She Keeps Building
If you’ve been to one of our evenings in Carroll Gardens, you’ve probably met Afradh. Her shop, Ayoon, sits at 331 Smith Street, and it’s where our Coastal Clay Edit brings Tunisian designers to Brooklyn. Over time it has also become a place where we gather, talk late, and meet whoever walks in.
We became friends through the things we make and share, and then through all those hours in the store.
Fully present
Afradh is a humanitarian, an entrepreneur, and a mother, and she doesn’t pretend that balancing it all is easy. “I want to be fully present at work and fully present at home, something I’ve found incredibly challenging,” she told us. She’s still learning to go easier on herself.
Her son is the one who pulls her back.
“He’s the best thing I’ve ever made, hands down. He grounds me and reminds me that there’s beauty in everything around us.”
What success means
When we asked what success means, her answer was simple.
“Success is being able to sleep at night knowing all your loved ones are safe.”
Who made it
And she said something we’ll always remember, because it’s how we found each other:
“Knowing the people behind a piece changes how you wear it. When I receive a compliment, I love being able to share where it’s from and who made it.”
With love,
Kenza
