It turns out setting the table, at least for a certain set of aesthetically minded, well-traveled young women, is no longer a chore. That’s why Christina Bryant, the young founder of globally sourced home brand St. Frank, is setting her sights on tabletop with the launch of a new collection of glass and stoneware plates, cups, and serving vessels, launching today.
“We’re really serving a millennial customer, so we want to engage her at the points when she’s investing in her home, whether she’s getting married, buying a home by herself, having kids,” Bryant explains of the decision. “I think cooking and entertaining at home can be essential to all those things. ”
For the launch, Bryant, who started her company importing framed textile pieces from Africa and has since grown it to a full-fledged home brand, worked with artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico, to develop stoneware and glass that blend traditional techniques with modern shapes. “It’s very different form our past,” says Bryant. “We’re a really textile-heavy brand, focused on pattern and color, and here we did a more neutral palette. What’s consistent, though, is a real focus on craftsmanship and handwork. ”
Black clay plates.
Red clay serving pieces.
Indeed, these aren’t your grandmother’s table settings – they look more like one-off pieces picked up on far-flung travels, and that’s the point. “Nothing is perfect,” cautions Bryant – “and that’s intentional. That variation you get in handmade pieces is something that really comes through. ”
It’s also something that Bryant felt was underrepresented in a market trying to cater to young, well-traveled women looking to invest in their homes. “When I started St. Frank, I wanted to create a brand that spoke to my values,” says the founder. “I’m someone who loves to travel, who demands ethical sourcing, who wants authentic things off the beaten path. There wasn’t a home brand for me. I think that customer is fairly underserved in the decorative market. ”
Salt and pepper cellars.
Not only is Bryant excited to offer a new tabletop option for people like her, but, like any always-adaptive entrepreneur, she’s excited to see how her customer uses it. “I’m excited about this product because a lot of what happens in the home doesn’t get shared as much, even if you’re entertaining,” Bryant says. “But around the table, people are sharing. I think we’ll really be able to see how people are using the product. ”
Though hard goods may be a new category officially, Bryant is vigilant enough about maintaining a consistent brand identity that they feel like a natural – even needed – extension. “So much of the St. Frank lifestyle is centered around entertaining and the home being a space to create community and share values with the people who come into your home,” Bryant muses. “So in those ways, the tabletop genre was already underscoring the St. Frank brand. ”
