FOLK x Eastown LA

A couple of weeks ago, we had a unique opportunity to work on a new project. Our friends at We Came in Peace asked us to partner with them on a project for the Eastown LA apartment complex in Hollywood, CA. With a lot of help from Johnny, Kim, Chris, Andrew and the team we put together a weekend of events that sunny LA rarely sees, a Fall Festival. We kicked off the weekend with a dinner by chef Josef of Ledlow DTLA, a dinner full of friends and fun with a Southern Comfort food inspired menu and gifts supplied by Original Grain watches. The rest of the weekend held special visits and pop-ups from Commissary Coffee and Clyde May's bourbon, as well as a Maker's Market on Sunday. Here's a recap of some of our favorite moments.

Domestic Domestic

This holiday season we've been partnering up with some of our favorite stores and makers to share their stories. The stories of they created their businesses and what owning their own business means to them. When you support a small business you support, a community, a family, and a dream. This week we meet Heather Smith, the owner and creator of Domestic Domestic and get to know her lifestyle brand store.

How was Domestic Domestic created?

Domestic Domestic is my 7th small business start up. Previously, I owned a kitchen shop called Eggshells. As the buyer I began to notice my habits gravitating towards American goods – mainly for their quality. That transition opened my eyes up to the transparency of working with American companies. One company in particular, PK Grills, which is located in Little Rock we credit with the inspiration for this shop. 

Were most of the products in the beginning home goods?

Yes. Clothing and shoes fell into place after discovering so many great brands. 

How do you decide which products to carry from your brands?


It varies from brand to brand. Ethically produced, well designed, lasting heritage, or just plain awesome!

In addition to your heritage brands, how do you find new brands?

Talking with makers and other shops. I am blown away by the open communication we all have in this field. Clearly we all realize the better each does individually the better we all will do. We also attend events such as American Field to make new connections. 

Will/Do you create collaborative products with brands you work with?

Absolutely! We have a few on the floor now and are always looking to team up with other companies. 

What inspires the Domestic Domestic brand?

We are driven by the “quality” lifestyle. There is a satisfaction when you are surrounded by well made things. 

How do your hobbies influence what you carry?

I believe in a well balanced life. There is a time to work hard. There is a time for travel and learning. There is a time for family. And there is a time to relax. Combining all of these creates that well balanced life. Our products are for this lifestyle. 

What has been your biggest lesson?

Still working on this!

What's your favorite thing about supporting American makers?

The results are very immediate!

What's been your best advice you've been given?

Do what you love. I can sell anything. I chose to sell what I believe in.  

What's been your biggest challenge?

Growing too quickly. Sometimes we have to take a step back and refocus. 

To learn more about Heather and Domestic Domestic, follow her on Instagram @domesticdomestic and visit her website at www.domesticdomestic.com.

Tinlid Hat Company

As part of our Christmas American maker series we have been getting to know a few of our favorite brands and partnering with them to tell their stories. This week we are sharing the story of Jon Tuck, the owner and creator of Tinlid Hat Co. I asked him to share in his words a bit about his brand and his journey being a small business owner. Read what he had to say below.

We started Tinlid Hat Company in August of 2014. Initially, we made some hats for us and our friends that said "FROLF" on them because we love to disc golf. We started selling them at our local disc golf course and decided to run with the idea of a hat company. Hats were not something we were that into. Of course, we would wear the occasional cap before Tinlid, but the reason we got started on hats was just to make something other than a t-shirt.

We all sort of pitch in ideas for a design, but I (Jon) do most of the design work. I enjoy the creativity involved and designing the caps are one of my favorite parts of running Tinlid. We found some manufacturers that make our hats. In the future, we hope to be able to buy the machinery and start making them ourselves, but that may be a bit down the road. Most of the ideas for our products come to us while we are in the outdoors. We don't necessarily set aside a specific time to think of new products. We like the ideas to come to us naturally. 

I've always believed in social entrepreneurship. I was interested in this concept at a particularly young age. Over the years, I've read and studied about it, and when Tinlid began, we decided to implement a social cause. We plant 15 trees through Trees for the Future (trees.org) for every product purchased. We believe in preserving and restoring the earth's forest for a number of reasons, one being that we just love to be outside. I love being outside. There is so much to do and so much to discover. Our hobby of disc golfing actually started the whole brand, and we thought of the side strap on the hats for pencils when we were out disc golfing one day. 

I think one of the most important things I've learned since we began is the idea giving efficiently. For example, we used to only plant 1 tree for every product sold, but now we plant 15- for the same cost. It's important to do your due diligence and not just throw money at causes. There is so much to enjoy about running Tinlid. The thing I take the most pride in is giving back. Some customers have gone out of their way to write letters and email us to thank us for our work. It feels amazing knowing we are making a change!

I've been given a lot of advice. It's hard to come up with just one thing. One piece of advice I received from my friend and a mentor was don't be afraid to reach out to people and ask for help. Even if it seems like they'd have no interest or reason to help you, if they like what you're about and you're genuine, they are willing to help. If I could give a piece of advice to anyone, I'd tell them do what you love and find a way to make it impact others. Our biggest challenge was the first 2-3 months without a doubt. We pretty much just stumbled our way through it. I remember one of our first goals was to make just one sale on the website. I think we sold only two hats online during September 2014 so the biggest struggle was just learning how to market the brand. Eventually, we started to figure things out, but we learn more every day.

FOR MORE VISIT: TINLIDCO.COM

FOLK + Harden Family Roasters

We often work with small makers and small businesses to share their stories. To celebrate in their successes and learn from their failures we've started a new series dedicated to the ones. The ones who we built FOLK for, and who helped us build FOLK.

Justin Harden of Campbellsville, KY is the owner of Harden Coffee, a small batch coffee roasters and coffeehouse in the middle of rural central Kentucky. Retiring from a career in construction he started to follow his dreams of working with food and coffee after returning to Campbellsville from Kansas City. When Justin first started roasting coffee, he began roasting the beans in a popcorn popper on his back porch and selling the fresh coffee in his brother-in-law's whole foods market in town. As the popularity of his coffee grew, he and his wife saw an opportunity to make his passion a full time career when they bought and opened Harden Coffee.

