RISD Students’ Guatemalan Products Are Well Received At The New York Gift Fair
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 08.18.06
We told you last week about the intrepid group of RISD design students who have taken the fruits of their project Bridging Cultures Through Design to the New York Gift Fair. We are excited to say that after following their journey, from Providence to Lake Atitlan and back again, we are now able to see the products that the students have produced after working the artisans in Guatemala. And my aren’t they gorgeous! It is wonderful to see how the students have interpreted the artisans’ techniques in different ways, giving the products a contemporary twist without abandoning the traditional craft.
Chelsea Green tells us more: “The best news is that the collection is selling!! We have hung some large black and white photos of the artisans as the backdrop of the booth so we really feel them all here with us in spirit. It is great to be able to be here as a student and really see this project come full circle, knowing that along with beautiful products, we are building sustainable income opportunities for the communities that we collaborated with. We have been involved in the whole process so we really understand the complexity involved in bringing responsible products to market.”
Whilst the products have been selling well at the New York Gift FAir the RISD students do not currently have a retail outlet where they can continue to sell them. They are available for wholesale purchase. Interested parties should contact Mimi Robinson: mimir1 [at] mindspring [dot] com.
