Why Handcrafted Matters
There’s a reason handcrafted pieces feel different.
They aren’t rushed. They aren’t identical. And they aren’t made to be disposable.
A handwoven textile carries the rhythm of the loom.
A hand-stitched seam reflects the skill of the person who made it.
Small variations aren’t flaws, they’re proof that a real person was part of the process.
These are pieces designed to be lived with.
Used, loved, and kept.
Not just for a season, but for years.
→ Learn more about Mayan textiles and traditional weaving techniques
It starts with people.
Handcrafted isn’t just about how something is made.
It’s about who made it and what that work makes possible.
At Intertwined, every piece begins in the hands of a skilled artisan. Techniques passed down over generations. Materials chosen with intention. Time taken to do things well, not quickly.
You can feel the difference.
And once you know the story behind it, you carry it differently too.
What Ethical Sourcing Means to Us
We don’t use the term “ethical sourcing” lightly.
While we are not certified through a traditional fair trade organization, our work is guided by those same core principles—fair pay, safe working conditions, and long-term partnerships.
Fair trade, at its core, is about dignity, and those principles guide how we work every day.
And we don’t operate without standards.
Intertwined is verified by People and Planet First, a global standard for businesses that prioritize people and the planet across everything they do.
For us, that looks like:
- Paying fair wages, and paying upfront
- Building long-term relationships, not one-time transactions
- Working directly with artisan partners whenever possible
- Respecting traditional techniques rather than trying to speed them up
- Producing in small batches instead of pushing for volume
We work with partners we know—people we text, call, and visit when we can. People like Diego and Juana in Guatemala and Soufiane in Morocco.
This isn’t the easiest way to run a business.
But it’s the way we believe it should be done.
Part of a Larger Community
Intertwined is part of a global network of organizations working to build a more thoughtful, responsible economy. We are:
Verified by People and Planet First
Members of the Nest Artisan Guild
Part of the Good Market Global community
These organizations connect and support businesses committed to fair wages, responsible production, and long-term impact.
They also help hold us accountable—because this work is bigger than any one brand.
Our Commitments
People + Planet First
Verified to meet global standards for businesses that prioritize people and the planet.
Nest Artisan Guild
Part of a global network supporting responsible handcraft production and artisan livelihoods.
Good Market Global
A curated community of social enterprises and responsible businesses working toward a better economy.
What This Means for You
When you bring an Intertwined piece into your home or your life, you’re choosing something different.
You’re choosing:
It’s not just about what you buy.
It’s about how it feels to own it—and the story it carries with it.
Our Approach, At a Glance
- Crafted by skilled artisans using traditional techniques
- Made in small batches, never mass-produced
- Fair, upfront payment to artisan partners
- Built on long-term, direct relationships
- Designed to be used, loved, and kept
Connection changes everything.
When you know where something comes from—who made it, how it was made, and why it matters—it changes the way you see it.
And sometimes, it changes more than that.