Campbellsville, is a small town with a local university, and it's what some would say is the model for the new frontier of America. Justin is doing his part to grow with the community in that frontier town and is doing his part to bring something new and accessible to his hometown by giving people a better look at how their favorite morning brew is produced. Sourcing and roasting his own beans in the back people can come in and experience the process from green coffee beans to cup or bag.

Being able to raise his four children in he and his wife's own hometown while chasing their passion, Justin is truly living authentic and redefining what the American Dream means. Though living in a rural town as small as Campbellsville can sometimes be a challenge, Justin and his wife have worked hard to make their passion a success. This is a look at their business and the life they've created through it.

Maker | Greenwich Vintage

He's just a small-town man from the Midwest, Minnesota that is. He was raised in farm country and his dad worked hard to make a way for his family. Like his dad, he provides for family and is a husband to his wife and a father to his children. He's a cobbler by trade, working with his hands every day to mend the timeworn boots and shoes of his customers. He tries to teach his children the importance of shopping smarter, buying American-made products that support local and national jobs. He dresses each day like a man should, oxfords laced, collared shirt tucked into his chinos, and he makes sure his hair is coiffed neatly in place before leaving the house. This man isn't living in the 1950s, he's very much a modern man. His name isn't Ward Cleaver, it's Tomas "Zen" Pomazi and he is helping America redefine what it means to be a postmodern man.

Zen is the owner of Greenwich Vintage Co., a company devoted to rehabilitating old worn out shoes to create a shoe that is as comfortable and colorful as it is classy. Zen grew up an artistic kid, after high school he went to an art institute and worked as a professional graffiti artist for many years while working in retail. "I've always loved art," says Zen, "I have always been someone who has to create art. I worked in professional graffiti for years, painting murals for companies and stores. It was the creative outlet to my job in retail for skate shops and sneaker companies."

It was when he started to feel unfulfilled in that career that he started a pursuing a new passion. Bringing his knowledge of footwear through retail to the table he started to make customized shoes for himself and then other clients. "I grew up in the skate community where it was natural to graffiti your clothes, boards, and shoes. I thought it would be a lot of fun to see my own art on shoes. I'm a shoe freak - you can ask my wife, it kills her - and I couldn't think of a better piece of wearable art than a pair of customized sneakers," Zen laughs. 

Zen says he reached the pinnacle of his customized sneaker venture in 2008 when he and a few friends attended the release of the Nike Bordeaux 7 Jordan in shoes the he had designed for himself and his friends. "I had studied the shoes before their release and I thought it would be neat to take the color scheme they used on the unreleased Jordans and adapt it to several pairs of Nike Air Max sneakers." People went crazy over the concept and Zen made a name for himself in the customized sneaker industry, getting several requests from professional athletes after that for their own customized sneakers.

After that, Zen says he felt like doing someone different, "Until then, I was still goofing around. I was very much a late bloomer and I realized at about 42 or 43 that it was time I traded in the sneakers for a pair of grown-up shoes." With that in mind, Zen started a men's shop with a couple of his friends, including his Greenwich Vintage partner Max, to create a men's brand that still allowed grown men to add a little excitement to their closets.

However, he didn't discover his calling until one very uncomfortable pair of Florsheim lace-up oxfords led him to the shop of a cobblesmith nearby. "I went to work one day in a new pair of Florsheim oxfords and by lunch time I was miserable. They were the most painful shoes I had ever owned, but I didn't know how to fix them." Zen had worked with shoes for years, customizing the upper, but he had never experimented with the soles until that day. Shoes in tow, Zen asked the cobbler if he had any secrets for fixing shoes with uncomfortably hard soles. The cobbler took him to the back room and showed him a black Vibram crepe sole and asked if he wanted to replace the stiff wooden sole with it. Zen studied under the cobbler, learning the proper way to replace and repair soles. With his newfound knowledge, Zen started making shoes for himself and his coworker Max, honing his new skills as a cobbler. Both he and Max saw the potential of the shoes on the market, catering to a man who wanted a mix of unique street style and classic menswear. Putting together a small investment of his own savings and Max's, Zen contacted Vibram about the option of buying their crepe soles in colors other than the standard white or black, but after learning that he couldn't buy the colors he desired, he bought the right to mold the existing soles and make his own.

Now Greenwich Vintage Co. is known for those self-poured and designed soles, ranging in color from blaze orange, turquoise, and camouflage. Taking custom orders from customers, Zen is able to transform any old, tired shoe into a one-of-a-kind piece of art for his clients. Zen has also worked with General Knot & Co. To start redesigning the uppers of his clients shoe. Using vintage and vintage inspired fabrics from Andrew Payne, Zen can cover the leather to give his customers footwear that they can personalize with vintage floral, plaid, and other textiles.

His latest ventures have allowed him to add a few new accessories to the postmodern American man's wardrobe. Partnering with Kent and Lee Begnaud and Nathan O' Malley of Leatherworks Minnesota, Zen created a signature pair of reversible leather braces for the Fall/Winter season featuring a camouflage design on one side. This is just the beginning of several collaborative efforts that Zen is working on to outfit his customers from head to toe. Zen says that, "Being able to partner with talented designers and artisans is allowing Greenwich Vintage Co. to let men dress like men." When men were men, that is the ideal that Zen pursues through Greenwich Vintage Co. each and every day. Like Ward Cleaver, Zen is teaching us the principles and life lessons concerning menswear that the American public has forgotten in the last 30 years. This isn't to say that he envisions a world without tshirts and jeans, in fact he wears them also, instead he sees a world where men can recapture that age old style of our forefathers of the early 20th century with a little added flair.

For more information about Zen and Greenwich Vintage Co. and to see their resole options, check out their website at www.greenwichvintage.us or follow them on Instagram—@grnwchvntgco.

Almond Lavender Cake

Have you ever cooked with lavender? It’s a very unique scent and flavor. It can be used in many things like lemonade and ice cream... I’ve even seen lavender cupcakes! I like trying new things and before this cake I had never actually tasted something with lavender in it. 

It’s almost hard to describe because there’s nothing else like it. The lavender adds a slightly floral taste that you feel when you breathe in after biting into this cake. Same with the glaze, it adds the softest, sweetest floral taste that’s unexpected but very delicious. 

