Neutral Decor

This Ugandan Kitchen Basket has been handwoven by a Fair Trade women’s cooperative in Uganda using locally sourced sisal fibers, sweetgrass, raffia and organic dyes.

Each basket is crafted using a handmade process that produces vibrant colors and intricate designs. The artisan uses a needle and thread to wrap hand-dyed fibers into a tightly coiled, durable basket that takes several days to complete.

Our baskets are a modern way to add a little global chic to a kitchen counter or shelf. Every purchase directly supports our partner organization in Uganda that provides training and fair wage jobs to promote sustainable and scalable opportunities for their cooperative of women weavers in rural villages.

This Raffia Tray has been handwoven by a Fair Trade women’s cooperative in Rwanda using locally sourced natural raffia and sweetgrass.

Each tray is crafted using a complex and meticulous process that produces an intricate, handmade design. The artisan uses a needle and thread to wrap raffia fibers over stems of dried sweetgrass into a durable tray that takes several days to complete.

Our Raffia Trays are sized well for serving drinks, breakfast in bed, or organizing a coffee table or dresser top. Every purchase directly supports our partner organization in Rwanda that provides training and fair wage jobs to promote sustainable and scalable opportunities for their cooperative of women weavers in rural villages.

This sweet Alpaca Ornament has been handmade in the Arequipa region of Southern Peru. Each ornament has been adorned with hand-sewn details and covered in luxurious, soft and natural alpaca fiber.

Alpacas are members of the South American camelid family. They are indigenous to the highlands of the Andes where their breeding is a vital component of the economy for a large sector of the population. Alpacas are prized for their natural, silky and soft fiber that is biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

Alpacas are famous for their durable fiber. They are natural vegetarians and graze on vegetation typically found on high altitude moorlands. Fewer than one alpaca exists per acre; their impact on the environment is minimal. No harm is caused to the alpacas during the sheering process, which occurs only once every 12 months.

These small Alpaca Ornaments are a natural and cute holiday decoration. They can also be used as a sweet table decoration.

This sweet Alpaca Ornament has been handmade in the Arequipa region of Southern Peru. Each ornament has been adorned with hand-sewn details and covered in luxurious, soft and natural alpaca fiber.

Alpacas are members of the South American camelid family. They are indigenous to the highlands of the Andes where their breeding is a vital component of the economy for a large sector of the population. Alpacas are prized for their natural, silky and soft fiber that is biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

Alpacas are famous for their durable fiber. They are natural vegetarians and graze on vegetation typically found on high altitude moorlands. Fewer than one alpaca exists per acre; their impact on the environment is minimal. No harm is caused to the alpacas during the sheering process, which occurs only once every 12 months.

These small Alpaca Ornaments are a natural and cute holiday decoration. They can also be used as a sweet table decoration.

Our 100% baby alpaca throw hails from Peru. Alpacas are members of the South American camelid family which also includes llamas, guanacos and vicunas. They are indigenous to the highlands of the Andes where their breeding is a vital component of the economy for a large sector of the population. Alpacas are prized for their natural, luxurious, silky, soft and durable fiber that is biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

Alpacas are bred especially for their fiber. They are natural vegetarians and graze on vegetation typically found on high altitude moorlands. Fewer than one alpaca exists per acre; their impact on the environment is therefore minimal. No harm is caused to the alpacas during the sheering process, which occurs only once every 12 months. After the fiber is collected it is hand sorted into grades by a cooperative of highly trained women. The very finest grade is called “baby alpaca,” which is reserved for our lightweight and warm throws.

Our alpaca throws are a luxuriously soft addition to your home or travel bag. Every purchase directly supports our artisan partners in Peru, who sustainably source and weave each throw for Meridian.

Our 100% baby alpaca throw hails from Peru. Alpacas are members of the South American camelid family which also includes llamas, guanacos and vicunas. They are indigenous to the highlands of the Andes where their breeding is a vital component of the economy for a large sector of the population. Alpacas are prized for their natural, luxurious, silky, soft and durable fiber that is biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

Alpacas are bred especially for their fiber. They are natural vegetarians and graze on vegetation typically found on high altitude moorlands. Fewer than one alpaca exists per acre; their impact on the environment is therefore minimal. No harm is caused to the alpacas during the sheering process, which occurs only once every 12 months. After the fiber is collected it is hand sorted into grades by a cooperative of highly trained women. The very finest grade is called “baby alpaca,” which is reserved for our lightweight and warm throws.

Our alpaca throws are a luxuriously soft addition to your home or travel bag. Every purchase directly supports our artisan partners in Peru, who sustainably source and weave each throw for Meridian.

