FALL/WINTER 2016
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The arrival of Fall and cooler weather ushers in a time for warm tea and crackling fires. When curating our items for Fall and Winter, I wanted to focus on introducing works that used the most ancient of art forms such as ceramics, weaving and beading. I can’t wait for you to see the new jewelry from Sidai Designs handmade by the beading experts of the Maasai tribe in Kenya, as well as Le Souq Ceramique, that hand craft ceramics from their studio in Tunisia. We are just so honored to have met these new partners and marvel at their craftsmanship. Every item has a story and every artist has a voice. Thank you for supporting our mission to always place people over products while advocating for the value of the handmade item and the preservation of art forms. Our artisan partners inspire us each day to strive to live an authentic life that is filled with compassion and humility toward others and our planet.
XO, Michelle
founder, AMERICAN NOMAD
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buckle clutch + crossbody | $130 handmade in Uganda
oyster travel bag | $499 handmade in Uganda
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Sseko Designs Sseko began as a way to generate income for highly talented young women to continue on to university. To date, they have enabled 47 women to continue on to university by providing employment and a comprehensive social impact program to a team of 50 women in Uganda, and they do it all through a financially self-sustaining model.
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What Daisy Did What Daisy Did is a cooperative that advocates for slow fashion and the battle against consumerism in the fashion industry. They work with 60 families in India, many whom lost their jobs in the trade shift to China. Their one-of-akind bags are handcrafted using off-cut leather from factories that would have otherwise thrown it away. All tailors are paid a fair commission, with realistic living wages, achievable workloads within normal working hours.
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elm tote | $85
hornbeam holdall | $120
handmade in India
handmade in India
pine saddle bag | $72 handmade in India
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The Art Of . . .
BLOCK PRINTING Block printing was first used by the Tang Dynasty in China between the 4th and 7th century. It began as blocks cut from wood used to print textiles and reproduce short Buddhist religious texts that were carried as charms by believers. Today it is most widely utilized in India where it is largely used for printing on fabrics for costumes, floor coverings, bedspreads and sometimes even wall hangings or prayer rugs. The process of block printing is labor-intentsive and requires a high level of craftsmanship, particularly when carving the wood blocks that are used for each color of a design. Each block is coated with dye and then pressed onto fabric in layers to create a unique pattern.
birds city bag | $134 handmade in India
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Joyn At the heart of JOYN lies a desire to see lives in Rajpur, India changed. Many persons living in Rajpur grew up begging on the streets and had no education, identities, or even birthdays. JOYN utilizes the traditional Indian art of block printing, which many are taught growing up, to provide the people of Rajpur with steady jobs, a safe work environment, daily meal plans, education for their children, vocational training, and medical care.
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mod jade pouch | $24 handmade in India
peacock pouch | $24 handmade in India
mod jade city bag | $134 handmade in India
peacock weekender | $110 handmade in India
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whimsy pine necklace | $58 handmade in Uganda
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entertainer | $48 handmade in Uganda
chelsea falls | $62 handmade in Uganda
madison | $56
lupine jumble | $58
handmade in Uganda
handmade in Uganda
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31Bits 31BITS empowers women in Uganda with a five-year beneficiary program that provides fair wages, counseling, health education, finance training and business mentorship. Upon graducation a beneficiary has her own business and is educated, healthy, confident and empowered.
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Sidai Designs Sidai Designs believes in empowering and supporting Maasai women in their community by creating a sense of purpose and hope through sustainable employment and fair wages. Sidai strives to preserve the rich cultural heritage and beading skills of the Maasai that have been their mark of beauty and prosperity for centuries.
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warrior block cuff | $75 handmade in Kenya
multi v warrier bracelet | $54 handmade in Kenya
zigzag warrier bracelet | $42 handmade in Kenya
warrior necklace | $174 handmade in Kenya
leather wrap bracelet | $65 handmade in Kenya
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The Art Of . . .
BEADING Handcrafted beaded jewelry has been made out of many types of materials such as glass, bone, porcelain, shells, paper, clay, metals, gemstones, ivory, and even wood. It is believed that beading was first used by Egyptians around 3100 B.C. and is one of the only artforms that has traceable roots to the beginning of mankind. Beadwork is the art of attaching beads to one another by stringing them with a sewing needle or beading needle and thread or thin wire. Beading is most commonly used to create jewelry or other articles of personal adornment; they are also used in wall hangings and sculpture and many other artworks.
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warrior lady necklace | $30
golden drops necklace | $29
handmade in India
handmade in India
gold leaf bracelet | $25
kenyan princess cuff | $25
handmade in Kenya
handmade in Kenya
contrast earrings | $42
light gem studs | $24
handmade in Kenya
handmade in Vietnam
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armor amore necklace | $30 handmade in India
falling for you necklace | $50 handmade in Mexico
flights of silver bracelet | $19
rustic silver cuff | $28
handmade in India
handmade in India
moonbeam earrings | $24
dots of daisy earrings | $12
handmade in Kenya
handmade in India
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cotton pya scarf | $42 handmade in India
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kantha scarf | $36 handmade in India
cotton pya scarf | $42 handmade in India
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cream lars cap | $48
gray lars cap | $48
handmade in Bolivia
handmade in Bolivia
cream glitten mittens | $48
gray glitten mittens | $48
handmade in Bolivia
handmade in Bolivia
green woolly warmth gloves | $30
red woolly warmth gloves | $30
handmade in Nepal
handmade in Nepal
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The Art Of . . .