This cake is absolutely beautiful and makes for a perfect springtime dessert. Garnish the slices with some dried lavender for an extra splash of purple! You can use your own lavender if you grow it in your garden or look for dried lavender in spice shops. 

Almond Lavender Cake

1/4 cup half-and-half cream

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons boiling water

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Additional dried lavender flowers, optional

2 cups sugar, divided

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers, divided

1 cup butter, softened

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

Grease a 10-in. fluted tube pan and sprinkle with sugar; set aside. Place 1/2 cup sugar, almonds and 1 tablespoon lavender in a food processor; cover and process until finely ground.

In a large bowl, cream butter and remaining sugar until light and fluffy; beat in almond mixture until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

In a small bowl, combine sour cream and half-and-half. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream mixture, beating well after each
addition.

Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

For drizzle, in a small bowl, combine water and remaining lavender. Cover and steep for 5 minutes. Strain, discarding lavender. In another small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and enough infused water to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over cake. Garnish with additional lavender if desired. Yield: 12 servings.

Almond Lavender Cake photography, styling, and recipe by Rikki Snyder. Find more from Rikki on her website and on Instagram—@RikkiSnyder.

Maker | Free Chant

 Normally here at FOLK, brands we are lucky enough to get to know and work with are American made and owned. However, the maker movement is a global phenomenon, and people from all over the globe are learning to start their own businesses and to buy from other small makers. We sat down with Alice Peretti & Alida Merlin, of Italian company Free Chant to learn more.

WHO ARE YOU /BRAND /HOW MANY

We are two girls (Alice Peretti / Alida Merlini) born in the north of Italy, where we launched a clothing brand called Free Chant. 

WHAT DO YOU DO 

Our mission is to design pieces that combine the colorful vibrancy of Indian textiles with the high quality of Italian production. Our lines are simple; they call to women who want to wear something comfortable, produced at slow pace and in full respect of the environment and the local communities of artisans. In each garment, we mix fabrics hand-printed with natural dyes and wooden blocks in Bagru to fabrics hand-loomed by the precious hands of the women of Maheshwar. We design clothes and scarves that we would wear every day, simple, but with a twist. Sometimes we dare a little, too. We combine colors and textures (cotton and silk are an exciting mix in some of our pieces), we work closely with our fantastic team in Italy and follow each step. We have been lucky. During our journey, we’ve met very talented people who appreciate what we do and are doing their best to help us realize what we had in mind. Now we hope that our pieces will be part of other women’s journey, too. Each garment carries a story that has deep roots in ancient crafts and that we want you to continue. Somehow, each dress is like a book… It’s a vessel of magic worlds to which you can give a new meaning and existence. 

WHY BE A MAKER/SUPPORT MAKERS/MAIN STREET

Being a maker not only means to make “things”, it also means to make your dreams (big or small) come true. It takes effort, but somehow it all comes natural. It’s like if you were born to do exactly what you are doing. Both Alida and I worked in big corporations, and it was great. Without the skills developed during those experiences, we probably wouldn’t be here now. But working for ourselves is adventurous! And how exciting! 

In my life, I’ve met dozens of people with brilliant ideas about new products, better services, etc. However, for different reasons, it happens very often that these remain only ideas. A maker is a special person; she’s the bridge between individual ideas and tangible products that can make a difference to other people’s lives. 

We come from a country where there are lots of small and independent businesses/boutiques/makers that are struggling due to globalization. Sadly, our city centers have all started to look like one another. When we find an independent boutique that sells something unique, our hearts burst! Preserving small businesses is vital to creativity. Each maker can be inspirational for another. 

We take pride in being a small company and having put together a group of extremely talented people who keep the dream alive. 

Alice Peretti

www.freechant.com

Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook: @freechant

Authentic Lives | Chef Angie Mar and the Beatrice Inn

I love food people. I come from a family of food people, and I admire people who have a passion for cooking. Food and dining is one the most commonly shared communal activities and interests that every culture shares. We all have to eat after all, so why not together? Often, when we're traveling, we love to ask for recommendations of places we should check out. Recently while traveling in New York we were asked to come by and check out some of the offerings at the Beatrice Inn, a restaurant managed by Executive Chef Angie Mar. The food and environment was so welcoming and delicious so we asked Chef Angie a few questions about the Beatrice and how she started her culinary adventures.

How did Beatrice Inn begin?

The Beatrice Inn has quite a storied history. It was built in 1841 and at some point, became a speakeasy. It was then an Italian restaurant for years, followed by a nightclub. It was always a fabulous mess of models and one of the grittier clubs on the New York scene until it was shuttered. Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair then took it over and re-concepted the location into what it is today. I’m actually the third chef to take the helm of the kitchen here, and it’s been my baby for the past year and a half to revamp the culinary focus. My team and I have put a lot of time and love into this place to bring it back to life and we are so proud of where it is now.  

What is the biggest theme that carries through your food?

There are so many! I always cook what I love to eat, so the basis of my food is meat, fruit and herbs. I like to play with masculine and feminine qualities and ideas- Whole lamb shanks are balanced with cherries and hearty herbs; pork shoulders that are beautiful and rustic are lightened with aromas of jasmine and browned butter. Basically I always want food to be incredibly sexy. Food should be sensual and thought provoking- It should mess with your mind because there are so many harmonious flavors, textures and temperatures to indulge in.

How did you first start your journey in cooking? Did you go to a traditional culinary institute?

I actually had a career in the corporate world prior to this. I was incredibly bored and unfulfilled. My family is in the restaurant industry, so perhaps it’s in my blood and I just fought it for too long. I finally quit my job and after travelling for a few months, decided to move to New York and follow my passion.

How did some of the specialties come about? Family recipes from Seattle?

Honestly, I cook what I love to eat… And that would be a lot of meat. Beef, lamb, and game meats, like venison and wild boar are all flavors from my childhood. There are certain dishes like the chicken liver pate or the pork shoulder that I’ve been cooking since I was about 15, but the majority of the menu is inspired by my travels, or what my parents cooked when I was growing up. Its food that will remind you of your grandparents, just a bit elevated and reimagined.

What do you hope people take away from their dining experience at Beatrice Inn?

