NY NOW Pre Show Planner Summer 2017

ARTISAN RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT:

Salaheddin

Crossing Borders To Foster Lasting Traditions

In 2001, after two years spent studying Arabic in Damascus, Jean-François Vaillant realized that

though his home was in France, his heart was pulled towards Syria. In his relatively brief time

there, he developed deep and meaningful relationships, particularly the bonds he forged with

artisans he met while sipping tea and watching them work in local glass and soap factories. The

obvious next step? Building a bridge between cultures by importing a diverse selection of their

handicrafts, and introducing the talent he had first encountered in Syria to a wider audience

across the world.

Sustaining Hope; Nurturing Creativity

Salaheddin launched in 2004 as a Fair Trade company keeping tradition alive and providing

families of artisans the opportunity to earn an income for their rare expertise. More importantly,

the company has nurtured craftspeople in a region continually plagued by conflict. Factories that

may have closed due to lack of a market can remain productive; in some cases, Vaillant has helped

relocate families and production facilities to safe havens. Plus, a focus on reusing materials and

minimizing energy consumption means Salaheddin sustains traditional craftsmanship in tandem

with sustaining the environment.

Globe Spanning Style Meets Time-Honored Craft

Their flagship products are home goods crafted from 100% recycled glass, mouth blown into

objects of the artisans’ own design. Intricate pendant lamps echo shades of sea and sand, accented

with aged iron frames. Lanterns drenched in glass pearls are crowned with gleaming brass or tin.

Glass balls in a vast array of colors are meant to catch the light and the eye. Ornate vases, carafes,

and glassware add a tabletop touch of artisanal elegance. And of course, there’s the top-selling

showstopper, the grapes lamp, evoking bunches of luscious grapes in a light fixture that is equally

spectacular as a centerpiece or perched on a side table.

This will be the fourth time Salaheddin has shown at NY NOW, and Vaillant enjoys the show’s

consistent quality and the prospect of meeting new customers and potential wholesale partners

from all over the globe.