Our 100% baby alpaca throw hails from Peru. Alpacas are members of the South American camelid family which also includes llamas, guanacos and vicunas. They are indigenous to the highlands of the Andes where their breeding is a vital component of the economy for a large sector of the population. Alpacas are prized for their natural, luxurious, silky, soft and durable fiber that is biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

Alpacas are bred especially for their fiber. They are natural vegetarians and graze on vegetation typically found on high altitude moorlands. Fewer than one alpaca exists per acre; their impact on the environment is therefore minimal. No harm is caused to the alpacas during the sheering process, which occurs only once every 12 months. After the fiber is collected it is hand sorted into grades by a cooperative of highly trained women. The very finest grade is called “baby alpaca,” which is reserved for our lightweight and warm throws.

Our alpaca throws are a luxuriously soft addition to your home or travel bag. Every purchase directly supports our artisan partners in Peru, who sustainably source and weave each throw for Meridian.

Our 100% baby alpaca throw hails from Peru. Alpacas are members of the South American camelid family which also includes llamas, guanacos and vicunas. They are indigenous to the highlands of the Andes where their breeding is a vital component of the economy for a large sector of the population. Alpacas are prized for their natural, luxurious, silky, soft and durable fiber that is biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

Alpacas are bred especially for their fiber. They are natural vegetarians and graze on vegetation typically found on high altitude moorlands. Fewer than one alpaca exists per acre; their impact on the environment is therefore minimal. No harm is caused to the alpacas during the sheering process, which occurs only once every 12 months. After the fiber is collected it is hand sorted into grades by a cooperative of highly trained women. The very finest grade is called “baby alpaca,” which is reserved for our lightweight and warm throws.

Our alpaca throws are a luxuriously soft addition to your home or travel bag. Every purchase directly supports our artisan partners in Peru, who sustainably source and weave each throw for Meridian.

Our Highlands Pillow features a one-of-a-kind textile from Chiapas, Mexico. Each textile has been handmade by a local women’s cooperative who have been weaving for multiple generations.

Our weaving partners have a reputation of having one of the finest and oldest weaving traditions in all of Mexico. The textiles and styles of dress from this remote village show a refined texture and detailed, knotted patterns made of handspun cotton. Each design draws upon the weavers’ mythologies and their perceptions of the natural world. Designs are passed down from mother to daughter orally, with no written patterns on record.

This cooperative of weavers are masters at weaving on a backstrap loom, which gets its name from the way the loom is attached to the weaver’s body. At one end, the artisan ties the bottom of the loom around her lower back using a wide leather belt. The weaver attaches the other end to a fixed and sturdy object such as a tree. Backstrap looms are lightweight and portable, making for easy transport and flexibility to weave whenever and wherever the artisan pleases.

Our Highlands Pillow collection has a special story to tell about cultural heritage, textile artistry and the artisan handmade process. Each piece has been created in a Fair Trade environment, and provides direct income to our artisan partners in Southern Mexico.

Our Highlands Pillow features a one-of-a-kind textile from Chiapas, Mexico. Each textile has been handmade by a local women’s cooperative who have been weaving for multiple generations.

Our weaving partners have a reputation of having one of the finest and oldest weaving traditions in all of Mexico. The textiles and styles of dress from this remote village show a refined texture and detailed, knotted patterns made of handspun cotton. Each design draws upon the weavers’ mythologies and their perceptions of the natural world. Designs are passed down from mother to daughter orally, with no written patterns on record.

This cooperative of weavers are masters at weaving on a backstrap loom, which gets its name from the way the loom is attached to the weaver’s body. At one end, the artisan ties the bottom of the loom around her lower back using a wide leather belt. The weaver attaches the other end to a fixed and sturdy object such as a tree. Backstrap looms are lightweight and portable, making for easy transport and flexibility to weave whenever and wherever the artisan pleases.

Our Highlands Pillow collection has a special story to tell about cultural heritage, textile artistry and the artisan handmade process. Each piece has been created in a Fair Trade environment, and provides direct income to our artisan partners in Southern Mexico.

Our Highlands Pillow features a one-of-a-kind textile from Chiapas, Mexico. Each textile has been handmade by a local women’s cooperative who have been weaving for multiple generations.

Our weaving partners have a reputation of having one of the finest and oldest weaving traditions in all of Mexico. The textiles and styles of dress from this remote village show a refined texture and detailed, knotted patterns made of handspun cotton. Each design draws upon the weavers’ mythologies and their perceptions of the natural world. Designs are passed down from mother to daughter orally, with no written patterns on record.

