Eight years ago, while on a sourcing trip to Marrakech for an interior design client, Zurich-based designer and atelierBOEMIA Co-Founder Stacie Van Treese fell in love with the craftsmanship and creativity of the Moroccan people.
“The vibrancy of the souks, the delicious food, the sunshine, and happy faces — Marrakech was love at first sight,” Van Treese said.
Feeling inspired, Van Treese and her partner at the time decided to create a company that put the spotlight on artisanal goods and empowered the craftspeople behind them while making products accessible to the broader consumer market. Today, atelierBOEMIA works with artisans in developing countries to create high-quality, modern, and practical items for the home.
From tableware and storage baskets to textiles and stylish pet products, the company's offerings appeal to the design-conscious consumer who cares about sustainability and supporting people in emergent economies. With the tagline “Make Your Home Meaningful,” atelierBOEMIA only sells completely handmade products. A part of the artisan is invested in each piece.
Products with soul
Van Treese has since developed relationships with artisan cooperatives in several developing countries. These relationships ensure atelierBOEMIA receives the quality handmade goods they are known for while creating opportunities and increased independence for artisans in Morocco, Mali, and beyond.
“We’re passionate about the fact that the goods we sell are all completely handmade from start to finish by a person making a living wage. We have worked very hard over the years to develop relationships with these artisan cooperatives.” Van Treese said. “When you purchase from atelierBOEMIA, you are supporting these artisans in continuing their traditional craft passed on from generation to generation while at the same time bringing one-of-a-kind pieces into your home or the homes of friends when you gift our products.”
Peruse the atelierBOEMIA website and find treasures of a bespoke North African souk – vintage Moroccan rugs, beautifully restored by women from the Atlas Mountains; hand-painted ceramic plates, handwoven baskets, and placemats with individually applied tassels in fun colors.
“Traditional and modern forms and techniques come together in these works of art for your home,” Van Treese said. “No two pieces are exactly the same, reflecting the true beauty of imperfection.”
Bestsellers for the home
From pom-pom pet beds to boho-chic pillow covers and vibrant Berber carpets, atelierBOEMIA’s line of conscious and sustainably produced products can add texture, color, and personality to any room in a home. Here are some of the customers’ all-time favorites.
- Woven Storage Baskets
Each tassel on atelierBOEMIA storage baskets and placemats is attached by hand by a women’s cooperative in Marrakesh. From bathroom storage to children’s toys, the baskets add a perfect splash of happiness to any room in the house.
- Hand-loomed Textiles
Artisans weave each fabric row by hand to meet atelierBOEMIA’s design specifications. Each pom-pom is hand-cut by a family of loomers with generations of traditional experience. The organic cotton throw is affectionately known as the Iris Throw because Iris Apfel once ordered two from the company at a trade show. The Martha Pet Bed has a similar story when its namesake, Martha Stewart, stopped to tell Van Treese that the design was beautiful, and she wanted to purchase one for her puppies.
- Dishwasher-safe, Hand-painted Moroccan Ceramics
Each unique ceramic piece is hand thrown before talented artisans paint the intricate patterns on the dishwasher- and microwave-safe bisque. Complex designs featuring beautiful organic and geometric motifs reflect a cumulative Moroccan cultural heritage and keep artisans preserving methods passed down from parent to child over generations.
- Hand-blown Recycled Glassware
The last hand-blown glass factory in Casablanca tragically closed in 2013 when it could not keep up with cheaper imitation work coming out of China. A few years later, investors in Moroccan handicrafts reopened a factory outside of Marrakech, where many Casablanca artisans were able to revive their trade. atelierBOEMIA proudly imports this hand-blown, recycled glassware with a modern edge.
The Value of Handcrafted Artisanship
To learn more about the artisans who handcraft products for atelierBOEMIA, watch the company’s YouTube video or visit the retailer on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.
Shop the handmade products at atelierBOEMIA.com. The artisan goods are available for immediate shipment from the company’s Florida warehouse. AtelierBOEMIA also offers gift-wrapping services – perfect for the upcoming holiday shopping season.
Media Contact
Company Name: AtelierBOEMIA
Contact Person: Stacie Van Treese
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://www.atelierboemia.com/
