Histoire | Blog

Dear Customers and Friends, First off, we’d like to thank all of you for your ongoing support...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 15:29:00 -0500

Dear Customers and Friends,

First off, we’d like to thank all of you for your ongoing support since our beta launch two years ago and our official launch in July 2011.

We founded Histoire with the dual mission of bringing forth socially conscious home and lifestyle goods and celebrating the beauty in the handmade. We started our journey in the rural villages of Gujarat, India, meeting gifted artisans in their homes and learning about age-old techniques. Inspired, we endeavored to create a place where we could share the stories behind our products from the highlands of Guatemala to the fair-trade workshops in Ethiopia. We hoped to celebrate beautiful products that give back and to create a larger market for socially conscious products everywhere.

However, we are sad to announce that Histoire will be closing its doors this December. While we still very much believe in Histoire’s mission, the time has come to pass the torch on. We are thankful and honored to have had the opportunity to tell the incredible stories behind our products. Furthermore, we are heartened to know that others are picking up the flag where we have left off and that social enterprises are becoming a larger part of our lives every day.

We’d like to take this time to thank all of our partners and colleagues who helped bring Histoire to life. To our designers, developers, photographers, lawyers, accountants, PR team, interns, family and friends - we couldn’t have done it without you, and for that we are eternally grateful.

And to our customers, thank you again for your support and for taking part in giving back.

With warmth and thanks,
Monica Tai
Founder and CEO

We love this summery spread, including our Mercado Global...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:27:39 -0400

We love this summery spread, including our Mercado Global Comalapa Pillow, from LA-based designer and photographer Jessica Comingore. We can’t get enough of her minimalist yet personal style.

Mother's Day Roundup

Tue, 01 May 2012 07:02:48 -0400

We are so thankful to the incredible mothers, grandmothers and other women in our lives who have helped us to become who we are today! So we’ve pulled together a few of our favorite items to show our moms just how much we appreciate them. From a one-of-a-kind table runner to a bouquet of orchids from one of our absolute favorite NYC florists Belle Fleur, our picks are sure to please the lovely ladies in our lives!

No.1* Ikat Runner/Scarf / No.2* Jonathan Adler Small Gold Bird Bowl / No.3 Belle Fleur Jewel Bouquet / No.4* Gold Leaf Cuff

Plus, to make your Mother’s Day shopping even easier, we are offering 25% off + Free Shipping on our entire site with code LOVEMOM through this Thursday, May 3rd, 12 noon EST (offer does not apply to previous purchases). Order by then for guaranteed delivery before Mom’s Day!

Here’s to Mom!

*Denotes an item in our online shop

Guest Storyteller: Ruth DeGolia of Mercado Global

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:02:00 -0400

We had the great pleasure of catching up with Ruth DeGolia, Founder and Executive Director of Mercado Global, to learn more about the incredible, inspiring artisans behind the organization. Ruth started Mercado Global out of her college dorm room working with just a handful of artisans and has since grown it into a successful non-profit enterprise working with over 360 artisans in 31 cooperatives!

What is your favorite aspect of working with and visiting artisans in Guatemala?

Hands down: seeing the impact our sales and training programs have in the communities with which we work.

The women we work with are some of the most talented, hard-working and inspiring women I have ever met. These women are amazing weavers and jewelry makers – skills that have been passed down in their families for generations. These women don’t want handouts – they want a market. They want a chance to earn their own income. And they want what every other mom wants: the ability to send her daughters to school.

It is unbelievably rewarding to see how the women we work with hold themselves with increased self-confidence and pride as we help them earn their own, significant income for the first time. And, of course, the most important part is seeing their children in school (and knowing that we helped the mothers earn the funds to send their children to school themselves!) This is, ultimately, why we are all here.

Where do you see Mercado Global in 5 or 10 years?

There are two things that I would like for Mercado Global to accomplish over the next 5 to 10 years:

First of all, our goal is not to help just a few women and families in Guatemala. Our goal is to change the experience of indigenous families experience throughout the region. Rather than be known as a population that continues to suffer severe political, economic and social oppression, our vision is for Guatemala’s indigenous women to be known as some of the most successful rural entrepreneurs in the world. Our vision is for Guatemala’s highlands to be known as a place where women entrepreneurs are building the community businesses needed not just to break the cycle of local poverty but to build bright futures for their children. Rather than compete all day to sell a single bracelet to tourists, as currently done by most indigenous artisans, our vision is that they are selling 10,000 scarves to Levi Strauss each season. And rather than just beg for handouts and scholarships, our vision is that these amazing moms are earning the money they need to send their kids to school themselves.