I believe that most great relationships, friendships and memories begin around the dinner table - Or at least that has been my experience. My goal is that our guests will not only enjoy our food, but will also leave here with the experience of great relationships, friendships and memories over the meal that they’ve shared… Feeding people is such a privilege for us. 

How do you get ideas for new recipes and specialties?

That’s a question that people have been asking a lot lately. Where do I go to eat when I’m off that I can draw inspiration from? It may sound a bit odd, but I actually don’t go out to eat very much. I love to be in my own head, and I’ve found that when I go out to eat other people’s food, I tend to be the least creative- I hate having outside influencers. Instead I love to explore the farmer’s markets and look for incredibly beautiful ingredients. Right now I’m incredibly smitten with strawberries and cherries. I also just really cook for my menu, the foods that I happen to be craving. 

What is your biggest inspiration?

The energy in New York is unlike anything else in the world. Being surrounded by so many tenacious and talented people on a daily basis really pushes your boundaries. I’ve always been of the mindset that failure is not an option and that we create our own luck. Having the ability to create and shape my future is really what drives me.

How does your history influence what you make?

Our history always shapes who we are and who we will become, doesn’t it? For me, the fact that my mother is Taiwanese, but spent time in England, and my father was born in America, I am sure has shaped my palate. Meat pies, beef and of course the staple of jasmine rice is always what I crave as its what I ate growing up.   

What has been your biggest lesson in the culinary industry?

Trusting my instinct. I’ve never been one to listen to others, and anyone that has spent time with me can tell you that I rarely color in between the lines. The facets of the kitchen require you to just say “Yes Chef”, and my kitchen is definitely run in the same manner. However, there came a point in my career where I had to stop saying “Yes Chef” to someone and build my own future. The move I made was crazy, but it felt right, and taking over the Beatrice, baggage and all, has proved to be the best instinctual decision I could have ever made. 

What's your favorite thing about working in the culinary industry?

That’s a tough question since there are so many facets to our industry. I love the rush that I get when we are in the middle of service. I love waking up early in the morning to go to the markets for the best produce. Watching my guys cook is something that will never get old for me - they move with incredible speed and grace, and it’s often like watching a ballet. But the ability to be able to translate ideas, from my brain, onto a plate, and have people experience it, every day… That is something that I will always find to be an incredible privilege.

What's been your best advice you've been given?

The best advice that someone gave me was to not listen to the noise. To keep my head down and work harder and faster and smarter than anyone else, but most importantly, to not be afraid to be different or take risks. 

What's been your biggest challenge?

I’ve actually only been cooking for about 5 years, so in the big scope of things, many people would say that I came up very fast. I think my biggest challenge is maintaining my personal life. Part of the reason I think I’ve advanced this fast is that I’ve not stopped to come up for air. There has been very little play time in the past five years, but I’m also incredibly okay with that. 

Maker | Ssek Jewelry

Q&A:

How did you get started with jewelry making?

Jewelry making began in my head, every time I walked into a fast fashion retail store (e.g. Zara, Accessorize and the works.) Eventually I bought so many accessories, I figured perhaps I could start making them! The beginning pieces started off as gifts— then eventually my partner suggested selling these, and it's only been progress since.

Were you always interested in fashion? Jewelry design?

I've always been interested in fashion, but timeless fashion, and fashion that works. I don't like following trends just for the sake of it. If I think it looks good in another 10 years, then that's really good fashion. Also, given living in Singapore where it's 30 deg celsius every day, tees and shorts work fine. The only thing that's variable to me is the accessorising, and that's what I wanted to make a difference in.

Why jewelry? When did you first fall in love with it?

You can wear a simple white tee and shorts, but the kind of jewellery you wear decides what kind of look you're going for. Laying my eyes on a beautiful piece of jewellery is like listening to an exquisite harmony, to me. The different textures, lengths, colour combinations, and how they contribute to the flow of the jewellery when you move— is like a little piece of magic.

Jewelry to me isn't just something material, nor is it a status symbol. It is a man made reminder of what wonderful things our brain and heart can do when we see anything beautiful in the world.

How do you get ideas for new designs?

Ideas come from anywhere and everywhere, but I seem to draw most of my ideas from nature, as cliché as it sounds. What greater designer and artist than Mother Nature? The colour gradients in petals, the colour combination and contrasts in butterflies, how leaves float on their branches, the textures of wood. 

What are your inspirations?

Initially I was greatly inspired by JewelRocks, a Balinese brand that wove tradition and modernity into their jewellery design. They are classy yet playful, and it struck a note with me. Right now my inspirations include potters Shino Takeda and Red Raven Studios because of their unique colour palettes, as well as illustrators like Leah Goren.

How do your hobbies influence what you make?

My hobbies include small scale pottery and making music. Theory and rules create the basic backbone for these activities, but the true beauty is when you feel it in your heart. A silhouette of a vessel may be imperfect to others but to you it looks unique and refreshing. In music, jazz is always full of improvisation and weird keys but they work like magic! These "perfect imperfections" have influenced my jewellery a great deal. I don't conform to standard colour palettes and if one colour should go with another— I'm always challenging myself to have different contrasts in my jewellery, be it in colours or in textures.

What has been your biggest lesson?

To be proud of my business. I'm still learning. Up till now whenever I talk about what I do, I'm always adding a disclaimer: "I know it's an idealistic thing to do…" but I should really stop that.

I'm still learning to be more confident and to truly believe from my insides. Slowly but surely I'm becoming a better salesperson and a more positive businesswoman— although I may be treading water in the deep sea. 

What's your favorite thing about sharing your styling and photography?

My favourite thing about sharing my photography is providing my customers (and potential customers) an experience. To show that handcrafted jewellery have personalities, have homes where they come from, have stories, and have been created with meaning and purpose. 

What's been your best advice you've been given?

To be shameless. My mantra used to be "Good things to come". It's a pleasant thing to hear, but the world isn't that nice. I want something, I have to go get it. So in the words of Ruby Anemic's neon light exhibit in 2013, "No Guts No Glory".

What's been your biggest challenge?

Financing this business. I've yet to have investors, and I am challenging myself to be as self sustainable as possible. I'm inching closer to reach my goals— not just for me, but to improve my customer experience and quality of my goods. If I could reach my goals in half the time that might be great, but I'm not sure if I'd learn as much if I did. We'll see!

