Why Do We Have Things?

By The American Edit | Rita Mehta & Erin Husted

What's Why Do We Have Things? about?

Have you ever wondered about the people who made your favorite mug, shirt or chair? In Why Do We Have Things?, Rita Mehta of The American Edit and Erin Husted of Hackwith Design House interview the independent designers, artists, small business owners and creatives behind our favorite things.

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Why Do We Have Things? episodes:

04.12.2018
S2 01: Melissa Coleman, The Faux Martha & The Minimalist Kitchen
Rita talks to Melissa Coleman, blogger at The Faux Martha and author of The Minimalist Kitchen, about things.
07.12.2016
024: Jaime Derringer, Design Milk
Get to know Jaime Derringer, the founder of Design Milk, Dog Milk and Adorn Milk, cohost of the Clever podcast, an artist, podcaster, musician, etc., etc. Jaime talks to Rita about the process of starting Design Milk, ...
06.29.2016
023: Building a smart, thoughtful business with Lizzie and Kathryn Fortunato of Lizzie Fortunato
Get to know sisters Lizzie and Kathryn Fortunato, owners of the jewelry brand, Lizzie Fortunato. Rita talks to Lizzie and Kathryn about starting their business, the locations and experiences that influence the collection, focusing on thoughtful, responsible production and collections...
06.14.2016
022: Aligning Your Business With Your Artistic Process with Rebecca Atwood of Rebecca Atwood Designs
Today’s guest is Rebecca Atwood, the founder and maker behind Rebecca Atwood Designs, a Brooklyn-based line of home goods that focus on the artistic process. Erin & Becca talk about how Becca's career experience designing for key retailers led her...
05.24.2016
21: "It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too)" with Nora McInerny Purmort
Get to know Nora McInerny Purmort, author of “It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too), a memoir written after Nora’s husband, Aaron, died from brain cancer. Nora, Erin, & Rita talk about Nora’s experiences writing the book, navigating...
05.17.2016
020: Creativity through Constraints with Mary MacGill of Mary MacGill Jewelry
Today’s guest is Mary MacGill, an incredible jewelry designer who makes her entire collection by hand in her studio in New York. Mary and Rita talk about the insight that led her to find a new way to make jewelry,...
05.13.2016
019: Listening to your instincts to build a business that you love, with artist and textile designer Caroline Z. Hurley
Get to know Caroline Z. Hurley, an incredible artist in New York who is known for beautiful block printed textiles. Caroline and Rita talk about the different experiences that led hear to her current career, about following and listening...
05.10.2016
018: Building the best possible product with Dan Hauber of Wright Bedding
Get to know Dan Hauber, the founder of Wright Bedding, a design driven company that focuses on making the best possible mattresses, pillows and bedding right here in America. Dan and Rita talk all about the process that went into...
05.03.2016
017: Finding Balance and Creating Value as Small Business Owners with Kelli Murray of Rylee & Cru and Sam Larson of Lone Flag
Get to know Kelli Murray of Rylee & Cru and Sam Larson ofLone Flag, Other Sons, and Hold. Erin, Kelli, and Sam talk aboutbuilding separate businesses as a married couple, creating the bestproduct by focusing on the value as opposed...
04.26.2016
016: Conscientious compromises and building a thoughtful product business with Nicole Najafi of Industry Standard
Get to know Nicole Najafi, founder of Industry Standard, a direct to consumer denim brand founded by Nicole Najafi to deliver premium quality (the industry standard…) denim without a higher price point. Industry Standard jeans are designed in New York and made in the...
04.19.2016
015: Crafting and textile arts with Zinzi Edmundson of Knit Wit Magazine
Get to know Zinzi Edmundson, the editor of Knit Wit Magazine, a print magazine that celebrates the dynamic world of contemporary fiber arts and craft. Rita & Zinzi talk about the process of starting a print magazine, the current crafting...
04.12.2016
014: Building a business is like riding a rollercoaster, with Courtney Kates Garcia of Maison du Soir
Get to know Courtney Kates Garcia, the founder of Maison du Soir, a contemporary sleepwear collection designed and made in LA. Rita talks to Courtney about launching her collection, pep talks and thought processes that get them through the day,...
04.05.2016
013: Starting a daily creative project with Mary Jo Hoffman of Still Blog
Get to know Mary Jo Hoffman, the founder of Still Blog, a photo-a-day-blog featuring objects found in nature during daily walks. Mary Jo started her creative ritual five years ago and recently celebrated 1500 photos – and the launch of...
03.15.2016
012: From architecture to merchandising with Alexandra Sklar of The Merchant Home
Get to know Alexandra Sklar, the founder and merchandising director of The Merchant Home. Alexandra and Rita talk about about her transition from architecture to merchandising, sources of inspiration, purposefully cultivating and supporting women within the design industry, and Alexandra’s new project, The Year of...
03.08.2016
011: Sustainability - in products and in business - with Erin Dollar of Cotton & Flax
Get to know Erin Dollar, Erin Dollar, the founder and maker of Cotton & Flax, a Los Angeles-based line of handmade textile home goods made using natural materials, including linen fabrics and eco-friendly water-based inks. Erin & Erin talk about...
03.01.2016
010: Makers vs. Business Owners vs. Artists with Susan Connor, textile designer
Get to know Susan Connor, the self-taught pattern designer and artist whose eponymous collection features beautiful hand made, block-printed textiles. Susan & Rita talk about learning by doing, trends vs. design, and the differences between “makers” and “business owners”. This episode...
02.23.2016
009: From Jewelry to Kitchen Towels: Finding the Value in The Things We Keep
Get to know Kay Wang the owner and jewelry designer of The Things We Keep, a home and jewelry line based on the idea that of all the things we accumulate in our lifetime, the things that stay with us...
02.16.2016
008: “Your next item of clothing should be so expensive that it hurts” with Marc Bain from Quartz
Get to know Marc Bain, the Quartz fashion writer. Rita talks to Marc about his background in writing and apparel production and how that led to his brilliant article (and shopping theory), “Your next item of clothing should be so...
02.09.2016
007: Responsible Flowers – and Valentines Day – with Jackie Reisenauer, Munster Rose
Get to know Jackie Reisenauer, the creative director of Munster Rose, a Floral and Event Styling Studio in Minneapolis. Rita & Jackie talk about starting your own business, why flowers count as an experience and a thing (just in time...
02.02.2016
006: Building a community of like-minded women through style with Michelle LeBlanc of Mille
Get to know Michelle LeBlanc, the owner of your favorite online shop, Mille. Erin & Rita visit Michelle at her studio and talk about starting the shop, getting dressed each day, and the inspiration behind the women-led brands she carries...
01.26.2016
005: From Vintage to Fragrance, Building a Thoughtful Business with Kate Jennings of Na Nin
Get to know Kate Jennings, founder of Na Nin. Kate talks to Erin about her transition from school teacher to shop owner, the songs and memories that inspire her fragrance brand, and about building a thoughtful, responsible business. Shownotes are available...
01.19.2016
004: Storytelling, shopping, and simplifying with Erin Boyle of Simple Matters & Reading My Tea Leaves
Get to know author and blogger Erin Boyle. Erin’s first book, Simple Matters, was released on January 12, 2016 and her blog Reading My Tea Leaves is an ode to simplicity and small-space living. Erin speaks with Erin & Rita about...
01.12.2016
003: From Fine Art to Fashion Design with Lisa Hackwith of Hackwith Design House
Get to know Lisa Hackwith, fashion designer and founder of Hackwith Design House. Lisa, Erin (who also happens to be Lisa's business partner) and Rita talk about Lisa's education in fine art and her transition to fashion design, why she decided...
01.07.2016
001: Building a Product Based Company with Suann Song of Appointed
Get to know the woman behind your favorite American made notebooks. Suann Song, the owner and founder of Simple Song Design & Appointed, talks to Rita about the path she followed that led to starting not one but two companies,...
01.07.2016
002: Finding Inspiration and managing art and business with Heather Day
Get to know an abstract artist. Heather Day, an artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, talks to Rita about her work, finding inspiration through a cross country road trip and her love of surfing, managing a business without...
12.31.2015
000: Why Do We Have Things? - Prologue
Kicking off our podcast... we're nervous and excited to tell you a little bit about what we've got planned for this season! Subscribe and leave a review in iTunes to be entered into a contest to win a prize from our...

