Material World
Material World
Handmade Crafts | Empowering Artisans, Enriching Lives
Sourced with Care, Crafted with Love
At Material World, we empower women artisans through fair trade, curating a collection of handmade crafts that preserve traditional methods and support sustainable livelihoods. Every purchase enriches both your life and theirs.
Discover jewelry handcrafted in Bali and Greece, beaded clutch purses from Bali, hand-knitted purses from Colombia, and tote bags woven from silk velvet in Turkey. You’ll also find hand-block-printed tablecloths, napkins, and runners made by artisans in India. Each item is made with love and skill, mostly by women from marginalized communities, ensuring authentic, artisan-made home decor you won’t find elsewhere.
All over the world, unique and beautiful fair trade gifts and décor are produced. It’s Material World’s mission to bring these one-of-a-kind products to the marketplace. Support artisans—be a part of the change to help these women help themselves!
A Journey Rooted in Passion
I’ve always had a passion for fabrics and handmade textiles, starting at a young age helping my cousin in her interior design firm in NYC. Sorting through fabric swatches ignited my love for artisan-made home decor.
Flash forward over 50 years, and I’m still immersed in fabrics—only now it’s my full-time calling. I began as an interior designer specializing in hotel design, then transitioned to a sales rep for a Miami-based jobber, learning the ins and outs of the textile trade.
Years later, I moved to Europe, working for a year in a prestigious German textile mill before studying Italian in Rome. Returning to Florida, I embarked on a career as a textile agent, forging relationships with mills and artisans around the world. My passion for textiles and fair trade craftsmanship has never waned—each connection I make brings unique, authentic artisan products to our store.
“Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
This mantra guides me as I collaborate with women artisans, ensuring their handmade crafts reach appreciative homes worldwide.
Connecting Cultures Through Craftsmanship
Our artisan-made home decor is crafted with love and skill by women from marginalized communities worldwide. Each piece tells a story—from jewelry handcrafted in Bali and Greece to beaded clutch purses, hand-knitted purses in Colombia, and tote bags woven from Turkish silk velvet. You’ll also find block printed tablecloths and linens made by artisans in India, all reflecting global heritage.