Maker | J.Stark Carry Goods

We are big fans of leatherworkers and totes here at FOLK. Constantly being on the road and carrying a lot of equipment, it's essential for us to have sturdy and able everyday bags. We look to brands like J.Stark for those necessities. Created by Erik Holmberg it is a beautiful line of handcrafted bags out of Charleston, SC. We asked him to tell us more about the brand and gave a couple of the bags a test run.

How was J. Stark created?

J. Stark was created in the night hours and weekends while I had a full time job creating websites. I was looking for a physical and tactile outlet for my creativity that would allow me to connect with people.

I made my first wallet and gave it to a friend. When I saw his reaction once he had it in his hands the feelings I had were visceral. I was immediately hooked.

Were most of the products in the beginning carry goods?

Yes. Most of the goods start with serving a purpose. I think this gives them the best chance of being useful and finding a home. If you chase trends and fashion, I think that model isn't as sustainable as a business.

Who designs your products? Who sews the bags and how do you find able leather workers?

Currently I design all the products, but I'm looking to bring on someone with a fresh eye for women's goods.

I create all the goods first, and then sit down with team members to create it with them their first time. That way I can tell the story of the design and why I chose to create the good in the manner I did. This fosters additional conversations about the craft and how to improve or do something in a different way.

How do you get ideas for new products?

Since almost all J. Stark goods set out to serve a purpose, I think of what people are going to need to go out and live their day to day lives. Or I think about an area that hasn't been innovated on or made as simply as it can be.

What inspires the J. Stark brand?

Utility. Military. Classicness. Timelessness. Minimal pieces to minimize failure points that leads to durability.

How do your hobbies influence what you make?

I developed software for a long time, and to become a great software developer you need to pay attention to all details, even the infinitely small. You have to put yourself in the shoes of the person using your site as well to develop something truly useful.

I bring this same attention to detail to design and creation of products. I make them as simple as possible and as clean as possible.

I also think about how they are going to be used in the real world and try to infuse them with that knowledge.

What has been your biggest lesson?

Running your own business is one of the most difficult things to do, which is the reason not many people do. However, I've always felt that hard work can always match or outweigh talent, so I'm never afraid to put in the hours.

What's your favorite thing about making carry goods?

Seeing people use them and how it makes their lives easier. Getting up every morning and making things with my hands.

What's been your best advice you've been given?

To think about the future of your company before it happens so you can plan for it. Similarly, I'm really big into visualizing the future and what things you want to accomplish. I think it gets implanted in the subconscious then and your actions will start to bend to make it happen.

What's been your biggest challenge?

Scaling. It's hard to find people with the skills and patience to work with their hands. Many people want instant gratification and aren't willing to work on something for 30-40 hrs to get it right.

To learn more about Erik and J.Stark, as well as their amazing bags, visit his website at www.starkmade.com.

Maker | Crateful

The art of giving, that's what Keira Guez and Brit Woodward of Crateful are redefining. Carefully crafting special, meaningful gift for your someone special. We all suffer from the 'busy bug' and these two are helping people rediscover the art of thoughtful gifting. We recently were gifted a beautifully created package from them so we asked them to tell us more about Crateful, read more in their Q&A below.

How did you get started with Crateful? 

With strong generous spirits and an appreciation for delicious food, we had been toying with different ideas when we agreed on crateful. It was the perfect combination of our individual talents/passions. The name encompassed our desire to send the message that gratitude is vital in gift giving/receiving. We believe in the heart of a giver – we know how busy life can get, so we wanted to create a way for people to show their gratitude amidst their busy lives, without compromising the quality of the gift. Every order is custom made!

What inspired you to start making the packaged crates? 

We both love the IDEA of giving a package full of small gifts, body products, baked goods etc, but the standardized gift basket options are far from original or thoughtful, in our opinion. We wanted to fill the gap where we saw a need and make it desirable. We knew we wanted to use wooden crates because they are environmentally friendly, reusable, recyclable,useful & gender neutral.

How did you start finding products that you loved and paired? 

I have a background in baking / skincare / cosmetology – all of our handmade recipes were specifically designed utilizing that background knowledge. Keira’s business background in fashion is key in being knowledgeable on what people want, trend and longevity. 

Were you always interested in food and lifestyle products? 

I have been working as a private chef for almost 9 years and Keira has an extensive background in fashion/lifestyle design – before we started crateful we were just really good friends. We love the same things but have unique tastes to bring forth. What Keira didn’t know about the food world, I was able to educate her on and what I didn’t know about the branding/business world, Keira taught me about. Keira has great taste, it’s refreshing to be able to try something new and bring it to her and know I’m going to get an honest, sophisticated opinion on whether it makes the crateful cut or not! 

How do you get ideas for each crate?

We pay attention to our environments. We both love to travel and are fortunate to do quite a bit of it. By maintaining this sponge-like mentality when we travel, we really get to absorb our surroundings and take what we love and think others will love also. Being from Los Angeles, we both really enjoy being outdoors. The beach, the mountains, the desert… such different ecosystems so close to our own backyards- these places we’ve visited our entire lives have a scent or flavor and we incorporate that nostalgia into our products. My passion for camping around California inspired our signature S’Moreskewers. Keira’s North African heritage led us to use Moroccan blue chamomile in our body products… we take pieces of what make our lives richer and pour them into the brand.

What are you inspired by?

Again, our environment is really inspiring. I think my affinity for salty/sweet flavors comes from a life spent on the Pacific. The textures of the Southern Californian landscape inspire a lot of our palettes. The industrial feel of Downtown LA inspired raw wood for our crates. We are also inspired by humanity. After all, we are a gift company… whether you’re gifting yourself, or someone else, it’s special and we want it to feel special because giving is a special ritual; for the giver and the receiver. That transaction itself is inspiration enough to really put love into each crate. 

How do your hobbies influence what you do?