What's Why Do We Have Things? about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Why Do We Have Things? episodes:

S2 01: Melissa Coleman, The Faux Martha & The Minimalist Kitchen

024: Jaime Derringer, Design Milk

023: Building a smart, thoughtful business with Lizzie and Kathryn Fortunato of Lizzie Fortunato

022: Aligning Your Business With Your Artistic Process with Rebecca Atwood of Rebecca Atwood Designs

21: "It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too)" with Nora McInerny Purmort

020: Creativity through Constraints with Mary MacGill of Mary MacGill Jewelry

019: Listening to your instincts to build a business that you love, with artist and textile designer Caroline Z. Hurley

018: Building the best possible product with Dan Hauber of Wright Bedding

017: Finding Balance and Creating Value as Small Business Owners with Kelli Murray of Rylee & Cru and Sam Larson of Lone Flag

016: Conscientious compromises and building a thoughtful product business with Nicole Najafi of Industry Standard

015: Crafting and textile arts with Zinzi Edmundson of Knit Wit Magazine

014: Building a business is like riding a rollercoaster, with Courtney Kates Garcia of Maison du Soir

013: Starting a daily creative project with Mary Jo Hoffman of Still Blog

012: From architecture to merchandising with Alexandra Sklar of The Merchant Home

011: Sustainability - in products and in business - with Erin Dollar of Cotton & Flax

010: Makers vs. Business Owners vs. Artists with Susan Connor, textile designer

009: From Jewelry to Kitchen Towels: Finding the Value in The Things We Keep

008: “Your next item of clothing should be so expensive that it hurts” with Marc Bain from Quartz

007: Responsible Flowers – and Valentines Day – with Jackie Reisenauer, Munster Rose

006: Building a community of like-minded women through style with Michelle LeBlanc of Mille

005: From Vintage to Fragrance, Building a Thoughtful Business with Kate Jennings of Na Nin

004: Storytelling, shopping, and simplifying with Erin Boyle of Simple Matters & Reading My Tea Leaves

003: From Fine Art to Fashion Design with Lisa Hackwith of Hackwith Design House

001: Building a Product Based Company with Suann Song of Appointed

002: Finding Inspiration and managing art and business with Heather Day

000: Why Do We Have Things? - Prologue