Today we’d like to introduce you to Lark Champion. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Lark Champion’s founder and creative director, Larkin Lanen, grew up exploring the rich world of international textile arts. As a child, she traveled with her mother, Laurie Griesedieck Ahner, a folk art collector and owner of Galerie Bonheur, in search of undiscovered masterpieces. While her mother looked for new items to add to her gallery, Lark fell in love with the fabrics of these cultures. Lark first worked as an interior designer – incorporating her global textile finds into traditional and modern spaces. After noticing a gap in the home goods market for her distinctive aesthetic, Lark designed custom pillows and furnished the beginnings of Larkin Lane. Since its inception in 2015, Lark has deepened its relationships with artisan partners and expanded to offer women’s and men’s apparel, accessories, and more. But her aims have remained the same: Honor artisans who stitch culture, customs, and quality together by hand and share their skills and stories with others.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Anything worth doing is going to have obstacles! My mom always says, “If it were easy, everyone would do it!” I remind myself that my challenges are nothing compared to what most of my artisan partners face daily. And if they can keep going and keep growing their small businesses, I can do the same with mine. The challenges I face are ensuring the artists receive payment safely, fairly, and timely. They sometimes don’t have bank accounts and often live in small villages where they have to travel to larger cities with a Western Union. Shipping can be a challenge as well. For example, my partner in Ukraine has to have her pieces driven to Poland because the Ukrainian airspace has been closed. Again – any challenge I have is put right into perspective when I think about Natalie! The biggest challenge – that motivates me and my mission to preserve authentic textile traditions is when brands copy the work of true artisans and don’t give them credit or compensation. “Artisanal-inspired” pieces may preserve a motif but don’t preserve the technique or craftsmanship or benefit the artisans. By partnering directly with global textile artisans, Larkin Lane is committed to fair trade practices and creating an exquisite product through an ethical and sustainable process.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I collaborate with textile artisans in Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Rwanda. Combining ancient textile craftsmanship with a chic and modern aesthetic, we create exquisite apparel, accessories, and home decor. We believe that textiles are text. They tell the stories of our past – how we lived, celebrated, and marked life’s most important milestones. Our mission is to share those stories, preserve textile traditions, and promote the dignified employment of artisans worldwide.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory in St. Louis would have to be the Christmas pageants my grandmother would put on in their home on Squires Lane. Local artists made elaborate sets, props, and costumes. We would have to start rehearsing our lines in August! The cast included her many children (10!), grandchildren, cousins, and neighbors. It was a labor of love for my grandmother, who had always wanted to be a Rockette – and even more of a gift of love from my grandfather, who would do anything to make her happy!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.larkinlane.com
- Instagram: @larkinlanedesigns
- Linkedin: Lark Champion
Image Credits
Laurie Ahner, Berlin Juarez