Hobbies are personal & inspire pretty much our entire brand. My love of art and the outdoors both equally inspire me to come up with new recipes and combinations for body products- whether it’s Monet’s Water Lillies or a campfire in Big Sur, something crateful will come from it. I think the fact that everything about crateful can be customized is an opportunity for both of us to draw endless inspiration for from all areas of our lives. Keira is probably the most giving friend you may ever meet, I think that intense selfless nature has really inspired her to take customization to another level. To make the crates really special for the recipients, that’s what we’re about.

What has been your biggest lesson?

Always check the weather when shipping long distance with a deadline and never let the customer doubt how much they’re appreciated.

What's your favorite thing about sharing your packages?

The joy we get to offer someone’s day! It’s a blessing to US to be able to be the cause for someone’s smile. 

What's been your best advice you've been given?

Don’t be afraid to fail a few times. 

What's been your biggest challenge?

Sorting out how to maintain freshness with baked goods without any preservatives… while SHIPPING! WOW! We failed a few times there… we sent a LOT of mock cratefuls to family members to taste test for freshness. 

To learn more about Crateful or to buy your own specially crafted package, visit their website at www.crateful.com, or follow their adventures on Instagram at @getcrateful.

Maker | Duluth Pack

Every adventurer needs a great, dependable backpack. For Minnesotans, there is a town where all of those thrill-seekers and nature-lovers find their own, Duluth. Duluth Pack has continuously handcrafted hunting, shooting and outdoor gear in MN since 1882. The quality, time-tested craftsmanship & hardware are guaranteed for life. We recently were able to test out a limited edition bag they will soon debut and were able to sit down with them to learn more about the brand in a short Q&A.

How was Duluth Pack created?

Duluth Pack was created by Camille Poirier to fill a need for the timber cruisers that were working in the logging industry and cutting timber to open up rail lines for the mining field.. The industry was requiring a customized pack that would carry all of the supplies needed by the timber cruising profession. It was known as the original #2 Duluth Pack.  

We're most of the products in the beginning carry goods?

Yes, being originally a pack manufacture for utilitarian and rugged use in industry and leisure.

Who designs your products?

The concepts for new products come from our customer base. We then take their request in house and sit with our internal design team and design and build prototypes to meet the need.

How do you find or do you train people to stitch bags and other products?

In the past, the sewing trade was strong in the United States. As the sewing trades went overseas, we had the need to create our own internal training programs. Currently, we hire many people that have no sewing experience and through our internal training program become proficient at the trade of industrial sewing.

How do you get ideas for new products and photo shoots?

The majority of the ideas come from our loyal customer following. Many of our photos come from our customers as they are proud to share their stories and adventures with their coveted Duluth Packs.

What inspires the Duluth Pack brand?

1)      Our loyal customers and our exceptional and dedicated employees are the most valued assets to Duluth Pack.

2)      Quality. The Duluth Pack brand begins and ends with quality.

3)      Premium products for a premium market.

4)      Made in the USA.

5)      Lifetime Guarantee.

How do your hobbies influence what you make?

Many of us are outdoors people that influence many of our outdoor products. Being that we all live busy days during the week, our lifestyle product offering is fitting the need of what we do daily with our purses, handbags, business gear and luggage.

What has been your biggest lesson?

You can survive and grow through difficult economic times, if you stick to your convictions and principles of quality first and continuously manufacturing in the USA.

What's your favorite thing about making carry goods?

It is to see our customers happy and proud of their bags and packs from Duluth Pack, that are still handcrafted in Duluth, Minnesota, USA and carry the lifetime guarantee.  We know this, because they share their stories with us.

What's been your best advice you've been given?

Never compromise on quality and handcrafting our products in America.

What's been your biggest challenge?

To keep up with the demand of our growing brand as we continue to be the must have bags and packs. Duluth Pack is the oldest canvas and leather pack and bag manufacturer in the USA.

You can learn more about Duluth Pack at www.duluthpack.com and follow their adventures and the adventures of Duluth Pack owners on Instagram–@duluthpack.

Authentic Lives | Dusty St. Amand

Fifty NYC Hotel, NYC.

Meet Dusty, a model and photographer currently living in NYC but who is moving to LA soon. He's been an instagram friend for over a year and this weekend I—Heath (@afieldguy)—was finally able to meet and shoot him while in NYC.

This shoot is a mix of fashion images I shot of Dusty for FOLK, and a few skin portraits for my new series, Brief Explorations, as well as a quick interview with Dusty.

Interview with Dusty:

Question: When/how did you first start modeling?

Dusty: I started modeling so that I could be around artists. I’d spent a long period of time without something to say and without a medium to say it, even if I did. A few years ago, as I was coming out a relationship, I realized that sharing my image was a way of participating in global conversations about sex, queerness, hair, and modern digital expression. 

Q: What is your favorite adventure you've ever been on?

D: My recent trip to Los Angeles is still buzzing in my mind. I went alone, functioned at my own pace, and got to know incredible people.

Q: What is your best fitness tip?

D: Diet. When you cut the amount of effort you put into knowingly toxifying your body, you in turn cut the amount of time spent ridding the body of those effects. This allows the body to rest, restore, and continue thriving into old age.

Q: What is your biggest vice?

D: Social Media can be a tool and vice. There are times when I have to get my phone away from my hand because it’s taking too much of my energy.

Q: What does 'home' mean to you?

D: Home is where I feel I can be vulnerable or flawed, while being supported and loved. That can exist in bonds between lovers, in moments of camaraderie at work, or in physical places that hold my things.

Q: How will your moving to LA change that?

D: Moving to LA is a reminder for me to always remain focused on personal happiness and creative work. I’m placing myself in a new circumstances so that I feel ascendant and, in turn, feel much happier (and “at home” just with myself, my actions, and dreams).

To see more of my work, including an upcoming blog post of this series' images, visit my website at www.afieldguy.com or my Instagram—@afieldguy.

Special thanks to Dusty for being an amazing and inspiring model. You can find more of his work on his Instagram—@dusterz—and order prints of his own amazing photography on his website www.suchdustyphotos.com.

Maker | R. Riveter

The founders of R. Riveter have firsthand experienced the same difficulty that so many other military spouses of today deal with on a daily basis - finding flexible and mobile employment while attached to the military. Military families are relocated every 2.9 years, making it difficult for the spouse to pursue a single career or gain work experience. Many spouses of service members need flexibility in their employment opportunities as they are independently managing their households while their partners are deployed or on long training missions. It was these unique challenges that inspired Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruse in 2011.

