Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanti Shahani de Venegas.
Shanti, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always been passionate about helping others. While in school, I volunteered often and was always the person who was helping when others needed me. I was raised in a diverse family and while my parents were from vastly different cultures – my Dad is from India and my Mom is from Mexico – their values were very much in line. They taught my siblings and myself to never take privilege for granted, and that having any kind of privilege means that you have a larger responsibility to do something for someone else. I was raised in an environment that encouraged us to be ourselves while always respecting and embracing our differences.
I started my professional career in marketing and communications in the private sector, and while I always enjoyed my work, my passion was always nonprofit. As soon as it was financially viable for my family to do without my paycheck, my very supportive husband, Ian Venegas, and I decided it was time for me to do what I truly wanted to do.
I worked in the development and organization of a Hispanic Film Festival in Dallas, and later on for an international organization that organized volunteer programs in 17 different countries. This sometimes meant that I was traveling for long periods of time, and while I was traveling, I would always meet local artisans who were creating beautiful, high-quality and unique handmade items that I wished could have a platform in the United States, so an idea started to form.
Balancing professional and personal life is also very high on my priorities, so while I wanted to continue to provide assistance, traveling for long periods of time away from my two young children was becoming more difficult. I also thought that a better way to provide assistance to people in developing countries was to help them have sustainable employment with fair compensation. Thus, the idea for Artisan Luxury was born.
I developed partnerships with artisans who were creating unique, high-quality items, going through a vetting process in which I made sure they were employing women to create their wares, that no child workforce was being employed, and of course worked with them for fair compensation. I also wanted to support local nonprofits, in an effort to also help within my own community.
We launched in July 2018 and have had continuing growth. I am pleased to say that we now work with multiple artisans in Mexico, providing them with a sustainable income. In 2019, we added the Mezcal Designs t-shirt line that was developed in conjunction with my friend Julieta Lira. And in early 2020, as I was exploring other options for adding unique embroidered products, COVID-19 happened.
The artisans that I was developing new partnerships with were left quite suddenly with little to no income, because they relied heavily on direct sales of their products in local markets or tourist destinations. All of that stopped. So, the embroidered masks were born and kind of took over! It has been an incredible journey. We are working to pick up where we left off so that the products that were in our pipeline can be incorporated back into our line.
Every month, we partner with a nonprofit that we donate a portion of the proceeds of all product sales to. So, at the same time that we provide sustainable employment to artisans, we also support our own community, focusing on organizations that are working on health and education initiatives for marginalized communities right here in DFW. This is for me, the most important part. I truly believe that if we all did what we can to help others, things would be better. It’s not a romantic idea. It’s a practical one. Doing something from someone else means you have developed empathy, that you are open to understanding others and not just think of your own needs and wants. The current campaign helps the Hispanic community, which is for obvious reasons, culturally important to me, but bringing about awareness is important to me as well. For instance, 40% of all COVID-19 infections in Dallas are Hispanic. I am hopeful that our artisanal masks generate a lot of support for our partner organizations Rosa es Rojo and AVANCE North Texas, which are helping people so much during this crisis.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We are lucky that all of our products have always been well received, and we have honestly had very few struggles. Sometimes the supply chain is a little more difficult, and making sure that artisans are consistent with the quality of items, but there have not been any major struggles.
The nature of handmade products is that sometimes there are small variations with the items, and with customers that are sometimes used to the mass-produced products, this can sometimes be difficult, but we are glad to say that most people appreciate that they have a unique piece, that was created with loving hands and that only they get to have.
Talented people in developing countries always find such a thrill in making their products. They are proud of them, and it is an incredible feeling for us to be able to help them put them in the hands of more consumers.
Please tell us about the company.
Our company is a socially responsible company. We sell handmade products, with a purpose. Our products are original, high-quality, providing fair, sustainable employment for an artisan in a developing country, and giving back to our own community right here at home.
I am proud to be able to change the lives of the families of the artisans we work with, while at the same time supporting incredible and worthy causes right here. Every single one of the partnerships we have with nonprofits – we are proud to support them because we know they are doing good work and that the funds we provide are being used to help many people. I am proud every day of the work we do. Most recently, I am proud that our embroidered artisanal masks campaign is helping Rosa es Rojo and AVANCE North Texas achieve their goals! They are both incredible organizations and I am proud to be able to support them.
What sets Artisan Luxury apart from others is that we are going beyond the bringing unique items into the hands of our customers, we are also helping others while we do that. It’s a great feeling, and a win-win for everyone involved!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are excited to continue expanding and incorporate the embroidered products that were on our pipeline prior to COVID-19. Stay tuned, we have lots of exciting new products coming, and more ways to help others!
Pricing:
- Artisanal Masks – $8-$10 USD
- Mezcal Designs Tshirts – $25-$35 USD
- Leather Wallets and Purses – $99 – $249 USD
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artisan-luxury.com
- Phone: (972) 762 0289
- Email: sales@artisan-luxury.com
- Instagram: @artisan_luxury
- Facebook: @ArtisanLuxury
Image Credit:
Alex Rain Photography
Gaby Lopez Photography
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