued support of our tiny business.
-Hana
]]>Photo courtesy of West Elm
Some time ago, West Elm tapped me to design a collection for their site. Two years and 30 artisans later, plus many more helping hands, I'm excited to introduce: Bolé Road x West Elm!
I am so proud of the work our artisans have created. This collab features pillows and bed runners woven in Ethiopia by our partners. The pieces can be found exclusively on westelm.com
What I appreciate about this collection is that through a few design tweaks, we're able to offer our pillows at an accessible price point.
Inserts are sold separately, so be sure to purchase one if needed. Pro tip: I recommend choosing one that is 2" larger than your pillow size!
Photos above by Tory Williams
The collection also features an indoor / outdoor assortment! These pieces were not produced in Ethiopia, but so many of you have asked about outdoor pillows and rugs that I thought I'd give it a try!
Photo courtesy of West Elm
It's always been my dream to share Ethiopian craftsmanship with the world – and this is one big step to making it come true. It blows my mind that our handwoven pieces may land in homes throughout the country.
I'd love your support in making this collection a success! Please like and share West Elm's post to help spread the news of our launch!!
Thank you to everyone who helped us get to this point! WE did it!!!
With deepest gratitude,
Hana
]]>Hello friends,
I wanted to share something I’ve been working on within the design community. The past two years have allowed many of us to reflect and act on social justice in our daily lives. Last year, I, along with three colleagues, formed an Equity Council within the International Interior Design Association’s NY Chapter (IIDA NY).
The purpose of the council is to provide resources for cultivating equitable workplaces in the design industry. Next week we will be hosting our first workshop series.
The first workshop is entitled Getting Started with JEDI and Racial Equity.
If you or your organization has made a commitment to diversity and inclusion, I encourage you to learn more or sign up for our workshop.
With gratitude,
Hana
]]>Last summer, shortly after signing the 15% Pledge, West Elm invited me to join their LOCAL marketplace. From there, they were kind enough to propose creating a video about Bolé Road as part of their Meet the Maker series. Their team visited my new studio in Kingston, where I relocated last year, to capture my work and process.
I was blown away by the kindness and curiosity of the West Elm team. They were wonderful to work with, and I was amazed and humbled by the final cut.
Even though this video is only three minutes, it captures so much of my passion and vision for Bolé Road.
A few highlights:
"Nobody needs a pillow, right?" (Maybe not what someone who makes a living selling pillows should say!)
"In Africa… there is abundance, there is creativity, there is love."
"Part of my aspiration is to place Ethiopian artistry...in the world of high design because I feel that is where it belongs."
I am so happy to share this video with you and so go grateful to West Elm for dedicating the time and resources to bringing this to life.
Thank you for being a part of this journey!
With gratitude,
- Hana
I've been waiting to share this for a few months now, I am excited to announce that our products can now be found at Design Within Reach! I've been a fan and would often source furniture from DWR during my days in interior design.
DWR is carrying a handful of styles both online and in their studio. If you wanted to touch and feel our products, you can find our pieces at any of their 34 studios very soon!
I'd love it if you help make this partnership a success! If you've been thinking about making a purchase, head over to DWR!
You can find several of our sold-out pieces at DWR until our products are restocked in the spring! Including our ever popular bath mats...
So excited to celebrate this with you!
With gratitude,
Hana
Last Sunday marked our fifth anniversary. I posted this photo on Instagram the day I launched Bolé Road. It was taken at a pivotal time in my life that planted the seeds for starting something in Ethiopia.⠀
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I was born in Addis Ababa. My family and I emigrated to Canada when I was three, then to the US when I was seven. I spent the rest of my childhood on Long Island, NY, and went on to study interior design at Cornell in Ithaca, NY.⠀
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When I was in my third year of design school, I made my first trip back to Ethiopia. I was so overwhelmed by the feeling of embrace, belonging, and kinship I felt that I knew I had to keep coming back.⠀
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What I experienced wasn't unique to me, I think everyone from anywhere, who visits Ethiopia feels this spirit.⠀
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I started Bolé road because of my love for Ethiopia. I hope that love translates through our work. ⠀
In honor of our five years, I've been sharing how we create our line from start-to-finish on Instagram. I'm still in awe of the craftsmanship of our artisans in Ethiopia. I look forward to creating collections with them for years to come.
Heres to a brighter future together,
Hana
Hello Friends,
Last week we closed our Brooklyn studio permanently. Our original plan was to move to a storefront down the block, which I was so excited about. However, signing a long term lease in this climate seemed like an unwise decision.
