Cultures and People of the WorldCultures and People of the World

Lessons in Global Citizenship

Fri, 2011-03-18 08:22

 At Hartmann&Forbes, travel is a vital part of our business: we crisseoul arial viewscross the globe pursuing exotic plant fibers, talented artisans and muses for our next design. Wherever our journeys lead us, we find ourselves inspired by the things we see and the people we meet.

On a recent trip through Asia, we were especially moved by the striking contrasts we experienced between the cities we flew into and the villages we visited just outside of them.
 
Flying into Seoul, we were awed by the towering buildings, bright lights and crowded streets of that make up the mega-metropolis. This was quickly replaced by our wonderment that the seemingly endless countryside is still merely a quick car-ride from the hustle and traffic. In fact it felt as if we’d traveled back two hundred years in just a few short kilometers.
 
We were struck by the naked starkness of this contradiction.  As the world’s cities are thriving on technology and automation, villages are struggling to survive on hand craftsmanship and ancient tradition.  Villagers are driven to the cities for jobs and in doing so leave generations of artisan techniques behind. This Korean villageexperience drove us to ask ourselves: Are we conducting our business in a manner that is beneficial to all parties involved?
 
In this trip we found that the true value of creating a breathtaking weave is that it allows us to take back a more lasting, global outlook to our offices at home in the Pacific Northwest. By specifying our window coverings, you are helping maintain the increasingly delicate balance between Ancient and the Modern.
 
 
 
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Thoughts & Prayers for Japan

Tue, 2011-03-15 07:48

Help Japan Poster from Weiden+KennedyWe wanted to take a quick moment to acknowledge the ongoing tragedy happening in Japan.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those directly and indirectly affected by the earthquake and ensuing tsunami.

Individuals and organizations are coming together all over the globe to help survivors of this tragedy.  We've accumulated a list of resources for those who would like to help in the continuing aid efforts. 

  • Mercy Corps has partnered with Peace Winds to directly help the cities of Ishimaki and Kesennuma, both located in the hardest hit region of Northeastern Japan.  You can donate online at the Mercy Corps website.
  • The American branch of the Red Cross has redirected the efforts of their text-to-donate campaign towards those affected by this tragedy. You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.  You can also donate online at redcross.org.
  • Portland-based agency Weiden+Kennedy is raising relief funds through the sale of their poster, seen above, designed by Max Erdenberger.  100% of the proceeds will go towards relief efforts.
  • You'll find a comprehensive list of charitable organizations committed to the Japanese aid effort on The Chronicle of Philanthropy website.

This relief effort has just begun, and the disaster is far from over. Everyone can make a difference: please join us in supporting our global neighbors.

 

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SNOW!

Fri, 2011-02-04 12:55

stunning views from Mt. Hood In a week when half the country fought record lows and struggled to dig out from a two thousand mile long storm, it might be hard for us to remember that some people never see snow in their lifetime. We had the pleasure of introducing a couple of our master weavers to this natural phenomenon for the first time this week. In a break from our busy schedule, we took a trip up the scenic Columbia River Gorge to Mt. Hood for a once-in-a-lifetime snow experience. 

Our first stop was at Multnomah Falls, where frigid temperatures and a bone chilling wind created ice along the second-tallest waterfall in the US. This magnificent display was the first time any of them had seen ice in nature. When they weren’t shivering, they were captivated by the intricate textures formed by the iced-over falls.
 
Everyone filled up with coffee and hot chocolate to warm their bones, and then continued up the Hood River Valley. As we gained elevation, they saw their first glimpse of snow with a recent dusting of the famous Apple & Pear orchards. Giddy at this site, they were overwhelmed by what we met at the summit: snow had blanketed the trees and riverbanks, and everything shimmered in the winter sun. It was truly a moment of pure wonder.
 
We could not have asked for a more beautiful day on Mt. Hood: vivid blue skies offered a perfect backdrop to the fresh powder on the slopes as skiers and snowboarders swooped past our weavers at play in the snow, smiles fixed from ear to ear.
 
As millions across the country dreamt of warmer days, our weavers happily spent the coldest day of their lives reveling in the wonder of snow.

 

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Making of the "Inspired By" Short Film

Tue, 2010-05-25 11:11

We’re always looking for new ways to share the craft we love. Historically, we’ve relied on pictures and stories. But in the summer of 2009, we got a bug to try something new. We thought you might like to see handweaving in action. So we hired a videographer to travel with our team.

His objective was to capture weaving tools and techniques, the culture and the people and the environment around him. He balanced on narrow docks that led out into the ocean, ducked around weavers and their handlooms and even hopped on a moped with one of the weavers to get a tour around town (and of course, he caught it on film to show us how much fun he was having).

In all, he took more than 30 hours of footage which we edited into the 3 minute short film below showcasing what we are inspired by.

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Many Hands

Mon, 2009-08-17 10:47

We share with our designer clients that our products are made by hand…many hands. We tell this story because our window coverings have a heritage, a story, and a past.

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Touched by Cultures

Fri, 2009-08-14 13:44

One of the most meaningful things that our travels have allowed us to do over the years is experience first hand the diversity of the cultures and people of the world.
 
You would think that after a decade of traveling overseas and developing relationships with those we meet along the way we couldn’t be surprised any longer.

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Travel Video Diary 1.0

Wed, 2009-08-12 13:35

Two of our team members recently embarked on a 10 day trip through SE Asia and the South Pacific. Their mission is to seek out and find new fibers and materials that we can hand craft into shades. They are also seeking inspiration from the people and cultures they encounter along the way.

They sent us a video diary of their first leg of the trip. We hope you enjoy this peek into their journey.

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