Tierra y Mano is grounded in the mission to empower low-income communities and support traditional arts and crafts made in the Americas. We recognize the vast inequalities present on this continent and hope to do a small part in bridging this gap by partnering with women of color who carry on cultural traditions of making. Through collaborating with artisans in the design process, we empower them to reach a larger audience and hone their skills to find greater success in the modern world.

The name Tierra y Mano represents our two core values, sustainability and social responsibility. Tierra translates to earth and mano to hand in Spanish. Every product we offer is handmade by artisans who are paid fair wages and have good working conditions. It is our goal to follow each product back to its source to ensure Tierra y Mano’s impact is regenerative to the earth. We will never participate in production methods that degrade soil, deplete resources, pollute the air and water, or harm our health. Over time, we hope our work will enrich the lives of everyone involved in our story, from farmer, to artisan, to you, our customer.

My inspiration for Tierra y Mano comes from a deep desire to honour and bring together multiple facets of my own life. I was born in California to a Brazilian mother who raised me speaking three languages. Childhood trips to Brazil enveloped me in a rich and lively culture, and gave me a taste for culture and travel. Later, I studied Comparative Literature and Sustainable Design at UC Berkeley. During my first year there I was exposed to a severely misogynistic environment that has made me acutely aware of women’s issues and deeply driven to fight for women’s rights. As a designer and an artist, I’m very familiar with the feeling of being undervalued, unsupported, and struggling with a consistent lack of opportunity. Tierra y Mano is a way for me to give women the opportunity to be valued for their craft. To support both art and women, two things that are still deeply underappreciated in today’s world. It allows me to have a positive impact, while weaving together the various elements that have shaped my identity.

      Stephanie Gardner

      stephanie@tierraymano.com