This was a tough choice for me to make, I loved our studio and being a part of the Gowanus neighborhood. I will miss helping clients, talking design, and Ethiopia.
Our online orders will continue to ship from our warehouse in Pennsylvania. I'll be working from home upstate and running our new weekly sample sale. You can stay connected by following along on Instagram and shooting me an email at any time.
I am optimistic about Bolé Road's future, but like all of you, I have to wait and see what happens next.
In the meantime, I am more dedicated than ever to Bolé Road's mission of supporting artisans in Ethiopia. In the next few weeks, I'll be sharing behind the scenes of our process and ways to help our artisans.
Thank you for being part of our journey, I look forward to the road ahead.
Be selam yagenagnen,
(May we reunite in peace)
Hana
Spring's sunshine and flowers always move me to do a refresh indoors. And since my family and I are in a new home, there's no better time than now.
So far, I focused on my living room and den. Livening up both spaces with a few colorful pillows. If you're curious to see more, I captured my spring decorating in my Instagram stories here.
From what I can see, many of you are focusing on your baths! Bathrooms are often the most neglected space in a home. But super soft towels, bath mats, and shower curtains can help make your space more inviting.
I added our new light gray bath set to my space:
Speaking of baths, I've created a sample of our first bathrobe! I've made it available for preorder, I'd love your feedback on it!
I hope you can take this time to make your space a bit cozier.
Be well,
Hana
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The yarns on our cotton pillows are handspun. Here the yarns are being prepped for weaving. I took this and the next few photos friends over at Sabahar.
A few yarns are hung to dry before and after dyeing.
Cotton yarns are scoured and dyed in small pots for small batches.
Dyed yarns are washed several times during the fabrication process.
Visiting our friends over at Shiro Meda.
Breathtaking view from Kebena House, an art gallery and coworking space near Shiro Meda.
Rush hour in Megenagna. Most people in Addis wait on extremely long lines for public transportation during their daily commutes.
While grocery stores are growing in popularity, fruit stands like this one are the go-to place for produce.
I can't wait until we can all travel again soon. Stay safe everyone, I look forward to connecting soon.
xx,
Hana
]]>I hope you are all well. I have some good news, we will resume shipping online orders! Items will ship out within a few days of your order. Our fulfillment partners are operating with less staff and following necessary precautions.
Update: We have also created an in-store pickup option. Pickups are available on Friday afternoons. Please note that shipping is free and likely faster!
As before, feel free to contact me via email or chat. Or check with us on Instagram.
Thank you so much for supporting our small business!
I wish you all the best,
Hana
]]>I hope you are doing well in this challenging time. I wanted to give you an update on how we are proceeding at Bolé Road. The studio will be closed until further notice.
Update: Our warehouse and fulfillment center which is located in Pennsylvania is closed under state order. We will be unable to ship orders at this time.
We encourage you to continue shopping online so we can continue to support our artisan partners and vendors. We will fulfill orders as soon as PA's businesses are allowed to operate.
Thank you so much for those who've been placing orders, it makes all the difference for a micro business like ours!
Feel free to contact me via email or chat. Or follow us on Instagram to get the latest info.
Warmly,
Hana
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Hello Friends,
We are making a big change to our pillows! In the next few weeks, we are transitioning to alternative down inserts in place of feather down. There are a few reasons for the switch, our new inserts are:
- Hypoallergenic
- Cruelty-free
- Feather-free – no more feathers coming out of inserts
I obsess over our pillows and continuously work to improve them. I've been testing the new alternative down inserts in my own home for the past year, and truly love them. They have the same shape, support, and plump fill (if you have any of our pillows, you know we like them plump)! I am confident you will love the new inserts as well.
Here's to constantly improving! If you have any questions about the change, please email me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you!
Hana
I’ve just returned from my trip to Ethiopia where our artisans finished weaving our latest line – the Konso Collection. As with all of our designs, the pieces are inspired by the culture of Ethiopia. Konso is a region in the south of the country I first had the pleasure of visiting in 2010. I immediately fell in love with the unique landscape and traditions of the area since it was unlike anything I’d seen in my home country. I knew I had to go back and explore more of the textiles that I saw.
I traveled to Konso by car gazing at the lush green landscape which is so different from what I’m used to seeing in the capital. Much of Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa, is covered in highlands. The temperature is fickle with warm days, cool nights and the climate is somewhat arid. Southern Ethiopia on the other hand is filled with lowlands with more rainfall creating a verdant countryside. Many of Ethiopia's tropical fruits, like bananas, mangoes and papayas are grown in the south.
