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Founder Shannon Sheedy has designed many of our products since The Dharma Door began. She learnt early on that asking artisans to make something beyond their capacity placed undue stress on everyone involved. This is why her design process always begins with observing the artisans skills, their environment and the raw materials that are locally available to them.
Artisans practice a range of techniques – from traditional basket and handloom weaving, to the more modern crafts of macrame and crochet. After noting the craft skills in each community, Shannon then interprets what she sees into contemporary and functional products, designing from her home studio in Byron Bay.
She is in constant contact with our NGO partner groups – who ultimately train the artisans how to make her designs – as she samples and refines each special new piece. After many weeks, sometimes months of sampling, she settles on a new product when she is happy with the level of quality, originality and ease of production.
Beautiful natural fibres are the essence of The Dharma Door products. Shannon has a personal affection for woven texture and her favourite raw materials include jute and hemp; hand-loomed cotton and vegetable tanned leather.
Limiting the impact on artisan communities and their environment is important to Shannon, which is also why she has a preference for locally grown natural fibres and natural dyes. She is passionate about not polluting the waterways where our artisan partners make our stunning products so they and their families can thrive in a healthy environment.
After confirming the highest quality sustainable materials can be sourced, we place an order with the NGOs who source, store and distribute the fibres to the artisans. Shannon’s approach means that we can achieve and maintain a superior level of quality and craftsmanship at every stage – a process that has taken more than a decade to perfect – and is why each product resonates with a very special touch.
