Designer Spotlights

Founded by Hamidou Diallo, of Guinean origin, and Tuulia Makinen Diallo, of Finnish origin, Tensira is a unique marriage of traditional African weaving and modern Scandinavian design. Their sustainable homewares are made entirely by hand using age-old Guinean weaving and dying techniques. The company employs more than 100 artisans in their workshops in the Republic of Guinea in a safe and fair working environment. “Excluded from globalization, African crafts risk...

Sean McNanney is a Brooklyn based artist, designer and the founder of SAVED NY. He realized his dream of creating a line of luxury blankets with the introduction of his first collection in 2015 after working for Ralph Lauren Home. Since that time, SAVED has grown exponentially, expanding from cashmere soft goods for the home to a fashion line including multiple collaborations with artists and designers around the globe. Along...

In 2002, Jean Polsky and her husband Chike Chukwulozie opened Estella, an eclectic, designer baby clothes and high-end children’s clothing boutique in New York’s Greenwich Village. The concept behind Estella was to bring the amazing, artisan-inspired kids’ clothing they saw scattered across Europe to New York. In 2002, luxury children’s fashion in NYC was synonymous with big box retail, big price tags, and somber, conservative frocks.  They see things differently....

Felicity Irons of Rush Matters has revived the centuries old British craft of rush working: “Rush is a fantastic material; practical and durable but also beautiful. You get such fantastic colors–vibrant greens, dark browns, purples, pinks–and it’s naturally aromatic.”  The process from harvest to finished product is done entirely by hand using traditional techniques.  During the summer months, Irons and her team collect freshwater bulrush on the rivers of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and...

A favorite of Grace Kelly, Liz Taylor and Maria Callas, Chantecler epitomizes the glamour of La Dolce Vita.  The first Chantecler boutique opened on the island of Capri in 1947 steps from the Piazzetta. Today Chantecler’s jewelry is celebrated around the world for its workmanship and quality.

Simone Crestani started working glass at the age of 15 at the Massimo's Lunardon glass factory near Venice. After an apprenticeship that lasted ten years, he opened his own studio, where he continues to work, dedicated to research and innovation. An introspective and self-taught artist, Crestani eventually broke away from the traditional glass of Murano and developed a special technique of working with borosilicate glass, for which he is known...