You know you’ve arrived in Konso once you begin to see terraced farms along the mountainsides. Like most of Ethiopia, the villages of Konso are farming communities but the landscape steep and hilly. The locals adopted terracing to irrigate their crops. The terracing is not just relegated to the farmland, the villages are also terraced along the mountains, another unique trait of Konso.
Many of the traditional homes in Ethiopia are constructed of mud, however Konso’s homes and fences are built with stone. The villages are comprised of maze like pathways that connect neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has a community center where locals congregate. In addition, the young men in the village take turns spending nights in the community center, acting as a local emergency response team incase of a fire or any other need for help in the village.
What I love most about Konso are the textiles (of course!) specifically the traditional clothing worn by the women. The clothing of the region is as unique as its architecture and culture. I first noticed the beautiful traditional dresses in the lively and vibrant market place. The women of Konso wear two tiered peplum skirts. The length of the top layer indicates whether the woman is single or married. The skirts are handwoven and are often striped with eye popping bright colors.
Another popular style of skirt uses natural cotton as the base with a multicolor trim on the top and bottom layer of the skirt. I was delighted to find this trim in the market. I purchased the ribbon during my first trip in 2010, although I didn’t know quite to do with it at the time. Little did I know that in a few years I would start Bolé Road and dedicate a whole collection to this lovely accent!! On my next post I’ll share all the more details on my finds and what I learned about the Konso ribbon in this textile journey.
xo,
Hana
]]>I love having the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia because in addition to working on my textiles, I am able to spend time with my family and home town. Here are a few photos of my parents and near my grandparents home.
Returning to Ethiopia is an endless source of fulfillment and inspiration, both creatively and personally and for that I am grateful. I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of my stay here in Ethiopia will bring.
xo,
Hana
]]>We kicked January off with a photoshoot of our spring collection which shared a sneak peak of on instagram. The collection is bold and colorful and, as always, is inspired by Ethiopia. It will launch in April and I can’t wait to share more with you!
We previewed a few pieces from the new line at NYNOW last weekend, our first wholesale trade show! In addition to the new designs, we showed our three collections – Indigenous Blooms, Modern Classics and the Heritage Collection. I couldn’t believe all the positive response we received! We met so many retailers that love our product and brand.
So I am pleased to say that Bolé Road Textiles will soon be found in a dozen stores on the east and west coast! I’m so excited to see how far we have come. Stay tuned for the locations in the spring!
xo,
Hana
]]>As an Ethiopian-American, I started Bolé Road Textiles to be more connected to Ethiopia and to contribute to positive change in the country. Since it is the season of giving, I thought it would be a great time to share more information on the organizations we contribute to starting with imagine1day.
imagine1day is a non-profit based in Canada and the US founded by Lululemon creator Chip Wilson and is wife Shannon. The goal of imagine1day is that all Ethiopians will have access to quality education by 2030. They do this through several programs, the program we contribute to specifically is the Girl Fund.
The Girl Fund's aim is to support the education of girls in rural Ethiopia. It does this with three initiatives including:
So far over 100 girls are in the scholarship program, latrines in two communities have been built and training completed in 103 communities. Find out more about the initiatives here. Specific facts and figures can be found in the 2014 year end report (the 2015 report will be coming out next month).
One great aspect about imagine1day is that since the administration of the organization is paid for by the Chip Wilson Foundation 100% of donation go towards the programs.
I am incredibly proud to support this organization, especially as an Ethiopian-American woman. Contributing to imagine1day helps me to achieve my dream of working towards a brighter future for Ethiopia. You can feel good that each purchase at Bolé Road Textiles supports imagine1day.
xo,
Hana
This has been a wonderful week! First up and super exciting was our studio tour on Design*Sponge featured on their ‘What’s in Your Toolbox’ column. It's exciting to share my creative process, glimpses into my studio (including my studio cat, Pigeon) and a hint of our next collection for summer.... Read the full article here.
I was also delighted to see our yellow striped pillow up on Style by Emily Henderson. We just received new batch of our bright Drimia Stripe pillow which will be in stock in February! Here are some photos from Emily’s blog:
Looking forward to what the new year brings for Bolé Road Textiles!
xo,
Hana
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The holiday season is upon us and so is the time of giving and receiving gifts. Why not give a gift that gives back? Each purchase at Bolé Road not only supports artisans in Ethiopia, our proceeds contribute to education and reforestation. Read more about our giving here.
