At Intertwined, handmade is not just a nice word we add to a product description. We build direct relationships with artisan partners, visit many of them in person, watch the process when we can, and learn the techniques behind the pieces we carry.

We have seen glass being sorted, melted, and blown by hand in Guatemala. We have watched textiles being woven, stitched, joined, framed, and transformed. We know the people, the places, and the stories behind many of the pieces in this collection.

Intertwined is also People and Planet First verified, which means our business has been reviewed for our commitment to people, planet, purpose, and ethical business practices.

Yes. These are not souvenir trinkets or mass-produced pieces with a “handmade” label added at the end.

Many of our home goods are made using skilled techniques passed through families, workshops, cooperatives, and artisan communities: handblown recycled glass, handwoven textiles, traditional pottery, natural fibers, vintage Mayan fabrics, leatherwork, embroidery, and careful sewing.

Small variations are part of handmade work, but poor quality is not. We choose pieces for beauty, usefulness, durability, and the kind of craftsmanship that can hold its own in a thoughtfully designed home.

Because they are made by people, not machines—and that is part of their beauty.

Handblown glass may have small bubbles or slight variations in shape. Handwoven textiles may vary in color, pattern, or texture. Vintage fabrics may carry signs of their previous life. Pottery may have small differences from one mug or plate to the next.

Those details are not defects. They are reminders that your piece passed through real hands, using real materials, in a real artisan process.

Intertwined is not a charity, and we do not donate a small portion of each sale after the fact.

Instead, our impact happens through the way we do business. When you purchase from Intertwined, it allows us to keep ordering from artisan partners, support dignified work, and help create ongoing income opportunities.

In many cases, we pay artisans upfront or in stages rather than asking them to carry the financial burden of production. Your purchase helps keep that cycle going.

Yes. That is actually one of the reasons Intertwined exists.

Handmade does not have to mean overly rustic, crafty, or “souvenir shop.” We look for pieces that carry rich cultural tradition but still feel beautiful in modern homes—whether your style is classic, collected, colorful, neutral, layered, or somewhere in between.

Think texture, warmth, story, and soul. Not clutter. Not kitsch. Not “I panic-bought this at an airport.”