Sue Burns, Baabaazuzu co-founder, lead designer and CEO, can thank her husband’s laundry accident for her upcycled garment line. Her husband mistakenly put her favorite wool sweaters into the dryer, and rather than come to tears, Sue dismantled her beloved wears and transformed them into her now international brand.
Baabaazuzu came to be in late 1993 after Sue Burns, a gifted graphic designer, cut up the shrunken remains of her favorite sweaters, pieced the fragments together and made jackets with matching hats for her two young daughters. Once the phone began ringing in high demand of her upcycled creations, Sue sought her opportunity to develop an eco-fashion house in Lake Leelanau, MI.
To make the vision a reality it started with a Sears Kenmore sewing machine stationed on their dining room table, Sue and Kevin—whom Sue taught to sew—launched Baabaazuzu as a line of unique, one-of-a-kind sweaters, jackets and hats for children. A year later there was a popular demand from women wanting the signature Baabaazuzu style in their size—Sue turned her business from children’s apparel to women’s to suit the market.
Baabaazuzu has been recognized as a Michigan 50 Company to Watch, as well as featured on national television, while actress Sean Young wore multiple pieces while competing on ABC’s reality TV series, Skating with the Stars; and as Cari Cucksey the host of HGTV’s Cash & Cari sported Baabaazuzu’s fingerless gloves.
Born in Leelanau County Michigan and worn without boundaries, Baabaazuzu can now be found in nearly 600 retailers across North America, Canada, Japan and South Korea.
Often replicated, but never duplicated, particularly Baabaazuzu’s mittens, the company continues to expand their line—adding new products each year. To keep differentiating themselves, Sue and her team conduct product development meetings, where they forecast fashion trends and cater to their consumers’ needs. Sourcing raw materials that are made in the USA have also posed challenges—Baabaazuzu continues to use components that are made here in the states.
As of 2012, Baabaazuzu expanded to cater to a new audience—Men. Baabaazuzu enjoys providing men with upcycled accessories—hats, mittens, fingerless gloves, slippers, scarves and messenger bags.
No two pieces of Baabaazuzu are ever alike. Each is lovingly handcrafted of 100% vintage materials, reclaimed and transformed into a beautiful wearable. Every piece is an inspired original. Just like the person who wears it.
The current iteration of Barloga Studios has been more than twenty years in the making. For more than two decades the father/son tandem of Dennis and Roy Barloga have been making photographs in a shared studio in Northern California. While each artist chose divergent paths they often came together in support and critique - bound by blood, artistic conviction, and the desire to help each other succeed.
Dennis has made his living making photographs since the early 1970s. He is best known for his unmatched portfolio of color photographs that depict old world Europe. After owning two galleries (one he co-owned with Roy) and claiming partial retirement he splits his time between the studio, the golf course, and frequent travels with his wife (Mary Beth) and his dog (Chance).
Roy started sweeping his father’s photography studio as a youngster and never really left. He spent many years learning about both the artistic and business aspects of photography and created his own company, Barloga Studios, in the mid 90’s. He specialized in infrared photographs and is best known for his series of “trilogies” that span a wide variety of subjects. He is very excited that Dennis has joined him in this latest collaboration, as it seems that life does go full circle.
New York city studio jeweler Biba Schutz creates edition and one of a kind jewelry with sterling silver and bronze: accented with copper, 22kt gold, and natural materials.
Inspired by her surroundings, contrasts of texture, form, and space are paramount in her approach to wearble jewelry.
All jewelry is handmade in her studio
2. In 2008, with almost no money in the bank, a looming economic recession, no business experience, and 6 whole hours of screen-printing workshops under our belts, we launched Blackbird Supply Company. Another great idea! What could go wrong, you ask? Everything. Everything could and did go wrong, until it went right, a little bit at a time.3. Over 14 years of business ownership, we've crisscrossed the country 4 times, visited 35 states, vended at countless craft shows, received 13,000+ five star reviews, hand-printed over 300,000 shirts, hoodies, and tea towels, grown to support two full-time employees (with retirement benefits - hell yeah!), and had the good fortune to meet the funniest, kindest, most generous artists and customers from all over the map.4. We don't buy any stock illustrations or designs. We don't use digital printing techniques or heat transfers. We don't farm out any portion of our production, and we don't use stock photography. It's just the two of us all the way through. I sketch every design, prep every screen, hand print and photograph each item. Karl packs and ships every order, answers every email, manages wholesale, and writes every single thank you note (phew!). And we love every minute.
Blackthorne Forge is owned and operated by Vermont blacksmith Steven Bronstein. He and his helpers have been creating functional and sculptural ironwork for over 25 years.
At the forge, you will see both the traditional and contemporary tools available to the modern blacksmith. His designs strive to blend the primitive charm of ironwork with the energy and interest of more contemporary design.
Blacksmiths have a three thousand year tradition that has changed and grown with the ages. This capacity to adapt and evolve with the changing designs of the day is the blacksmith’s greatest strength.
Just as the hot metal twists and bends to create beauty, so does the craft of blacksmithing itself. Steven celebrates this aspect of his art and looks forward to all of its possibilities.
Botanica is a candle & apothecary company committed to supporting charitable organizations with every product they create. Botanica donates $1 from each candle and apothecary product sold back to region-specific non-profit organizations in the areas indigenous to their fragrance ingredients. Born from Creative Director Katie Gastley’s vision of bringing the highest quality naturally effective ingredients into affordable, well-designed bath, body, and home products, Botanica aims at producing beautiful and luxurious products you feel good using, as well as purchasing.
All of Botanica’s Candles and Apothecary products are made by hand in the USA. Homewares produced abroad are made by ethical practices.