This cooperative of weavers are masters at weaving on a backstrap loom, which gets its name from the way the loom is attached to the weaver’s body. At one end, the artisan ties the bottom of the loom around her lower back using a wide leather belt. The weaver attaches the other end to a fixed and sturdy object such as a tree. Backstrap looms are lightweight and portable, making for easy transport and flexibility to weave whenever and wherever the artisan pleases.

Our Highlands Pillow collection has a special story to tell about cultural heritage, textile artistry and the artisan handmade process. Each piece has been created in a Fair Trade environment, and provides direct income to our artisan partners in Southern Mexico.

Mudcloth, or bogolanfini, is traditionally made by the Bamana people of Mali using materials and dyes locally sourced in the region. The technique dates back to the 12th century when the cloth was made to be a highly symbolic and utilitarian textile.

The creation of mudcloth is an entirely by-hand, multiple step process that takes over a year to complete. The women of a household spin cotton into a thread before it is hand woven on a narrow strip vertical loom. The narrow strips are sewn together to create the desired width for each panel. To dye the cloth, iron-rich mud is collected from streams and ponds, and is fermented for an entire year until it turns black. The makers then soak the cloth in a liquid made of the leaves of native trees, which dyes the cloth and allows for the tannins in the mud to bind the cotton. A female artist outlines the resist pattern with a stick or metal tool and then the entire background is covered with the fermented mud. This meticulous application is repeated twice to ensure a dark, rich color.

Each piece of mudcloth has a specific story to tell about cultural heritage and the artisan handmade process. Our mudcloth pillows are a luxurious addition to your home, steeped in tradition and craftsmanship.

This set of four pretty cocktail napkins have been handwoven in India using the finest imported Belgian flax. Our pure linen napkins feature an eyelash fringe on their side edges, and they have been stone washed to soft perfection, creating added texture and character.

Our Fair Trade artisan partner employs a full-time team of over 85 artisans in Kerala and New Delhi, India to create this line of cocktail napkins. The craftspeople receive on-site training and above-average wages, free lunch and access to interest-free loans. Using the imported Belgian flax, the team weaves the linen on traditional Indian handlooms. They dye the linen using a multi-generational process before washing the textiles with volcanic stone in order to loosen the linen’s natural fiber and create the napkins’ soft finish.

Our Block Print Napkins (Set of 4) have been handmade by a family of master artisans in Rajasthan, India. Using a technique that has been passed down through multiple generations, each napkin is printed by hand using an ancient process. 

To begin, a master craftsperson carves the desired pattern -- or fragment of a pattern that will later be combined -- out of a solid piece of locally sourced wood. After the block is completed, a second artisan mixes natural dyes before he dips each block and presses it down onto a long strip of cloth. Designs that contain multiple colors or complex images often require several different blocks to complete the pattern. This art form requires an incredibly steady hand and a precise, repetitive movement to execute a master-level block print.

Our collection of block print napkins is made entirely by hand, including the printing, cutting and sewing of each individual napkin at the family’s facility in Rajasthan. Every purchase directly supports our artisan partners in India. 

Our Block Print Napkins (Set of 4) have been handmade by a family of master artisans in Rajasthan, India. Using a technique that has been passed down through multiple generations, each napkin is printed by hand using an ancient process. 

To begin, a master craftsperson carves the desired pattern -- or fragment of a pattern that will later be combined -- out of a solid piece of locally sourced wood. After the block is completed, a second artisan mixes natural dyes before he dips each block and presses it down onto a long strip of cloth. Designs that contain multiple colors or complex images often require several different blocks to complete the pattern. This art form requires an incredibly steady hand and a precise, repetitive movement to execute a master-level block print.

Our collection of block print napkins is made entirely by hand, including the printing, cutting and sewing of each individual napkin at the family’s facility in Rajasthan. Every purchase directly supports our artisan partners in India. 

Our Block Print Napkins (Set of 4) have been handmade by a family of master artisans in Rajasthan, India. Using a technique that has been passed down through multiple generations, each napkin is printed by hand using an ancient process. 

To begin, a master craftsperson carves the desired pattern -- or fragment of a pattern that will later be combined -- out of a solid piece of locally sourced wood. After the block is completed, a second artisan mixes natural dyes before he dips each block and presses it down onto a long strip of cloth. Designs that contain multiple colors or complex images often require several different blocks to complete the pattern. This art form requires an incredibly steady hand and a precise, repetitive movement to execute a master-level block print.

Our collection of block print napkins is made entirely by hand, including the printing, cutting and sewing of each individual napkin at the family’s facility in Rajasthan. Every purchase directly supports our artisan partners in India. 