The second part of our vision is for companies to learn how to use their market power to have a positive social impact. A purchase here and there of someone who cares is great. But imagine – if we can tap into the distribution network of major specialty retail chains, catalogs and department stores to reach hundreds of stores and thousands of customers throughout the U.S. Imagine the impact. And that is the model we have been building and are continuing to expand.

Shop our entire collection from Mercado Global here.

Girls of Lincoln Park

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:27:18 -0400

Girls of Lincoln Park:

Thanks so much to the Girls of Lincoln Park for their lovely post on Histoire, featuring our new arrivals from Mercado Global! Check it out here!

thegirlsoflincolnpark:

We stumbled across Histoire a few months back which is new type of luxury and socially conscious home and lifestyle goods company! We were so pleased discover that founder, Monica Tai, is also originally from Chicago! Now based out of New York, Histoire sources exquisite goods from all corners of the world and returns a portion of its profits to the artisans and communities in developing and underdeveloped areas. The pillows below were designed by Mercada Global, one of Histoire’s partner designers, and are all handmade by women in Guatemala! The online shop also includes other home decor items from candles to home accessories. Be sure to check out to Histoire and you can like them here and follow here! Happy Shopping! - GOLP

Comolapa Brocade Pillow

Wide Stripe Foldover Clutch

Comalapa Brocade Stripe Pillow

Rope Dye Pillow

Happy Earth Day! We love this post from HelloGiggles on some of...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:37:55 -0400

Happy Earth Day! We love this post from HelloGiggles on some of the little things you can do every day to give back to our planet!

hellogiggles:

SHOULDN’T EVERY DAY BE EARTH DAY?

by Rebecca Fernandez

A Perfect Pair: FEED + TOMS Collaboration

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:00:45 -0400

As a supporter of both FEED and TOMS products, we’re so excited for the special collaboration between FEED and TOMS! Made from FEED’s traditional burlap fabric along with the FEED stamp logo, the FEED 12 TOMS shoe is super cute and available in both Women’s and Children sizes. Buy one for yourself and one for your toddler and together you’ll be the perfect pair.

What we love most about this partnership is that you don’t have to choose between which cause to support - your purchase supports not one but two amazing causes both dedicated to improving the lives of children. For each pair of the FEED 12 TOMS shoe you purchase, one pair of new shoes and 12 school meals are donated to children in need. How amazing is that?

Quantities are limited and can only be purchased online so walk on over (figuratively) to toms.com or feedprojects.com and get yours today!

Decorating with Histoire

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:00:48 -0400

We’re loving this DIY living room from Riikka Kantinkoski, Finnish photographer, designer and founder of RK Design. We love the mix of white and light wood, along with the prints on her wall. Riikka made the coffee table herself using Ikea’s vika lerberg stands and a wooden board from Bauhaus.

Recreate the look with some of the items that we’ve picked below:

No.1 Pink Volcano Print / No.2* Jonathan Adler Lantern Vases / No.3* Canvas Birch Bowl / No.4 Draper Stripe Rug

*Denotes an item in our online shop

Inspiration from the Runway: Chanel

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:36:00 -0400

This week, we were inspired by the ethereal nautical theme from Chanel’s Spring 2012 RTW collection. Never short on inspiration, Karl Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais into a magical underwater world to complement his dreamy collection. We’re certainly ready to get on board that ship!

No.1* Utopia Sailor/Pirate Bowl / No.2 Decorative Brass Sailboat / Outfit image from Chanel Spring 2012

*Denotes an item in our online shop

Trend: Bright Spring Hues

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:00:42 -0400

Spring is always a good time to refresh. Refresh your home with new accessories. Refresh your wardrobe with bright happy accessories. Get a fresh start!

No.1 Rosemary Canvas Buckets / No.2* tranSglass Fresh Cut Grass Candle / No.3 Cacharel Green Belt / No.4 Kenneth Jay Lane ring / No.5* Ikat pillow in turqouise

— Meg B.

*Denotes an item in our online shop

Style Set: Erika of Small Shop Studio

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:46:39 -0400

Erika of Small Shop Studio is a jack of all design trades. Starting in studio art and an art history degree, she then went on to study interior design, and after that delved into the graphic design world. She now runs her own brand styling studio, Small Shop Studio.

We we asked Erica about what her community means to her:

“It’s important to me to give back to my community, and be connected with the global community as a whole. Here in my own community, I am on leadership with a women’s volunteer organization that works to benefit children in need. I want to raise my daughter to live outside of her bubble and know the gift of true charity.”

Erika paired our ikat runner/scarf with this fun gem lamp in pink from Furbish.

“I’ve been looking to add some color into my home décor, and the blue ikat scarf/runner would be a great accent atop my grandparent’s mid-century modern teak buffet. I’d love to pair it with a more contemporary piece — these faceted lamps in a fun color strike the perfect balance.”

