It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since Rachel and I were in my garage studio holding a glass of wine with one hand and pressing “publish” on the site with the other. The day The Citizenry went live we were coming off two back-to-back all nighters and were too tired to really think through what that meant or what might be in store for us in the years ahead. We knew we wanted to create beautiful products that elevated artisans around the world, but we didn’t know just how important that mission would turn out to be.

Since that day, The Citizenry has been the hardest work AND greatest adventure of our lives. Needless to say, we’ve learned a ton over these crazy couple of years. From which berries and bugs make the best dyes to what flood seasons and community festivals will impact shipping, we’ve picked up tidbits we never thought we’d need know.

But the real learning of this journey has been learning to see the world with new eyes.

The Citizenry has taught me just how small this world can really feel, if you let it. It has ingrained the importance of traditions and knowing where I came from.

Most importantly, these last two years have taught me that we’re all more similar than we are different. And in today’s age of such cultural divide, that’s one of the biggest lessons I want to pass on. 
 

We all adorn our bodies with fabric. We all listen to music. We all fill our homes with objects of meaning. No matter the region or culture, at our core, we’re all the same. And artisanal goods are the artifacts that remind us of that common humanity.

It is my hope that my daughter grows up in a world where this creativity, and the crafts that come along with it, are celebrated. I want her to know the power these two forces have to bring all different types of people together.

We’re often asked how the name “The Citizenry” came to be, and the answer is quite simple: we wanted a name that celebrates the people behind the products. The Citizenry represents the hundreds of individuals that work together across cultures and continents to bring our collections to life.  

We practice different religions, speak different languages, and live in different corners of the world, but we’re bound by a common mission to preserve and progress craftsmanship and creativity around the world.

And on our 2nd birthday, we’d like to raise a glass to every member of The Citizenry (including you, dear reader). Together, we’re building something truly beautiful. I’m so grateful I get to spend my days working on building this dream.

Thank you for being a part of the journey. So far, it’s been one helluva ride.

Carly Nance, Co-Founder

A few snapshots...