December 14th 2011

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Brand Profile: Le Palais des Thés

“Tea is more than a gift, it’s an experience.” 

That’s the philosophy behind Le Palais des Thés, as expressed by Aurélie Bessiere, president of the company’s U.S. division. “It’s about having time to yourself and allowing your spirit to travel. It’s a perfect escape.”

Founded 25 years ago by an uncle with a passion for foreign cultures as well as for tea, Le Palais des Thés remains a family owned and operated business,  with long-lasting relationships with plantations in China, India, Korea and other faraway lands.

“We have a lot of respect for the people and the cultures that are invested in tea,” says Aurélie. That’s why they maintain close ties to the estates that grow their tea, and remain vigilant about environmental issues, working conditions and fair trade practices. “We have a passion for our tea because it’s a product of patience and knowledge. It’s more than just a beverage. It’s a product full of wellness, nostalgia and tradition.”

Today, the tea lovers at Le Palais des Thés have a simple mission: to bring you the best quality teas and to share their travels and experiences with you. 

“Tea is a surprise,” says Aurélie. “We hope more people will discover more behind the tea when they drink it.”

Posted at 1:30pm and tagged with: Wantful, Brand Profile, Editorial, Design, Photography, Original,.

December 5th 2011

40 notes

Brand Profile: Digby & Iona

An oxidized sterling-silver ring molded into the form of a tree stump, carved with the initials of two people in love. A delicate vermeil pendant in the shape of a deadly pistol, suspended from a fine silver chain. An oxidized bronze cuff engraved with intertwined nautical ropes, signifying “the ties that bind.”

With its idiosyncratic, intelligent, and whimsical take on fine jewelry, Brooklyn-based Digby & Iona has cultivated a loyal following. In name, it sounds like a couple, but Digby & Iona is the work of one man, designer Aaron Ruff. “I wanted something more romantic than my own name, and not gender specific,” he explains. “‘Digby and Iona’ comes from two towns I passed through during a road trip across Nova Scotia.”

Finding inspiration far from the beaten path is nothing new for Ruff. Growing up in Maine, he remembers being captivated by the rich natural world that surrounded him, and by books and antique objects. These things helped Ruff escape into a vivid imagination that would eventually become source material for his line. “My jewelry is based on memory and sentiment,” he says.

The son of a craftsman, Ruff headed to design school at Parsons to study furniture making and follow in his father’s footsteps. After a few years, though, he realized his true calling was to create much smaller objects.

“Romance and nostalgia [define] my mission as a jeweler,” Ruff says, “Making pieces which people give as gifts to one another is personal and intimate—it creates a connection—where furniture is much more utilitarian. I was able to come at jewelry from a different angle being a furniture maker.”

By working on a small scale, “I am able to create heirlooms that remain heirlooms,” Ruff explains. “I really like to imagine pieces staying in a family through the generations.” And while Digby & Iona’s pieces seem to come from another time, their look is altogether timeless.

Available now through @Wantful.

Posted at 4:09pm and tagged with: Wantful, Brand Profile, Partners, Design, Editorial,.

October 20th 2011

18 notes

Brand Profile: Fleabags

Fleabags was founded by Shira Entis and Alex Bell, two vintage-obsessed fashionistas who met on their first day at Brown University. They bonded over their shared obsession with flea markets, and found inspiration in their frustration with carrying their finds in plastic bags.

Craving a convenient and fashionable tote that could shuttle their treasures while being easy to carry for long periods of time, they set about designing one for themselves, and Fleabags was born.

Crafted from high-quality materials— some organic, some vintage, some re-purposed, all sourced in the USA—Fleabags quickly caught on far beyond markets and swap meets: Anne Hathaway toted hers around Coachella.

“We both really enjoyed vintage shopping, thrifting, and flea marketing.”

Although the line originally comprised one iconic style—“We created the factory-minimum—100 bags—and they sold out in four weeks”—it soon grew into an assortment of satchels and totes that are at once timeless and of-the-moment. Fleabags have been featured in every major style publication, from Vogue to Elle, the New York Times to the London Telegraph, as both fashionable and functional.

“We created the factory-minimum—100 bags—and they sold out in four weeks”

And even though their company has grown dramatically since the early days, Entis and Bell remain passionate about sourcing and producing all their creations in the United States in small, limited-edition production runs, raising awareness and support for the New York Garment District along the way.

Like the best vintage pieces, Fleabags are hard to come by—and that’s what makes them so special. No doubt they’ll become collectibles at the flea markets of the future.

(Source: wantful.com)

Posted at 10:40am and tagged with: Wantful, Brand Profile, Partners, Design, Editorial,.