Video: Our first Manuma Salon conversation

A few weeks ago we inaugurated an occasional series of salon-style conversations with fascinating people in design and sustainability, hosted live on the Manuma Facebook page.   A recording of our chat with Mary Ruth Shields, fellow Hartford-area fashion social entrepreneur, is now available on YouTube – and you can watch it here:     […]

Upgrade your beverage for Earth Day with durable, reusable straws

The last year or so has seen a number of documentaries, news stories, and campaigns re-emphasizing the problems we have created for ourselves with our addiction to "disposable" single-use plastics: shopping bags, food packaging, and especially drinking straws. Most people don't really need them, although they are convenient. If you have a long commute, or […]

For Earth Day, the why in Manuma

I realized recently that my fashion schooling was punctuated by several significant events– disasters, really– that mark the intersections of my values system as a citizen of the world and as a fashion designer. They were landmarks on the map that lead to me to build Manuma.             Animesh Basnet […]

Fresh Eire: Contemporary design from Ireland

This will not be the typical St. Patrick's Day-themed design post. There will be no reference to the following: claddagh rings, shamrocks, leprechauns, potatoes, cartoon policemen, Aran sweaters, alcoholism, anything green. I want to talk about examples of cool, modern Irish design.   Mourne Textiles Shaggy Dog handloomed wool cushions This loopy weave was shown […]

Sticky Situation: Make your own washi tape from upcycled labels

How to make your own decorative tape and stickers from museum tickets and e-commerce shipping labels Cleaning up my office/studio recently, I found the ticket stubs from my last visit to the Cooper-Hewitt design museum in New York. I remembered I had kept them to use the ticket info to access the exhibit info I saved […]

A manifesta for 61 (#reclaimingmylines)

Resolved to: give 0 damns.  Gina Barreca is a treasured comic, writer, and revered crone here in Connecticut. Her recent column on turning 61 was not a gift wishlist, but a list of what she hopes to KonMari the hell out of her mindset, and the values she wants to focus on now now that […]

Exhibit: Shaker design featured in Paris and New Britain

bur bowtie (c) Allie McConnell, photographed at Canterbury Shaker Village, Vermont   Today brings the opening of Li Edelkoort's art gallery in Paris. Edelkoort is the founder of Trend Union, a highly influential trend forecasting company. She herself is a significant proponent of artisans, textile craft, and sustainable fashion production.  The first exhibition at Edelkoort […]

Plan your bliss: effective goals and intentions for change

The dark of our long New England winter is the perfect time to clear what no longer serves us well, and to listen to our heart as we set our goals and aspirations. Here are a few of our recommendations for journals, workbooks, or paper agendas for you to put pen to paper with your […]

White Sails: how to get affordable, stylish window curtains

January is traditionally the season for white sales, when retailers mark down their stock of home textiles: bedding, linens, pillows, towels. I wanted to share with you my affordable solution for curtains that takes inspiration from a different kind of sail. I’m really happy with how it turned out, aside from the relief of not having […]

#ClothisCulture: Afghan war rugs exhibit in New London

Hand knotted rug with images of guns, helicopters and grenades in alternating rows

The Lyman Allyn Museum in New London, CT is hosting an exhibit of Afghan war rugs this spring. Through decades of invasion, occupation, and internal oppression, Afghan women within the country and displaced in refugee camps elsewhere have modernized the images they depict through their traditionally crafted rugs for commercial sale. Maps, weapons, army tanks, and portraits […]