Denise, tell us about yourself. What led to the creation of Shop Jitana? What does Jitana mean and why did you choose the name?

Jitana is a home décor brand that specializes in on-trend designs. I am of Salvadorian descent, but was born and raised in Los Angeles. The definition of Jitana is gypsy, a member of a tribe with no permanent home or as it describes her, a person with a wandering lifestyle. This is exhibited in my process for selecting products for Shop Jitana by traveling to different parts of the world.  

I am inspired by the beauty the world has to offer and is continuously dedicated to finding new, one of a kind pieces to introduce to her collection. I am not only enlivening people's homes, but also impacting the lives of these artisans from all over the world. I have traveled to some of the deepest parts of the world, and it is here where I met some of the most intriguing artisans who would help create my own collection of handmade goods. Shop Jitana is dedicated to being a sustainable, ethically sourced and fair trade business that brings thoughtful, unique pieces with a fair price. 

How do you go about sourcing the pieces for your site? 

I spend a lot of time in the places I source building a relationship with the artisans we work with. 

What inspires you most when it comes to design and your curation? 

My travels, embracing my heritage and the culture of the city I source in. 

How does your Salvadorian background influence the home decor you source?

I grew up traveling to Latin American countries, and I love how important family is in our culture. It's important for me to source from artisans because you really get to know everything about them since it's a deeper and more meaningful connection.

Inspired by art and craftsmanship from different parts of the world, where has been your favorite place to travel to? 

That is a tough question! I grew up traveling so I have so many favorites for different reasons, but I learned that I truly feel my best in nature. I love Thailand, Bolivia, Costa Rica to name a few.

Similar to LINNÉ, Shop Jitana is a sustainable, ethically sourced and fair trade business. Why was it important for you to make this a priority? 

Along my travels I met with artisans and felt like I needed to share their story and culture. I want to be able to help the success of small scale artisans to drive a better future for them, their families and community.