Dahlonega, GA—home of the Appalachian Trail, moonshine, and the 5th Ranger Training Battalion. A cozy small town, and unique assignment for most Soldiers and families. Like many small towns, Dahlonega posed yet another challenge for military spouse seeking employment. Lisa and Cameron met in Dahlonega while enjoying an assignment in the North Georgia mountains. Cameron’s Master of Architecture degree and Lisa’s MBA were slowly seeming more and more irrelevant, especially with fragmented resumes from the multiple military moves. Enter R. Riveter. The one of a kind handbag company was born out of a mix of passion, creativity and determination, designed to help chip away at the heart of military spouse employment woes. In a converted attic the two women laid the groundwork for the still rapidly expanding company with a 45 year old, 75 pound, Consew industrial sewing machine, some old tents, refined with a bit of real leather.

​R. Riveter exists to provide mobile and flexible income to military spouses. Our company is run by military spouses; from the making of the smallest purse part to the models on our advertisements.  The larger R. Riveter story has been created chapter by chapter by each individual military spouse involved in the company.  Purse parts come from all over the country, making each R. Riveter bag a symbol of the American way of life and our connection as a military community.  It is our mission at R. Riveter to inspire pride and patriotism into the hearts of each customer.  We delight in the fact that we are completely homegrown and produce high quality, well-crafted items.   Our R. Riveter collection of handbags is the foundation of a company dedicated to serving the spouses of our service members. 

We are inspired by the challenges of our day and innovations that evolve as a result. Old military materials like duffle bags, wool blankets, and shelter halves are up-cycled, and combined with real, hand dyed leather to make each R. riveter bag-- producing a kind of character that is totally unique and full of history. Each bag is handmade by a military spouse; starting from the dying of the leather and canvas, to the assembly of the bag.  On the interior of the bag an edition tab displays the name & number of the individual bag, where it was made and when. 

At R. Riveter, we are inspired by the women who have come before us and truly exemplify the ‘We Can Do It’ attitude. Military spouses are a special group of women who take on the challenges of daily life and have a heart to serve in their community. As a special way to honor these women, all of our bags are named after famous military spouses. Made by hand to a strict quality standard, R. Riveter hand bags are a statement of pride and support for all military spouses and families.

To learn more about R. Riveter, their team, and their mission check out their website at www.riveter.com.

Maker | The Little Flower Soap Company

Q: Who are you?

A: The Little Flower Soap Company is an Ann Arbor, Michigan based small batch, body care company established in 2010 by husband/wife team Holly and Justin Rutt.

Q: What is your brand?

A: The little flower brand is on a mission to design products that become must have, can’t live without favorites.  Perfecting completely natural, healing recipes that smell amazing, really work and are cutely packaged.

Q: What do you make?

A: We make cold processed small batch soaps using heirloom techniques perfected and polished with time.  We make all natural super healing lip balms, bath salts, and body balms too!! We use only the best essential oils, botanicals, and minerals including organic rosemary leaf, organic lavender flowers, organic cocoa butter, Shea butter and many more.

Q: Why do you make?

A: We started our line of useful everyday body care items because we appreciated those homemade gem recipes for lip balms, massage balms and soaps that come and go from our local food co-ops and farmers markets.  We realized we could create healing ingredient loaded versions of these every day necessities for our own use. 

Q: What inspired you to make?

A: We were inspired by the homemade gem recipes for lip balms, massage balms and soaps that come and go from our local food co-ops and farmers markets. We realized we could create healing ingredient loaded versions of these every day necessities for our own use. I stay inspired by the the rave reviews and repeat customers that we have collected over these 5 years. When I’m feeling worn thin during rush seasons like Mother’s Day and Christmas I take a few minutes to read the 1000+ 5 star reviews that our sweet customers have left on our Etsy shop. I love seeing people say things like “it smells AMAZING” and “its my new favorite” and especially “this stuff really works!” I am inspired by nature in a big way so when I'm feeling uninspired a drive to the country, or walk in the woods fixes me right up. A strong cup of coffee and James Taylor's greatest hits will do the trick when I can't get away.

Q: Why support makers and keep Main Street alive?

A: Makers create the highest quality most beautiful, useful creations no matter what the cost because they take PRIDE in their work. It means homes filled with useful beautiful everyday items, not cheap plastic substitutes. When you support makers you support the renaissance of the skilled manual worker, or artisan who can finally find fulfilling work that also pays the bills. Main Street is the hub of the community where our Co-ops and coffee shops are sandwiched between farm stores and bakeries.  Without these unique small business all of our towns become cold, identical, and isolating cement jungles.

Q: What sets you apart as a maker?

A: Our unique partnership sets us apart, Justin is a doctor with a great intuition for writing healing body care recipes  I’m an aesthetically obsessed designer with a love of nature and community: I make sure we present our goods beautifully and share them with as many people as possible.

Our brand is unique because we don’t shy away from long lists of healing ingredients.  We are not afraid to invest in the best ingredients because we know when you try the product you will agree its superior and worth the extra nickel.  We keep cupboards full of zinc, aloe, shea, cocoa butter, hemp, calendula, arnica and so many more.  We also feel strongly that once you have made a product that exceeds expectations it deserves beautiful packaging because every detail matters.  What’s better then having the best lip balm on earth in your pocket?  Having the best lip balm in the cutest tube with the sleekest label that really speaks to your refined sense of style and taste of course.

Q: What are your goals as a maker?

A: Somedays our goal is just to keep up with demand but ultimately our goal is to build a pole barn studio that can double as a community center for maker classes and kinfolk dinners.  

We are always committed to polishing and perfecting every aspect of our product, the recipes of course but also he packaging. It shows in our reviews people are surprised how much they like it when it arrives.

Q: Why be an independent business owner?

A: Freedom! Every kind of freedom you can imagine:  set my own schedule, choose what to focus on, work from where I want, wear what I want and make anything I dream up.  The only thing stopping me from being this free is when the orders are pouring in at which point the customer is the boss.

To learn more about Justin and Holly and all of the wonderful products they're making at The Little Flower Soap Company, visit their website www.littleflowersoap.com.

