Meet Alice, the creator of the ESCAPE utility bag.  Made with the intention of inspiring others to pack just what they need and set out for an adventure! 

"Alice Saunders started Forestbound from her living room in Boston during the winter of 2007. Driven by her passion for history and vintage textiles, she created Forestbound to tell the stories of the reclaimed materials that she had been uncovering at flea markets and estate sales throughout New England. Alice’s designs are both timeless and unique; highlighting special pieces of history that she hopes to bring back into the present through memorable products and intentional craftsmanship."

Monica grew up in an Indian household drinking chai at the age of 2 and then blending teas at the age of 12.  Needless to say, chai was a daily ritual in her home which influenced her entire journey that led her to create THE CHAI BOX. After having kids of her own, she wanted chai to be a big part of their lives too.  Chai brought the family together, similarly to how dinnertime brings families together. Drinking chai is something ALL Indian families experience and Monica took generations of her family's recipes to craft blends that tell the story of various regions in India.  Every packet of chai is hand blended, aromatic and delicious!

Caitlyn is the owner and creator of Lemon Water Studio, located in Astoria, Queens.  She started her small business in 2020 in order to follow her passion of creating and designing handmade accessories, clothing and decor. Sustainability is very important to her and she strives to incorporate earth friendly packaging through compostable mailers, plantable seed earring cards and recyclable boxes.

I came across her lovely handmade earrings on my artist date throughout Astoria where I ventured into many small businesses run by women.  I was inspired by Caitlyn's story to follow her dream, her hustle and her process in creating beautiful pieces.

Her lovely earrings can be found in the 'Feel Pretty' box as well as the 'Feel Pretty 2.0' box.   Both boxes can be found under the WOMEN OWNED section of the site.

They are the makers of Planet Sis! I found this amazing team by wandering the through Astoria while going on an artist date.  Inspired by the community, their story and obviously the NAMES of each candle, I reached out to start a maker relationship. Shenai, Jan and Bella felt that growing up Black and Puerto Rican in a low income community, they didn’t see their unique bodies or voices represented authentically society .  This trio dreamed of propelling their lives forward by using their creativity and charisma to speak to the heart of their community.

Planet Sis takes pride on creating “good for you” products at affordable prices. The goods are cruelty-free and free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, artificial colors, petroleum, paraffin, GMOs.

A message from the sisters:

We respect our planet, our community, and most importantly ourselves.

"At Planet Sis, we are healing the world united as sisters. We put in the work to create a positive platform and community that empowers women to be the most flourishing and influential version of themselves, regardless of their race or economic status. We hope our brand inspires you to radiate love, live your truest self, and heal at your own pace."

Meet Sherri of Provision

Meet Julia Golodner-Reyes