We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mary Hamby a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mary, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Twenty Two West comes from a place that inspires me – it’s the address of the home where I grew up and discovered the love of creating through the women who loved it before me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

At Twenty Two West we believe that art brings joy to your life – whether you are wearing it, sharing it, or adding it to your home. At its core, my business is jewelry and home decor, but it’s really so much more than that. Every aspect of Twenty Two West is designed to be in direct opposition to mass-production. By designing a line of artisan jewelry and home décor that inspires an artful life, and doing it with intention, we can reclaim a little bit of what is lost to automation.

The moment I walk in the door of my Charlotte studio I feel a rush of anticipation and excitement to create. I start my day with clay and threads and through the process of forming, firing, combing, and weaving, I get to see the raw materials transform into meaningful treasures. Each is a visual reminder of how perfectly wonderful it is to be artful, strong, and kind.

As my business has grown and evolved over the years, one of my greatest sources of pride has been the ability to employ a team of immensely talented artisans. There is nothing quite like the joy of seeing someone in their element, exuding passion for their craft – especially for such an underrepresented and often undervalued population.

The happiness that comes from creating is truly unmatched. I hope the results of our creative days in the studio makes your days and home brighter.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Twenty Two West started with $500 and an immense amount of dedication and hard work. To this day, I’ve never accepted outside funding to build my business; instead, I poured every cent back into the business. The early years were incredibly challenging, but my business and myself are both stronger as a result.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

When you are buying a Twenty Two West product, you’re buying something that is thoughtfully created by human hands. The elements of our jewelry and home decor lines have their roots in centuries-old crafts, from weaving to metalwork to ceramics. Although advances in technology have largely automated the manufacturing of these elements, it’s vital for myself and my business to maintain a connection to the artists who came before us. Making things by hand is not the easy way, but for us it’s the only way.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://twentytwowest.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twentytwowest/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twentytwowest