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 Open.

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

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.

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

Rita talks to Melissa Coleman, blogger at The Faux Martha and author of The Minimalist Kitchen, about things.

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

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,  about slowly and practically furnishing her home, about maintaining an identity outside of her brand(s), the things she finds the most exciting in design, and even about virtual reality and 3d printing.

024: Jaime Derringer, Design Milk

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 and designing a home. 

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

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 to launch her own collection, about learning all of the different aspects of owning your own business, and about building a thoughtful business that aligns with your own ideals. 

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

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 social media – from hate follows to finding support through people you’d have never found otherwise, and Nora’s perspective on “things” – the reminders and memories she has of Aaron, why they matter, and, also, why they don’t.        Instead of a sponsor for today’s episode, we’re sponsoring Nora’s organization, Still Kicking. Thank you so much for listening and supporting our sponsors, which in turn allows us to share incredible stories and support really good people.      

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

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