Maker | Feral Watches

As part of our Maker series, we wanted to catch up with one of our favorite makers of women's watches. We love watches, they're a classic accessory that is actually handy. Megan Hollenback started Feral Watches after a trip to Oahu left her wanting to create something unique. We asked her to tell us a little more about her brand and her wrap watches.

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Who are you:

Megan Hollenback of Feral Watches. I am an identical triplet and mom to two fun kids. I love to camp, fly fish, surf, bike, travel, eat, and drive a VW van.

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What do you make:

I design women's wrap watches. They are fun and feminine time pieces that wrap around the wrist 2 or 3 times. 

Why do you make:

We are just trying to do something different. Incorporate personal style and an aesthetic that we enjoy into what we create. The world is so accessible in terms of creativity and for me it is just fun to explore that. The canvas I chose just happened to be watches. 

Why support makers:

With so many big brands backed by money and large companies it is hard for us little people to stand out and get our products out there. But if you pay attention, the little companies are the ones pushing the envelope and the bigger brands follow suit. Every little bit of support and appreciation really validates what we are doing and pushes us to go bigger and better.

Tell us a little more about how you started Feral: 

We wanted a watch that was different. Something that reflected our carefree lifestyle and went well with our colorful stack of floss bracelets wrapping our wrists. There was something to be said there - looking at our arms stacked with memories to remind us of the adventures we had traveling the world. We knew we had to bring that same feeling to our daily life but in the best way possible. We wanted to have a timepiece that was simple. Fun. Different. When the dust of our traveling feet settled in exchange for sandy toes on the North Shore of Oahu, the wrap watch was born. 

Feral began making wrap watches by hand using unique faces and suede cords. Inspired by salty hair, winter swells and everything under the sun, we knew we had created what we were looking for - something to reflect who we are. We are free spirits. We are creators. We are lovers. We are feral at heart. Our collection of beautiful wrap watches double as bracelets, making them more than just an ordinary time-teller. Feral's fun and feminine timepieces add structure to your wild side by keeping you punctual. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, 'Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air'.

Why keep Main Street alive:

The coolest stuff comes from Main Street!

Maker | In Blue Handmade

Q: How did you get started with In Blue?

A: In 2008 I quit my job in the music business in Chicago and moved to a small farm town in Southern Illinois. I bought a sewing machine on the way down in an attempt to be more self-sufficient. As fate would have it, I loved to sew, and I have been sewing for a living since! I started In Blue later that year, and now we are a team of 10 full time makers working in a large studio space in Asheville, NC. We service more than 300 wholesale accounts and boast the highest sales record on etsy.com in leather goods. 

Q: Were you always interested in creating leather goods?

A: I always loved leather, but it took me a while to realize it was something I could learn how to do.  When I started sewing, my dad encouraged me to challenge myself and sent me a remnant hide of leather from eBay. I played around with it and I loved it. Seven years later, I know that leather is definitely the medium for me! Hi dad! 

Q: Who taught you?

A: I learned most of what I know about leather-working through a wonderful person named Frank who lived right outside of Asheville. He passed away a couple of years ago, but he spent hours showing me amazing old leather patterns and tricks of the trade. 

Q: Did you know you would start your own brand, if not what spurred it?

A: I don’t think that I had a plan when I started my company. I was not sure what would be next for me when I stopped working in the music business, but I knew that I needed a creative outlet. This was not premeditated­ it was just life falling into place. The company and brand have evolved so much over the last 7 years, and so much of that has been due to my amazing team of leatherworkers, who have become like family. My team helps me define our brand with their dedication to our community, our environment (love these mountains so much), and our customer base.

Q: How do you get ideas for photo shoots?

A: We work with an amazing social media consultant and photographer: Chelsea Laine Francis. She handles most of our concept shoots. Chelsea lives in Austin, TX, and we phone conference and talk online all of the time about photoshoot ideas. She makes our vision come to life, and she adds a touch that we feel completes our aesthetic fully. 

Q: What are your inspirations? What inspired your products and you?

A: Music! Mountains! People! I made my first leather journal after watching Chuck Ragan play a show in Memphis, TN. I remembered working with him when he was touring with Hot Water Music, and then seeing him play solo sparked an idea. I kept wondering how he had created this amazing folk music, and I pictured him writing in a leather book. I drove straight home and started to create a leather journal. 

Q: How do your hobbies influence what you make?

A: My hobbies include playing guitar, reading, and spending time with my friends. My friends and the music we love have a giant influence on what I make. When I have a creative block, the thing that is most likely to pull me through is the perfect record or album, front to back, loudly played in my studio. My friends influence me through their conversation and their movements. I often think “so and so could really use a bag that included these features...” and then we will release a bag with a specific person in mind. 

Q: What has been your biggest lesson?

A: I’ve learned that, as the business grows, I must be adaptable. . We are constantly under review, and that can be emotionally challenging. Learning to handle rejection along with rejoicing in our successes can be a rollercoaster, but it is such an amazing experience. To be this invested in my daily work is something that I know I am lucky to have, and I hope that it translates into our product. 

Q: What's your favorite thing about creating and sharing your bags and leather goods?

A: It never stops feeling great to have such an amazing response to our product. This morning we watched the band Houndmouth play on the David Letterman show with our guitar strap. We are lucky to outfit some of the best and brightest young writers and musicians in the country, and it is an honor to do so. We love to see our product in use, and we cherish pictures of our customers using their journals, musicians playing in our straps, or seeing people on a random train in NYC carrying an In Blue Handmade bag. 

Q: What's been your best advice you've been given?

A: The best advice that I have ever been given is to “go my own way”. We do not have a standard business model, and we never will. I think that, especially in handcraft, it is important to forge your own path and make sure that you have a system that works for you. Being educated on standard business models is important, but when you’re creating a handmade product you really have to make your own decisions in order to help the business grow while staying true to your vision as a maker. 

Q: What's been your biggest challenge?

A: Keeping up! We are so lucky to have so many amazing orders, and we are constantly hiring new team members to help with production. It means several 3am nights in my studio heating up ramen noodles. My dogs have beds here and the coffeemaker is always running. I love it though. I thrive on it. It doesn’t seem like work, it seems like life in action.