From its home base in Charleston, SC, Imagine Home partners with artisan collectives in 13 countries around the world, including Haiti, Guatemala, India, Ethiopia, and Peru, to produce luxurious furnishings with one-of-a-kind appeal. “Each piece is made by hand,” says founder and lead designer Staci Lantz, who has more than 20 years of experience in the design industry. Staci’s discerning eye for color, pattern, and texture, combined with organic materials and traditional craft methods that have been passed down for generations, leads to the creation of heirloom-quality goods—all while creating a sustainable source of income for men and women in marginalized communities.
Imagine Home’s versatile Azur Cube Ottoman (we love it as an extra seat or even a side table) is upholstered in organic cotton that is handwoven and naturally dyed in Ethiopia.
Style with a Mission
A 2007 trip to South Africa inspired Staci to bring a socially conscious aspect to her work in the decor world. “Meeting talented artisans producing stunning craft while struggling to earn sustainable wages impacted me deeply,” Staci says. “These artisans had stories that deserved a bigger platform that could showcase their authentic artistry and usage of raw and organic materials. What I didn’t realize at the time was how many of my clients desired unique products steeped in tradition.”
The Sutton Slipcover Pendant features a striped organic-cotton shade trimmed in cheerful pompoms. The fabric is hand-dyed and handwoven by skilled artisans in Ethiopia.
Partners Around the World
Working directly with artisans around the globe has been one of the most rewarding experiences for Staci and her team. “We have gotten to know these artisans personally while often meeting their children or sharing a community meal,” she says. Below are just a few of the groups who help bring Imagine Home’s collections to life:
Craft Tradition in Peru
Captivated by the country’s rich textiles heritage, Imagine Home looked to Peru for its collection of luxe bedding and throws. Using methods in practice for thousands of years, along with ultrasoft baby-alpaca wool and other organic materials, fair-trade artisans meticulously handcraft these designs.
A New Start in Guatemala
Imagine Home’s eco-friendly melamine collection is produced in a facility that helps at-risk young men recover from life on the street. Detailed with colorful patterns and marine motifs, these pieces combine traditional melamine with biodegradable bamboo, resulting in designs that are as durable as they are beautiful.
Raw Beauty in Haiti
In Haiti, artisans have long been creating stunning wares from found, recycled, and discarded materials. Incorporating horn, bone, and organic grass seeds, Imagine Home’s collaboration includes sculptural designs for trays, tableware, and other accents—all part of a renewed cycle of entrepreneurship and community stability.
Tradition Made New in Africa
For its organic-cotton upholstery, Imagine Home works with a UNESCO-recognized co-op in Mali. More than 100 female textile artisans employ traditional (and sustainable) indigo-dyeing methods to craft timeless, high-quality pieces with a fresh aesthetic.
Detailed with an allover diamond pattern, the Manorca Throw is hand-loomed of ultrasoft alpaca wool by artisans in Peru.
Meeting talented artisans producing stunning craft while struggling to earn sustainable wages impacted me deeply. These artisans had stories that deserved a bigger platform to showcase their authentic artistry and use of raw and organic materials.
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