Local Author Visit

It was a real pleasure to get together with local author, and fellow maker, Maya Pagan Donenfeld.  We gave Maya a shop tour, and talked about her new book, which offers up some really inspirational advice for creating a new self identity after crisis, trauma, or loss.  It's called Hope Make Heal; 20 Crafts to Mend the Heart and would make a wonderful gift for a friend or for one's self.  Maya's personal story involves an unexpected divorce, and her crafts and thoughts are all about slowly re-building her sense of self and self-worth.

Maya was a great sport in the snow, but we both felt relieved when we found a nice warm spot to sit by the fire, away from the harsh lake breezes.  Here are a few photos from our visit, with more to come soon.

Meet Janet

It seems that each of us on staff are here primarily because we enjoy working with our hands.  More specifically, we like the sense of accomplishment that comes from turning simple raw materials into objects of value.  We all make shoes during the day, but many of us also have side projects and hobbies that continue to keep our hands busy after hours.  Janet, who we have been getting to know for the past couple of months, is a fellow craftsperson, small business owner, and now a member of our staff.

Janet moved into a home just down the road from our shop this fall, with a desire to experience life in the Finger Lakes.  She is originally from Long Island and came to the area via Corning, where her passion for glass blowing blossomed into 4 years of work with the Corning Museum of Glass.  Janet continues to sell her work in the Museum gift shop and teaches classes on glass blowing, fusing, and flame working.  When I asked Janet about her interest in leather, she explained the similarities between her glass craft and the work we do.  As Janet says, both require practice and skill, a feel for the materials, and the faith that muscle memory will take over for calculated work, given enough practice and a willingness to let go and feel your way through.

Art and craft drive so many of us and I love the way that Janet's vision and values have led her to us.  Please join me in welcoming Janet to our Aurora Shoe family.  You can view Janet's beautiful glass work here and can find some beautiful Christmas ornaments on sale at her Etsy shop.

Birds of A Feather: Assembly

We find inspiration in other businesses and organizations who, like us, work to promote a love of good design and an appreciation for fine craftsmanship.  In this series, which we call Birds of a Feather, we'll share stories and ideas from around the world that reflect our own values.  We hope that you find them as inspiring and thought provoking as we do.


Assembly  is a new design studio with a solid foundation in art and craft based practice.  Based between NY and Western MA, co-founders Nora Mattingly and Pete Oyler have coupled their passions for interior design and handcraft with a focus on natural materials and a clean aesthetic.  

Dave and I met up with Nora and Pete while they were in Aurora this summer.  We enjoyed a few beers, showed them around the shop, and chatted about small scale manufacturing and design.  We are inspired and encouraged by Assembly's support of U.S. based handcraft and are pleased to share their ideals and philosophies with you here.

How did Assembly, or better yet, the idea for a design firm, get its start?

N: On hour 9 of a 13 hour drive from Louisville, KY last December we decided to launch Assembly – funny what seems like a good idea when you’ve been cooped up in a car for too long!

No, but more seriously, for years Pete and I have been having conversations about all things design; from our own projects and those of our peers, the globalization of production and fabrication, to the lack of resources for young emerging designers. Most importantly, we have had countless conversations about the many and massively talented artists, designers, and craftspeople we know living and working throughout the USA.

We believe that we are at a critical junction in the development of American Design. We are dedicated to and excited about being part of it.

P: When I graduated from RISD in 2009, I knew I wanted to start an interdisciplinary design firm. I also knew that I wasn’t quite ready—I had just moved to Brooklyn, and needed some time to settle in to city life and hone my business skill sets. Nora had also just begun her graduate studies in Interior Design at Pratt. In 2011 and after her second year of school, we started talking seriously about starting a practice together, what that would look like and what it would mean for both of us. Our interests and aesthetics have always been aligned and our skill sets are very complimentary. However, and perhaps most importantly, we are both completely committed to encouraging and supporting studio practices and small creative businesses in the U.S.
 

We (obviously) love your dedication to craft based projects. Why do you find this kind of work so appealing and important?

N: There is such a rich history of craft in the US. I think that is important to understand where you are coming from in order to know where you'd like to go. Drawing from craft based practice(s) is one way that I do this.

P: On a personal level, I have always loved working with and thinking through my hands. In general, I think making things is incredibly rewarding and also incredibly important in teaching really valuable and variable skill sets.
 

Do you have a set of design principles that you live and work by?

P: Design is like life in so many ways—it is a constant practice of patience, intention, and imagination. In my work and in my life, I try (and sometimes fail) to strike a balance between these things. Of all of the really inspirational things that Charles Eames said, one has always stuck with me: “Design is not in the details, Design is the details.” I think about that nearly every day—that the details, the many micro decisions we make, are part of a much larger picture that work to shape not only our aesthetic experience but our lived experience as well.
 

Your pieces have a simple aesthetic and really showcase the materials used. Is this an intentional part of your design philosophy?

N: I think that we are both really enchanted by natural textures, colors, and motifs – especially the simple ones that people experience everyday but appreciate much less frequently. This source of inspiration for both palette and process comes across strongly in most of our work. Recently, we have also been very interested in utility, a quality that has been central to the way we live in Brooklyn, which demands a strong but sophisticated sense of simplicity.

