Change of Pace

Hi everyone, happy Wednesday! And happy October 🫣😬 what can I say? September slipped away like a bottle of wine……

In the course of writing this newsletter, I’ll oftentimes follow a product to its landing page on the site of an independent retailer stocking a very well-curated selection of wares from small artists and creators. From there, even just a cursory poke-around produces a cornucopia of more products that I want to include, but then I tell myself to rein it in and just stick to one. But… why? Why follow these rules of my own making, when I’m the one calling the shots here?

All that to say, I’d like to experiment with more issues where I round up everything I loved on the site of a single cool retailer. First up is MAFF, a platform that spotlights emerging artists and designers based all over the world, from Argentina to Lebanon to Uruguay. Many of them utilize recycled, upcycled, or deadstock materials, and mostly operate on a made-to-order basis. I hope you find something you love on there, because I certainly did :)

In a Jam

TRAFFIC JAM HAIRPINS - MARLAND BACKUS ($119)

Jewelry designer Marland Backus’ industrial design background is on full display here in this set of toy car barrettes made from enamel and sterling silver.

Been Around the Block

GEO TRACKIES - ADRIAN CASHMERE ($360)

I’ve featured Adrian Cashmere on WIWO before, but I’m doing it again because the pieces are just that goddamn good. These geometric sweatpants remind me of the knitted Eckhaus Latta pants I was coveting four years ago and still think about from time to time.

Coast to Coast

NEPTUNE COASTERS - COURTNEY KINNARE ($135)

There are so many stylish coaster designs out there that it seems a shame to settle for ho-hum ones, as I’ve been doing. I love these agate-slice ones melded together from leftover resin scraps.

Off the Top of My Head

SILK HEADSCARF (MILK) - GUNIA ($210)

My fingertips tingle just looking at this picture of this lusciously tactile headscarf. I’m dying to reach through the screen and run my hands over the openwork embroidery and smooth, scalloped silk.

Creature Comforts

ALLIGATOR FRIEND - NOALIM (FROM $195)

STUFFED PIGGIE (BLUE) - NOALIM (FROM $135)

I’m utterly charmed by all of NoaLim’s leather scrap creatures, but I went back and forth for ages over whether I wanted to include this toothsome alligator or this portly blue pig. Eventually I just figured, why not both? We’re going rogue here!

Double Bubble

BUBBLE HEM MINI SKIRT - ABACAXI ($490)

FYI: Bubble hems are back in a big way. I was skeptical at first, but the more I see them out and about, the more the poofy silhouette has grown on me. This Abacaxi one is equipped with three styles of pockets: side inset pockets, welt pockets on the back, and a cargo pocket on the side for a little extra storage space.

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Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com!