Our Chiapas Pillow collection is made using woven wool textiles created by master artisans in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. Each textile has been handwoven on a backstrap loom by a mother and adult daughter team that have been weaving for multiple generations. They learned to weave from their elders and tell us that “weaving and family are the two things that keep [them] going” and “the reason [they] are alive.”

Our artisan partners are masters at weaving on a backstrap loom. This type of loom gets its name from the way it is attached to the weaver’s body. At one end, the artisan ties the bottom of the loom around her lower back using a wide leather belt. On the other end of the loom, the weaver attaches it to a fixed and sturdy object such as a tree.

Our partners create each textile panel from scratch: They gather the wool, clean and card it by hand, and use a handheld drop spindle to spin the yarns into delicate threads. They then weave the wool on the backstrap loom. Each textile panel takes 8 to 10 days to produce and yields just three pillows. The design features the textile’s subtle and natural blend of undyed ivory and handspun grey wool. 

Our Chiapas Pillow is a perfect neutral and textural accent for a sofa, chair, or bed. Every purchase directly benefits our artisan partners in Chiapas, Mexico.

Our Chiapas Pillow collection is made using woven wool textiles created by master artisans in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. Each textile has been handwoven on a backstrap loom by a mother and adult daughter team that have been weaving for multiple generations. They learned to weave from their elders and tell us that “weaving and family are the two things that keep [them] going” and “the reason [they] are alive.”

Our artisan partners are masters at weaving on a backstrap loom. This type of loom gets its name from the way it is attached to the weaver’s body. At one end, the artisan ties the bottom of the loom around her lower back using a wide leather belt. On the other end of the loom, the weaver attaches it to a fixed and sturdy object such as a tree.

Our partners create each textile panel from scratch: They gather the wool, clean and card it by hand, and use a handheld drop spindle to spin the yarns into delicate threads. They then weave the wool on the backstrap loom. Each textile panel takes 8 to 10 days to produce and yields just three pillows. The design features the textile’s subtle and natural blend of handspun, undyed ivory wool. 

Our Chiapas Pillow is a perfect neutral and textural accent for a sofa, chair, or bed. Every purchase directly benefits our artisan partners in Chiapas, Mexico.

Our Huipil Pillow features a fragment from a one-of-a-kind huipil textile from the Tecpan region of Guatemala. To empower and champion the indigenous artisan population of Guatemala, we have partnered with a non-profit organization, Mayan Families, for this special collection. Meridian will donate 20% of every purchase from our Huipil Collection in support of the organization’s programs that provide job training, education, family services, healthcare, and the opportunity for stable work.

Traditionally, a huipil is a garment worn by indigenous women of Central America. This loose-fitting, square-shaped tunic is often made from two or three rectangular pieces of fabric that are joined together with holes for the head and arms. They are typically woven on a backstrap loom and adorned with colorful, hand embroidered designs.

The huipil has been worn by women in the Mesoamerican region since well before the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s. Most often seen worn by the Mayans in Guatemala (such as this piece) as well as Central and Southern Mexico, the huipil remains the most common female garment still in use today. Many women create special versions of huipil for ceremonial occasions but they also function as an everyday blouse. The designs featured on each huipil vary from community to community, as each region has their own distinct colors, symbols and lengths representing one’s religion and tribal affiliation.

Each huipil has a specific story to tell about cultural heritage, the woman who wore it and the artisan handmade process. Our Huipil Pillows are a luxurious addition to your home, steeped in tradition and craftsmanship. Every purchase will have a direct impact on artisan initiatives in Guatemala, and we are delighted to partner with Mayan Families to support their organization in this effort.

Our Huipil Pillow features a fragment from a one-of-a-kind huipil textile from the Tecpan region of Guatemala. To empower and champion the indigenous artisan population of Guatemala, we have partnered with a non-profit organization, Mayan Families, for this special collection. Meridian will donate 20% of every purchase from our Huipil Collection in support of the organization’s programs that provide job training, education, family services, healthcare, and the opportunity for stable work.

Traditionally, a huipil is a garment worn by indigenous women of Central America. This loose-fitting, square-shaped tunic is often made from two or three rectangular pieces of fabric that are joined together with holes for the head and arms. They are typically woven on a backstrap loom and adorned with colorful, hand embroidered designs.

The huipil has been worn by women in the Mesoamerican region since well before the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s. Most often seen worn by the Mayans in Guatemala (such as this piece) as well as Central and Southern Mexico, the huipil remains the most common female garment still in use today. Many women create special versions of huipil for ceremonial occasions but they also function as an everyday blouse. The designs featured on each huipil vary from community to community, as each region has their own distinct colors, symbols and lengths representing one’s religion and tribal affiliation.

