Design

Founder Shannon Sheedy has designed many of our products since The Dharma Door began. She learnt early on that asking artisans to make something beyond their skills and capacity placed undue stress on everyone involved. This is why her design process always begins with observing the artisans skills and the raw materials that are locally available to them.

Our artisan partners practice a range of techniques – from traditional basket and handloom weaving to the more modern crafts of macrame and crochet. After noting the craft skills in each community, Shannon then interprets what she sees into contemporary and functional products, designing from her home studio in Byron Bay. She is in constant contact with our NGO partner groups who are responsible for training the artisans how to make her designs, as she samples and refines each special new piece.

After many weeks - sometimes months - of sampling, she settles on a new product when she is happy with the level of quality, originality and ease of production.

Learn more about how we work.