WEAVING Weaving is acknowledged as one of the oldest surviving crafts in the world. The tradition of weaving traces back to Neolithic times – approximately 12,000 years ago. Even before the actual process of weaving was discovered, the basic principle of weaving was applied to interlace branches and twigs to create fences, shelters and baskets for protection. The art of weaving is very simple. One set of yarn threads are stretched on a loom and a second set of yarn threads is interlaced using an over and under sequence. By changing the colour of the threads in both directions patterns are formed.
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Berber Wares Berber Looms is proud to do one thing... hand weave blankets and cushions using vintage textiles and locally sourced high quality wool on traditional wooden looms. Their cooperative of Berber artisans in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains are provided a global platform to present their wares to an international market and build a strong communal economy.
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vintage berber cushions | $72 - $112 handmade in Morocco
berber floor poofs | $92 - $139 handmade in Morocco
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arriving OCT 2016
striped moroccon wedding pillow | $124
dot moroccon wedding pillow | $124
handmade in Morocco
handmade in Morocco
boa moroccon wedding pillow | $104 handmade in Morocco
shine moroccon wedding pillow | $99 handmade in Morocco
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arriving OCT 2016
miles embroidered cushion | $54
sly flox embroidered cushion | $54
handmade in India
handmade in India
hoot embroidered cushion | $54
betsy embroidered cushion | $62
handmade in India
flower buck embroidered cushion | $62 handmade in India
handmade in India
mae embroidered cushion | $62 handmade in India
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pom pom blanket | $130 handmade in Morocco
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natural pom pom blanket | $130 handmade in Morocco
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morning fog pom pom blanket | $130 handmade in Morocco
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The Art Of . . .
GLASS BLOWING The oldest fragments of glass date back to the 16th century BC in Egypt and is believed to have been discovered by Phoenician sailors. While ashore, these ancient sailors would build fires on the beaches to cook their food and in the morning discovered a brittle substance created from the melted sand. During this period few people knew how to make glass, and only the pharaohs, high priests and nobles owned items made from glass. The art of glass blowing involves inflating molten glass into a bubble with the aid of a blowpipe. Shapes are created with different puffs of air and a spinning of the blowpipe. The blown glass is then placed in a 900 degree kiln to cool over several days.
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alba hanging t-lights | $34 set of 3 handmade in India
sparkling t-light vase | $15 - $21
antique candlesticks | $21 - $27
handmade in India
handmade in India
bibi bud vases | $54 set of 6 handmade in India
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Nkuku Nkuku is built on the principles of fair trade, equal opportunity by using sustainable and recycled materials to handcraft their unique homewares. They aim to promote and develop the traditional skills of artisans, who have astounding skills but challenging living standards and restricted opportunities, bringing their work to new markets through wholesale and retail channels.
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kora + aketa planters | $22 - $28 handmade in India
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beme round pot | $27 - $43
beme long pot | $46
handmade in India
handmade in India
etched glass pot | $32 - $44
kavali box | $50 - $60
handmade in India
handmade in India
antique | $52 handmade in India
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danta frame | $28 - $40
mini danta frame | $16 set of 2
handmade in India
handmade in India
arriving NOV 2016
aketa planter | $28
kora planter | $22
handmade in India
handmade in India
mini kiko frame | $33 set of 4 handmade in India
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The Art Of . . .
CERAMICS In prehistoric times water was carried in woven baskets lined with river clay. After the water was poured out of the container the layer of clay dried. The loss of moisture caused the clay to shrink and separate from the sides of the basket. When the clay, now shaped like a pot, was removed, and dried in the sun on hot sand, it retained the basket pattern. The first functional pottery vessels for storing water and food is thought to be around 9000 or 10,000 BC. The art of ceramics uses non-metalic materials, most often clay, that is shaped, fired and adorned by hand. There is a long history of ceramic art in almost all developed cultures, and often ceramic objects are all the artistic evidence left from vanished cultures.
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Le Souk Ceramique Le Souk Ceramique’s mission is to maintain the art of hand-painted ceramics but also keep them affordable and functional. Each piece is handcrafted in their studio in Nabeul, Tunisia were aritsts freehand designs on each piece honoring the rich pottery traditions of the Tunisian culture.
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arriving NOV 2016
mini tagines | $12 each handmade in Tunisia
square serving dish | $12 each
soup bowl | $15 each
handmade in Tunisia
handmade in Tunisia
cooking tagine | $84
utensil/wine holder | $30
handmade in Tunisia
handmade in Tunisia
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