Each huipil has a specific story to tell about cultural heritage, the woman who wore it and the artisan handmade process. Our Huipil Pillows are a luxurious addition to your home, steeped in tradition and craftsmanship. Every purchase will have a direct impact on artisan initiatives in Guatemala, and we are delighted to partner with Mayan Families to support their organization in this effort.

Mudcloth, or bogolanfini, is traditionally made by the Bamana people of Mali using materials and dyes locally sourced in the region. The technique dates back to the 12th century when the cloth was made to be a highly symbolic and utilitarian textile.

The creation of mudcloth is an entirely by-hand, multiple step process that takes over a year to complete. The women of a household spin cotton into a thread before it is hand woven on a narrow strip vertical loom. The narrow strips are sewn together to create the desired width for each panel. To dye the cloth, iron-rich mud is collected from streams and ponds, and is fermented for an entire year until it turns black. The makers then soak the cloth in a liquid made of the leaves of native trees, which dyes the cloth and allows for the tannins in the mud to bind the cotton. A female artist outlines the resist pattern with a stick or metal tool and then the entire background is covered with the fermented mud. This meticulous application is repeated twice to ensure a dark, rich color.

Each piece of mudcloth has a specific story to tell about cultural heritage and the artisan handmade process. Our mudcloth pillows are a luxurious addition to your home, steeped in tradition and craftsmanship.

Mudcloth, or bogolanfini, is traditionally made by the Bamana people of Mali using materials and dyes locally sourced in the region. The technique dates back to the 12th century when the cloth was made to be a highly symbolic and utilitarian textile.

The creation of mudcloth is an entirely by-hand, multiple step process that takes over a year to complete. The women of a household spin cotton into a thread before it is hand woven on a narrow strip vertical loom. The narrow strips are sewn together to create the desired width for each panel. To dye the cloth, iron-rich mud is collected from streams and ponds, and is fermented for an entire year until it turns black. The makers then soak the cloth in a liquid made of the leaves of native trees, which dyes the cloth and allows for the tannins in the mud to bind the cotton. A female artist outlines the resist pattern with a stick or metal tool and then the entire background is covered with the fermented mud. This meticulous application is repeated twice to ensure a dark, rich color.

Each piece of mudcloth has a specific story to tell about cultural heritage and the artisan handmade process. Our mudcloth pillows are a luxurious addition to your home, steeped in tradition and craftsmanship.

Mudcloth, or bogolanfini, is traditionally made by the Bamana people of Mali using materials and dyes locally sourced in the region. The technique dates back to the 12th century when the cloth was made to be a highly symbolic and utilitarian textile.

The creation of mudcloth is an entirely by-hand, multiple step process that takes over a year to complete. The women of a household spin cotton into a thread before it is hand woven on a narrow strip vertical loom. The narrow strips are sewn together to create the desired width for each panel. To dye the cloth, iron-rich mud is collected from streams and ponds, and is fermented for an entire year until it turns black. The makers then soak the cloth in a liquid made of the leaves of native trees, which dyes the cloth and allows for the tannins in the mud to bind the cotton. A female artist outlines the resist pattern with a stick or metal tool and then the entire background is covered with the fermented mud. This meticulous application is repeated twice to ensure a dark, rich color.

Each piece of mudcloth has a specific story to tell about cultural heritage and the artisan handmade process. Our mudcloth pillows are a luxurious addition to your home, steeped in tradition and craftsmanship.

Mudcloth, or bogolanfini, is traditionally made by the Bamana people of Mali using materials and dyes locally sourced in the region. The technique dates back to the 12th century when the cloth was made to be a highly symbolic and utilitarian textile. Each Vintage Mudcloth Pillow features a unique panel cut from the same one-of-a-kind textile; No two are exactly alike and pattern placement may vary from pillow to pillow.

The creation of mudcloth is an entirely by-hand, multiple step process that takes over a year to complete. The women of a household spin cotton into a thread before it is hand woven on a narrow strip vertical loom. The narrow strips are sewn together to create the desired width for each panel. To dye the cloth, iron-rich mud is collected from streams and ponds, and is fermented for an entire year until it turns black. The makers then soak the cloth in a liquid made of the leaves of native trees, which dyes the cloth and allows for the tannins in the mud to bind the cotton. A female artist outlines the resist pattern with a stick or metal tool and then the entire background is covered with the fermented mud. This meticulous application is repeated twice to ensure a dark, rich color.

Each piece of mudcloth has a specific story to tell about cultural heritage and the artisan handmade process. Our mudcloth pillows are a luxurious addition to your home, steeped in tradition and craftsmanship.