Ethical handmade homewares
Collective-Stories is a socially conscious brand that combines contemporary design with traditional techniques and craftsmanship
London-based Collective-Stories, founded by Pierre Luc and Pernille Brodersen, offers stylish, ethically-produced homewares made by craftspeople in Guatemala, Mexico and the Philippines. Pictured above: flatweave Parallel wool runners, 200x60cm, made in Mexico. £280
Collective-Stories' first collection features handmade cushions, rugs and baskets inspired by geometric shapes often seen in brutalist architecture and the Bauhaus. They offer striking, yet simple contemporary design, made in natural sustainable materials such as wool, buri (material from the buri tree which grows in the Philippines) and cotton.
Products are made with care and their work takes time. It takes artisans in Mexico, for example, seven days to naturally dye wool using local plants and fruits. It takes five days to weave one cushion panel and 10 days to weave one runner.
The inspiration for Collective-Stories came from a trip Pernille and Luc made to Guatemala where they fell in love with the country, its people and their fantastic textiles. With a passion for design and craftsmanship Pernille says they wanted to learn how to backstrap weave directly from skilled artisans. They came across a foundation in Panachel offering day courses with indigenous master weavers. It was doing this course that resulted in their new venture.