We've put together a few suggestions to help you find the perfect gift. Whether you have a friend that just moved into a new home, a family member that loves décor or a coworker that adores handcrafted treasures.
They include an affordable Negus Hand Towel for $35 or our incredibly popular black and white Abren Throw. And a few brand new items like our Qerz Framed Textile. You’re sure to find a few special pieces for the special someone on your list. And don't forget shipping and returns are free!
Still can't decide? We now have gift cards too! Happy gift giving!
xo,
Hana
Thank you to everyone who came out to see us at the Renegade Craft Fair this past weekend! As always, we had a blast meeting our followers and chatting with our clients! If you missed us no worries, we'll be at Brooklyn Flea through the holidays starting this weekend! The Winter Flea is every Saturday and Sunday in Industry City. Check out our events page for more details.
I'll see you soon!
xo,
Hana
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We just launched our Heritage Collection this week and we couldn't be more excited! Take a look at the whole collection in our lookbook here.
The collection hit just in time for Renegade Craft Fair's Holiday event this weekend. We hope to see you there! Find out more info on our Events page.
xo,
Hana
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In my Textile Journey post, I mentioned how much I enjoy taking road trips in Ethiopia. I thought I would share photos of my favorite sites, from the mountainous landscape to the historic architecture.
The most incredible part of our drive from Addis to Dessie, the capital of Wollo, was a short two hour window when we drove through a verdant blustery highland, where the temperature was a crisp 65 degrees, then quickly descended to an arid valley where the temperature peaked to a intense 95 degrees (before noon).
One of my favorite spots in Dessie was the Palace and Dining Hall of Negus Mikael, the King of Wollo and founder of Dessie. While the interior was empty and the exterior renovated in recent years, the simplicity of the of design and the weathered textures were beautiful. The most dramatic space was the prayer room of the King which had a rainbow colored ceiling fabricated from dyed straw and wood that was bent and bound with leather.
One thing that surprised me is how large and dense Dessie is, it’s a busy bustling city. However, off the main roads were some quiet vignettes.
The first few miles right outside Dessie towards Addis were some of the most scenic. There are winding roads through mountains and an unbelievable landscape. It reminded me of the drive across the Nile Valley gorge in western Ethiopia, it’s not quite as dramatic, but stunning none the less. There was also an interesting mix of semiarid climate flora and fauna. I saw the largest cactus I’d ever laid eyes on!
Part of my goal with starting Bolé Road Textiles is to share the culture, heritage and history of Ethiopia, not only through our products but through our blog and social media as well. I hope you enjoy getting a glimpse of this corner of Africa!
xo,
Hana
]]>I had such an incredible time in Ethiopia collaborating with our artisans, I can’t wait to launch our new collection in just over a week. I put together a few of my favorite photos of our textiles as they were being woven on the looms. Nothing can top the experience of being there in person to see the designs being created. I get a greater appreciation of what I’m asking my artisans to accomplish and we can work out any tweaks or modifications without a hitch. Take a look!
This collection was quite an undertaking since our designs included lots of embroidered pieces and complicated patterns found in traditional Ethiopian textiles. But I am so grateful to our artisans and incredibly happy with how all the textiles have turned out. I hope you guys will be too!!
xo,
Hana
P.S. I’ve updated our Events page with our pop-up locations for the holidays! Be sure to stop by!
This past weekend I embarked on what I hope is the first of many textile journeys in Ethiopia. I was in search of the Wollo gabi, a traditional blanket which is the main inspiration for our next line called the Heritage Collection launching in November. A gabi is a blanket comprised of four panels that are stitched together on one side. The Wollo gabi has broad gold and silver ornamentation on the ends. It's trademark features are the gold and black stripes that are flanked by black and white dots. While the stripes and dots are woven, the pattern is decorated with rainbow colored arrows in the center that are embroidered on to the stripes. In Ethiopia, the gabi is often used as a shawl worn by men, mainly on special occasions. Many Ethiopians living in cities use them as blankets in their homes.
My journey started in Addis Ababa where the gabi are sold in textile markets. The shop owners in Shiromaeda, a textile hub in the city, let us know that the blankets are made in the prisons of Wollo, a region in eastern Ethiopia. The inmates are taught weaving as a form of rehabilitation so they have a skill that can sustain them in the future. We decided a good place to start would be in the capital city of Wollo which is Dessie (pronounced deh-say).
