It wasn't too long ago that one can travel from Aleppo to Beirut or from Baghdad to Casa Blanca without crossing borders or requiring a passport. The North African, Levant and Arabian Peninsula spoke one language and honored similar traditions and values.
Read MoreThe year 2014 involved a dramatically unexpected course of events that altered the paths of my life and heart forever. As a child/adolescent psychologist, I was invited to join an international team of mentors on two trips to the Syrian/Turkish border. I am not Syrian or even Middle Eastern; I was a Westerner, born and raised in southern California, so it was an honor to even be invited.
Read MoreOur team works many hours to bring you high end quality products, but have you ever thought about what these products have been through to finally arrive at your home? Have you ever thought about the challenges of working with a country that is economically sanctioned by the United States? Or the nitty gritty complexity of logistics from Syria to Los Angeles?
Read MoreIn Hama, Mint + Laurel artisan Abdullah operates a family-run weaving workshop spanning three generations. While there were originally over 600 workshops in operation in Hama, Abdullah’s workshop is known to be the last one standing.
Read MoreThere’s a lot to say about Lebanon. It’s a country of incredible resilience, passion, and creativity. After the explosion in Beirut, we must remember what this Middle-Eastern gem brought to the global cultural table. As such, our team prides itself on teaming up with Azm Zaman, a local non-profit in Tripoli, Lebanon in the hopes of keeping the traditional arts alive.
Read MoreToday is World Refugee Day and it has a special meaning for the three founders of Mint and Laurel. We are an e-commerce and social enterprise, this is why a shop with purpose matters to us.
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