P: Ditto to everything Nora mentioned... Ultimately, our goal was to take archetypical forms and very raw materials and create a collection with both a forward thinking aesthetic and a strong utilitarian feel.
 

via dezeen.com

What can we expect from your upcoming exhibition at the Roundhouse at Beacon Falls?

P: The Roundhouse at Beacon Falls is such an exciting development. Beacon, NY has long been a destination for both artists and art lovers alike. When the opportunity arose for us to curate viewing spaces at the Roundhouse we were thrilled: it was the perfect opportunity to simultaneously foster creative culture and showcase the talent of so many fine artists working in various mediums. For the first installation set to open Labor day weekend we are showing the works of mixed media artists Chris Domenick and Guadalupe Rosales and painter Alexa Williams. 

Table and stools by Assembly for the Wythe Hotel, Brooklyn

Is there anything else new or exciting that you'd like to share?

P: Nora has been working on a really impressive set of textiles that will be released early next year…. I don’t want to give too much away but so far the work is looking great and I think will add a new dimension to Assembly’s home product line.

For updates and news, sign up for our mailing list!

Thanks for the thoughtful interview, Nora and Pete!

You can stay in touch with Assembly via Twitter @AssemblyUS and now on Facebook.



(Most photos by Matthew Williams, via Assembly) 

NorthernGRADE

We were thrilled to be selected as a vendor at the exclusive NorthernGRADE menswear pop-up market.   The market features only 100% made in the USA menswear and seems like a perfect fit for our American (sourced and made) shoes. 

Dave and his wife Andrea will be heading out to Minneapolis for the market in mid September and they'd love to see you there. 

All images via NorthernGRADE.com.  Check out their list of vendors here. 

Union Store in Seoul now carrying Aurora Shoe Co. Middle English

We're thrilled to be included in the hip menswear selection at Union Store in Seoul.   We're set along side Aran sweaters, TRVR wool caps, and organic cotton neck ties.  It feels like a good (and stylish) place to be. 

Birds of a Feather: Beam & Anchor

We find inspiration in other businesses and organizations who, like us, work to promote a love of good design and an appreciation for fine craftsmanship.  In this series, which we call Birds of a Feather, we'll share stories and ideas from around the world that reflect our own values.  We hope that you find them as inspiring and thought provoking as we do.

Beam & Anchor is a perfect example of ideals in action.  Founders, Jocelyn and Robert Rahm have created a retail and work space in Portland, Oregon that artfully combines product with process.  When I contacted Jocelyn about this post, she shared that she wore our shoes for years and attended nearby Syracuse University.  It's a small world, I tell you.  Small.

Beam & Anchor is such a wonderful example of synergy in action.  How did you hatch the plan to create this innovative space?

Beam & Anchor originated a couple years ago when we both got disillusioned enough with our respective career paths that we decided to start taking our passions more seriously. We took our love of design and community and merged them into what is now Beam & Anchor. Robert has a background in wilderness therapy and I have a background in teaching and life coaching. This is where the community piece comes into play. We both are passionate about the idea of building community and challenging what's possible within that realm. Robert has been reclaiming furniture for years and I am a painter so we wanted to create a space where makers and artists could commune, collaborate and ultimately thrive. We also wanted a space where we could sell unique and beautiful things to the community.

via phloem studio

You have said that Beam & Anchor is not just about "craft", and that "good design is critical" (via this Dwell article).  What design rules or principles do you live by?

We don't adhere to rules or principles, perse. What we're looking for is a certain feeling. Objects, not unlike people, have an energy and the energy has a resonance so we're looking for a certain resonance. We love the juxtoposition of new and old for this reason. Old things have a history and carry stories with them. We have a couple old opera chairs from the 19th century in our shop right now and they have such great, old texture. Their history is almost palpable when you sit in them. Then we have new lamps that are handmade locally by Shannon Guirl of Caravan Pacific and they're innovative interpretations of mid-century designs. What we're after is great design and good stories. We've also tried to keep our collection as local and hand-crafted as possible.  

 

Your shop combines vintage goods and handmade items.  What is the unifying element or philosophy behind this pairing?

I think it's about the relationship between history and innovation and how they interplay together. There's so much wisdom that comes from history and so much possibility that comes from innovation. They are mean't to work in harmony with one another.  

via habitual

I have always found that creative energy leads to decisions and directions that I never anticipated at the start.  How has Beam & Anchor responded to the creative energy that you've nurtured?

Beam & Anchor has taken on a life of it's own. We may have "birthed" the concept and we will influence the course of its trajectory, however the genesis of Beam & Anchor will be very much informed by what shows up along the way. We are very excited to see where it goes from here.  

via shannon quimby

We're very excited to see that you have plans to create an online shop.  Do you have any updates or information to share with those of us way over here, on the East Coast?

We'd love to have our online shop up and running by 7/1/12. No promises but that's our goal.   

via beam and anchor

What advice would you give to others who are inspired by your business model and want to create their own collective?

The heart of a collective is always the people that are involved so find good people. When you do something that's a little bit off the beaten path, you'll always face criticism or folks that don't get it. That's all part of the process and it's meant to test your commitment to your vision. Above all, find the joy in making it happen. Don't let what's not working derail you as that's part of the creative process too. 

via phloem studio

 Thank you for inspiring us, Beam and Anchor!