Dessie is around 400km east of Addis Ababa. While there is an option to fly, I love taking road trips in Ethiopia since the landscape is so majestic -- it’s one of my favorite things to do. We stayed in a town just outside of Dessie called Kombolcha. The drive from Kombolcha to Dessie was especially beautiful, filled with curving roads through expansive mountains.
When we arrived in Dessie our first stop was Piazza, which is the center of the city’s market, since we were told by some locals that the prison has a shop there. We found the small kiosk shop without a problem. The prison shop sold a wide assortment of gabi’s all with bold graphic patterns, but we didn’t see the particular design we were looking for. We described the pattern to the shop owner who pulled out a few samples. We were in luck. He told us the name of the pattern: ‘Sindid’. Sindid is a type of small bead. The name describes the small stitching of the colorful arrow pattern which look like beads and are a trademark of the Sindid. The shop owner let us know that they made very few of the Sindid patterns and it was mostly made by other local weavers. We asked if he knew where we could find them. He recommended that we ask the owners of the dress shops down the road.
At the edge of Piazza was a large shopping center. The dress shops were all located in the first level of a new section of the mall which was still under construction. There we saw a variety of Sindid Wollo gabi’s. I happily purchased a few from one of the shops. The owners were kind enough to tell me where I could find the local weavers that created the gabis for them. Many of them lived at the edge of the town, which is how we were led to the home of Enat.
Enat is a weaver, which is extremely rare since weaving is traditionally performed by men. Her home was at the top of a rocky hill. The earth was a clay color, common in many parts of Ethiopia. In the front of her home were two pit looms, spools of yarn and a bobbin winder. While she no longer weaves for production, she creates blankets for friends and family. To service the local shops she hires local artisans who work in her home. Enat was kind and easy going. She showed us the gabis that she had created for friends, but she didn’t have any of the Sindid pattern. I asked her if she would be willing to create some custom Sindid pattern Wollo textiles for us, and she was happy to oblige. From there her weavers and I worked out the details of our custom order.
When I first started this journey, I wasn’t sure what it would bring or if I would find the artisans that create the Wollo gabi. I am so excited to be partnering with Enat and her weavers for Bolé Road. I can’t wait to share the pieces from our special collaboration for our Heritage Collection. Stay tuned...
xo,
Hana
]]>I am on my second week in Ethiopia and I can’t wait to share all the amazing details of my trip. My first day in Ethiopia (also my birthday!) was spent at home relaxing. On the following days I was out and about visiting the artisan groups we partner with. It was so exciting to see the progress on our next collection, which is launching next month!
In addition to meeting with our current artisans, I’ve been seeking out and meeting with new weaving collectives, including a newly formed organization that hires and trains women weavers. I got to opportunity to meet the women and see them as they work. In addition to weaving the fabrics, the women spin and dye their own yarns. Below is the hand spinning group, spinning together as they enjoy some Ethiopian coffee. I am looking forward meeting more groups and to new partnerships!
I’ve also been basking in the sites and city life of Ethiopia! The photo above was taken during a stroll through Merkato, Africa's largest open air market where you can find just about anything sold in the country. Take a look at more of my photos from the streets of Addis on instagram.
More to follow!
xo,
Hana
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You may have noticed that we've added a Your Home section on our site to feature all of the fabulous ways our clients adorn their homes with our pieces. We have one more space to add to the mix but this time it’s a hotel!
Last weekend I traveled to Shelter Island to stock the lounge area of the The Chequit Inn with a few of our Indigenous Blooms collection pillows. The Melhania and Drimia pillows were such a perfect match with their yellow and black color scheme. What a beautiful home for our pillows!
xo,
Hana
P.S. I am currently in Ethiopia and will be posting about my travel soon!
]]>September is the beginning of spring in Ethiopia and this past Saturday was New Year’s Day in the country. As mentioned in our lookbook, this time of year is the inspiration for the Indigenous Blooms collection.
Right now in Ethiopia, the indigenous Adey daisy is blooming all over the country and bunches of the Adey daisy are sold on the streets and used to decorate people’s homes during the holiday.
If you follow us on instagram or our newsletter, you know that I’ll be headed to Ethiopia soon! I am so happy to be returning during this time of year. I’ll be working on the new collection, which will launch in late fall. I’ll be documenting the journey on instagram and our blog. Be sure to follow the journey!
xo,
Hana
]]>We'll be at the Brooklyn Expo Center this weekend for the Renegade Craft Fair!! This may be your last chance to snag your favorite Indigenous Blooms pieces, which are going fast!
We will be in booth 9, I hope to see you there!
xo,
Hana
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