Photo of Erika and her daughter by Jennifer Daigle Photography

— Meg B.

Histoire on Fab.com!

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:53:05 -0400

Check out our sale on Fab.com starting today at 11am EST through this Friday! We’re thrilled to be working with one of the fastest growing, design savvy start-ups around. Now get shopping!

Decorating with Histoire: Mini Edition

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:00:05 -0400

We loved little Mila’s music-inspired nursery featured on Apartment Therapy. A mostly black and white palette with a bold rug makes a statement yet the dominant white keeps the room a calm place for a baby but modern for the adults.

See the rest of Mila’s nursery designed by Jenika Kurtz, and photographed by Jessica Comingore on Apartment Therapy here. Get the look of Mila’s nursery with the items we’ve put together below.

No.1 Confetti Cube Pendant / No.2* Wide Stripe Pillow / No.3 Expedit shelf / No.4* Feed Bear / No.5 CB2 knitted graphite pouf / No.6* Navia Hand-woven Throw

— Meg B.

*Denotes an item in our online shop

Inspiration from Rebecca Minkoff

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:00:06 -0400

We were inspired by Rebecca Minkoff’s effortless chic bluesy blouse and pants from her Spring 2012 line. The combination of the darker navy pattern blouse with the lighter blue pants, make this look an instant classic with interesting details.

No.1* Zig Zag Alpaca Throw / No.2* Seminyak Cosmetic Bag / Outfit image from Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2012

— Meg B.

*Denotes an item in our online shop

Newly Arrived: Kantha Cosmetic Bags from Matta

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 07:00:05 -0400

We’re just smitten with Matta’s hand-stitched kantha cosmetic bags that just arrived in our online store. Completely one-of-a-kind, they are handmade out of vintage cotton fabric by artisans in India and are as soft as they are lightweight.

We’ve been throwing all of our favorite essentials into ours and carrying it with us everywhere we go. It makes getting ready to go in the morning just a little easier!

Shop for these and other Matta products here.

Trend: Ikat

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 07:00:05 -0400

Ikat is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles. The word ‘ikat’ means to bind, tie or wind around. This pattern has been popular for ages and in recent years has come back into interior and fashion trends in full force.

No.1 Madeline Weinrib Lingerie Bags / No.2* Ikat Runner/Scarf from Uzbekistan / No.3 Ikat Pillow Covers from Eastern Home Decor on Etsy / No.4 MICHAEL Michael Kors Ikat Pants

— Meg B.

*Denotes an item in our online shop

Voyage: Tanzania

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:13:45 -0400

The Serengeti at sunset.

Style Set: Jessie from Style & Pepper

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:43:20 -0400

Wardrobe stylist and fashion blogger, Jessie of Style & Pepper, is with us today for Style Set. Jessie recently moved right outside of the big apple to Hoboken, New Jersey. She has a closet full of colorful vintage clothing and a knack for mixing patterns. Fashion isn’t her only talent, she is the queen of DIY projects and has also created a cozy home full of vintage items.

I’m loving this Rope Dye pillow from Mercado Global and think that it would be one of the perfect finishing touches to pull our new family room together. The dye technique used reminds me of the beach, and would fit perfectly with the vintage nautical touches throughout our home. I was even more excited to see that it’s from Guatemala, which is a country near and dear to my husband’s heart - he lived there during part of the time we were dating and we’ve always wanted to go back together. It would be so special to support the artisans who continue the traditional Mayan culture in this way! I was thinking that it would look great tossed on our sofa, and I’d add these vintage brass propeller-candle-holders on our coffee table to complete the look!

Thank you for being with us today Jessie!

— Meg B.

*Denotes an item in our online shop

Decorating with Histoire: Cozy Neutrals

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:00:05 -0400

Everyone loves to feel comfortable at home. You can’t go wrong with a cozy living room with a neutral palette. It’s a timeless look that you can easily add different accessories to over time to change up the look and feel of the space.

No.1 V&M Round Wood Form Mirror / No.2 Crate+Barrell Wire Baskets / No.3 Square Linen Pillows from India / No.4 West Elm Lacquer Tray / No.5 Small Deepti Lantern from India

Living room inspiration image via Rue Magazine

— Meg B.

*Denotes and item in our online shop

Inspiration from Chloé: Coral + Tan

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:25:06 -0400

This coral and rusty tan spring look from Chloé is an unlikely pairing of colors that creates a stunning outfit. It’s a refined palette of tailored pieces that still feels fresh. We love this color combination and plan on trying it out this spring with many of items and accessories we’ve discovered.

No.1 Rebecca Minkoff Straw M.A.C. Bombe / No.2* Rustic Leather Journal / No.3* Spiked Horn Bangles / No.4 Kate Spade Cindy wedge

— Meg B.

*Denotes and item in our online shop