Our best trips for Interior Designers

Our trips provide the perfect opportunity for interior designers to be visually inspired while sourcing one-of-a-kind artisan-made home decor items directly from the makers. We have hosted multiple designers on our group trips, including Nguyet Chau of Studio Nth and Laleh and Alessandro Latini of Sobu.

Here’s what Nguyet had to say about her experience on our Colombia retreat:

“Attending Thread Caravan's workshop in Barichara was a truly special experience for me as a designer. In addition to sourcing unique pieces directly from artisans, learning about their personal stories and passions made the experience even more meaningful. Such a deep connection with the creators is rare in typical design sourcing. Since returning home, I’ve commissioned custom pieces that beautifully showcase their artistry. I’m grateful to Thread Caravan for fostering the connections that made this possible.”

And here’s what Alessandro had to say about their experience on our Oaxaca Ceramics retreat:

“My wife and I own a furniture and home decor store in Oakland, CA and love beautiful objects, travel and food! We had been getting Thread Caravan’s inspiring trip emails for probably a year or two and finally decided to book Oaxaca for the ceramics, weaving and mezcal trip. Honestly I don’t love the idea of group travel, but this was something different and very special! From our cozy, beautiful and down to earth hotel where we gathered each morning for delicious handmade breakfasts to our incredible visits to the homes and workshops of amazing local highly skilled artisans everything was well organized and so authentic, we were deeply moved by our experiences! We met artists and collectives that were designing both traditional and modern designs with traditional techniques, it was easy to find pieces for our shop that we knew our customers would love as well and not to mention the inspiration we took back with us of so much beauty and authenticity! Can't wait to go on our next trip!!’

Below, we share our top trips for interior designers to source a variety of high quality handmade items directly from the artisan makers.

Jaipur, India Trip

We always tell people India is next level when it comes to craft. In Jaipur in particular, you’ll find a huge variety of textiles including flat weave rugs, as well as metal smiths and artisans who work carving wool and marble. Our trip itinerary takes guests to notable design studios, where guests will find unique homewares unseen elsewhere. And of course we must mention — the Pink City is known for their extravagant design details; inspiration abounds!

MOROCCO WOOL WEAVING WORKSHOP

This retreat starts and ends in Marrakech, a hub for artisan wares and design studios. Intricate handmade tiles, metalwork, palm furniture, pile rugs, pottery and more! Extend your trip for a few extra days in Marrakech, during which our team can share design-forward suggestions with you. During the trip itself, we will be working closely with an artisan rug cooperative, whom can create custom rug collaborations with design clients.

CRAFTS of COLOMBIA TRIP

During our Colombia retreat, we take guests to Barichara, a creative hub known to few people outside of Colombia. What does this mean? The unique crafts found here haven’t made their way to the mainstream market yet.
Barichara crafts emphasize natural materials. Highlights include artisanal paper light fixtures, up cycled woven rugs, rustic earthenware pottery and more! Extend the trip with a few days in Bogota for extra sourcing opportunities.

OAxaca Ceramics + TExtiles trip

As you all have likely heard, Oaxaca is home to many diverse craft communities, working with local materials to create textiles, pottery, woven baskets, furniture and more. Our Ceramics + Textiles retreat is the perfect introduction to creatives ranging from traditional artisans to contemporary designers elevating the craft practice. As most of our team is based here, we take guests to the best of the best, and have contacts and suggestions that extend far beyond our scheduled retreat days.

Questions? Get in touch.

We’d be happy to share more information about any of these trips or others.