Janelle Pietrzak of
All Roads Studio was an early cheerleader for our brand, emerging from the occasional genius of the social algorithms. Although it turned out that we had both spent time working in creative fields for the same Philadelphia based retailer, our paths never crossed while there. When you start on the small business journey, you need all the help you can get, including people who have walked the path before you. Janelle is a straight shooter, giving honest insights to our frequent 'what the F is this' questions that have arisen along the way, as we continue to navigate building a brand / running a small business.
We were already fans of her beautiful hand-woven textiles, as well as the metal work pieces that Janelle's partner Robert creates for their Joshua Tree based brand. So when Janelle suggested we combine our brands through a collaborative project it was an easy yes from us.
For the collaboration, we took our Wingspread cushion silhouette, and paired All Roads' impactful patterened fabrics with our own signature use of utilitarian canvas and denim fabrics. The goal was to create a timeless product to keep and use for a long time. These principles of creating for longevity, and not designing based on trends, is an approach to design that we share across our two brands.
Along with our collaboration, we also asked Janelle to share some insights through our 'SITTING WITH' journal. Read on to get some insights on life, creativity and why she founded All Roads back in 2012. Plus more images of our collaboration, beatifully catured in the desert by Janelle and her team, as well as images of their recently opened DESERT MARKET in the Yucca Valley.
ALL ROADS DESERT MARKET - Yucca Valley
PC: Who are you & where do you call home
JP: My name is Janelle, I live in the Mojave Desert in Yucca Valley, California.
Janelle (Center) & Robert (Left)
PC: What inspired you to start All Roads and how has it evolved?
JP: Robert and I simply wanted to make quality home goods. It evolved from us making things we needed for our own home, to making products with our customers in mind. It has grown over the years from one-off items and custom projects to small scale manufacturing with artisan workshops around the world.
PC: Any advice you might give to anyone looking to start their own brand?
JP: I think if you offer something with a unique perspective, people will notice and your brand will have more longevity. Trends come and go, but a true vision and passion and flex and morph while keeping true to the brand.
PC: Peace Cabin is guided by the motto ‘For Insiders & Outsiders’. How do you relate that to your own life/lives?
JP: That is an easy one to relate to! My boyfriend Robert and I spend at least 1 month camping during the summer. We usually leave the desert in August for 4-5 weeks on the road, camping and living in our van. We escape the desert heat at that time and head north to find rivers and trees. Living in the desert, I think we spend a lot more time during the rest of the year outside as well. So for us, we are insiders & outsiders - so we need things in our lives that are durable and hard wearing.
PC: Can you share something that has inspired you in some way lately?
JP: Our camping trip this past summer to the olympic peninsula was so life changing, i think about it almost every day. We were off grid for periods of 7-10 days. It was so important to be unplugged and just live in nature. There were days we spent doing absolutely nothing except sitting in our chairs staring at the river, yet we were never bored. My average heart dropped nearly 8 points. I saw biologically how relaxing in nature can have a positive impact on my body. Now that we are back into the rush of the season, I try to think about those moments to lower my anxiety. I love what I do, but I also greatly value time away in the woods. It feels like really living to me.
PC: Finally, what have you chosen to share that you are ‘Sitting With' and why is it important to you?
JP: I am using my Peace Cabin/All Roads collab cushion while sitting at the check out counter at our new flagship store in the heart of old town Yucca Valley. We have this old metal shop stool, so the cushion really helps soften things up! (correct answer Janelle, correct answer...)
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