Who: La Mano – Vancouver, CAN

What: Scarf Raspberry

Where: Ethical Ocean – $64.55 (50% off today through October 31st with coupon code LAMANO-EO)

Why We Love It: It’s difficult to choose a favorite among the scarves and wraps in La Mano’s catalog. The color combinations are rich, unique, and unexpected. The result is modern textile infused with rich history of it’s creation.

Each one is handwoven by members of an indigenous women’s weaving cooperative in Chiapas, Mexico using 100% cotton yarns. Part of the beauty of these textiles are that they directly support the female artisans who craft them empowering this women with economic autonomy, fair wages, sustainable employment, and confidence.

Choose from these color variations: Limon, Sage Stripes, Chocolate Brown, and Burnt Orange Passionfruit.

Who: Gina Michele – New York, NY

What: Whiskey Rock a Roller Bag

Where: Gina|Michele – $198 (also available in vibrant grape suede, on sale for $148)

Why We Love It: Skip black and neutral bags this summer and opt for a pop of tropical ocean, perfect sky blue with this deliciously slouchy tote – it’s pure joy. It’s your something old, something new, something blue, that’s likely to be something borrowed quite frequently….

Crafted entirely from upcycled fabrics – super soft vintage suedes and leathers recovered from old jackets, silks salvaged from vintage shirts – it’s topped off with a hand dyed rope strap for a touch of laid back beach style.

Who: Re:Tread – Cheshire, U.K.

What: Recycled Tyre Planters

Where: Amazon.com – $14.99-$69.99

Why We Love It: Finally a tire suitable to display on your front lawn… Am always somewhat ‘eh’ about upcycled tire products, but these are actually really cool and just the kind of hardworking rugged container to house garden plants and flowers. A lot less fragile than the terra cotta pots that need to come in from the cold every year. Thinking this filled with our old Charlie Brown Christmas Tree from last year would be quite handsome on our front porch.

Re:Tread salvages old beat up tires and inner tubes for their handcrafted modern home accessories (their picture frames are pretty awesome). The frost proof planter is hand crafted from 100% recycled tires for a super strong container that will not rot. Re:Tread also makes some pretty awesome picture frames entirely out of tires. Tire treads vary from piece to piece as does the size, albeit slightly, so you’ll have a unique garden piece. Also great for indoor use as well, a little something unexpected!

Who: Pyrrha – Vancouver, Canada

What: Talisman Wax Seal Necklaces

Where: Pyrrha – $128 – $385

Why: Every since we were little, we’ve been fascinated by wax seals. There’s something so romantic and nostalgic about the process of melting the wax and stamping in your personal seal to secure your note. Such artistry especially in a day and age where the personal handwritten note is such a rarity.

Designers Wade Papin and Danielle Wilmore of Pyrrha were equally inspired by the magic of the wax seal and have collected a variety of wax seals from the 19th century to cast their collection of handcrafted jewelry. Each seal with its own unique meaning. Ours is a picture of the Lark on a tree stump, a symbol of hope, happiness, creativity and renewal which has become our own personal mantra. So many inspiring insignia and messages to choose from, these pendants make for a meaningful and thoughtful gift, even if you are gifting one to yourself.

The pendants are cast using reclaimed sterling silver, bronze or 14k gold celebrating the imperfections in the seals themselves. Each piece is completely handmade so individual pieces will vary – which in a world of mass production, only makes of love them more!

Who: Studio Moe

What: Oslo Dining Table

Where: studiomoe.com, $2200

Why We Love It: We first discovered Moe Studios at ICFF last year and felt an overwhelming connection to their first retail collection. The simple lines, the meticulously handcrafted joints and the natural expression of the wood exude this sense of calmness and speak to the designers respect for the materials he works with. He doesn’t hide the knots (what some might call imperfections) or mask the grain, but instead celebrates that as part of the design. Click to continue »

Who: Classic Rug Collection-  New York, NY

What: Lattice Rug

Where: Classic Rug Collection – $65 – $90/sq.ft. Customized sizes, knot counts & fibers available. Delivery time of 10-14 weeks.

Why We Love It: Inspired by an original drawing by French architect, Viollet-le-Duc, the Lattice rug plays on geometries taking two missed matched grids and spinning them to create a unique and interesting pattern.  The cool blue and purple  tones have us dreaming of a beach inspired bedroom with crisp white linens, sheer wind-blown drapes and pickled hardwood floors with this all-natural, hand-knotted rug laid over it… Click to continue »

Who: Dinah Coops; Seattle, WA

What: Tablemats & Coasters

Where: Dinah Coops -  Tablemats – $35;  Coasters – $12

Why: Looking for a fun and sustainable way to dress up your table? Try these simple, modern and colorful designs from Dinah Coops. She hand silk screens each one with her signature combination of organic images and whimsical doodles. Fun to mix and match colors and prints for an artfully inspired table setting, that would look equally at home on your walls.

And the canvas for this table art is none other than Paperstone, the same material we coveted for our kitchen countertops.

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Who: WHERE; UK

What: Cadi Multifunctional Boot

Where: Urban Outfitters – $198, or direct from WHERE on sale for  75 (approx $121.57 depending on exchange rate plus shipping & taxes)

Why We Love It: Very exciting news – one of our favorite European labels, WHERE, has just landed in the US and are now selling a selection of their shoes at none other than Urban Outfitters. So, now you can finally get your hands on WHERE’s cutting edge collection of ethical footwear without incurring exorbidant import fees. Click to continue »

Who: Choo Yilin; Thailand

What: Stackable Aquamarine Cocktail Rings

Where: etsy.com; $180 (a ‘stack’ consists of two 3x3mm rings and one 5x5mm)

Why: The beauty of stackable rings is that there are so many options – wear all three staggered any which way, or simplify your look and wear just one.

This stack is all about texture; from the checkerboard finish of the aquamarine stones to the hammered, scratched and twisted waves of recycled sterling silver for an unfussy but completely polished look. Click to continue »

Who: Leslie Webb; Philadelphia, PA

What: Shosh Bud Vase, in Black Walnut, Hard Maple or Cherry

Where: Contact Leslie directly to purchase: leslie@lewebb.com; $95 (includes shipping & tax)

Why: We love this piece because it makes flower arranging easy, just as long as you remember to pick up nine stems to fill each of the lined slots. If that seems beyond your reach, not to worry, this piece can definitely stand on its own.

The delicate balancing act of the fanned base is a credit to the fine craftsmanship of Leslie Webb’s work. She manages to make solid blocks of wood appear light and delicate, like a ladies’ fan and gives them the allusion of motion as you imagine the trajectory of a falling block suspended in time. All the wood used to create these vases are scraps salvaged from her workshop.

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