We had the good fortune of connecting with Isake T. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Isake, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Mood Living Co is a merging of three of my passions; interior design, culture and thriving communities. Throughout my 20’s I always had a desire to start my own business, but I’d talk myself out of it because I had a stable career and was earning a decent income. However, after a few years in the corporate world I knew it was time to take the leap but I didn’t know what I wanted to sell. That was until I took a life changing trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar during the pandemic. That trip completely blew my mind. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Not only is the country breathtakingly beautiful, but the handmade trinkets I saw in the markets; the paintings, the baskets, the carvings-I couldn’t get artistry and the vibrancy of the designs out of my mind. I remember bringing home so many items as souvenirs and telling a relative, I’m going to sell handmade items like what we saw in Africa.

What I love most about the handmade homewares niche, is the ability to support local communities, the sustainable nature of the products and the ability to export culture worldwide. It’s my hope that my customers will travel to some of the places my products are manufactured, but if they never do, they can certainly enjoy a piece of that country from the comfort of their homes.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m absolutely proud to be a company that supports fair trade produced products. I can’t wait to get on ground and meet with the artisans in person, they are truly my inspiration. The journey thus far has had it’s ups and downs, but its been so worth it and so much fun. The artisans I support are major source of motivation for myself. Seeing the impeccable work they produce consistently and their talent/creativity, drives me to continuously want to share their work with a wider audience.

Some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way; charge your price! Trust me your tribe/ideal client will pay it. Say yes to new opportunities and figure it out later and finally just start! Earning an income by doing what you love, it’s a feeling I can’t describe, it’s truly awesome!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my fav spots in Toronto are Kensington Market, the Danforth, Liberty Village. These neighborhoods are culturally diverse and you’re sure to experience amazing food. I’m a major foodie! I would also recommend the Royal Ontario Museum and the beautiful High Park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout my family! My parents definitely sparked my love for travel and learning about different cultures. I’ve been travelling for as long as I can remember and even when we weren’t travelling, I always remember us going to different restaurants trying different cultural foods. Also summers in NYC and then in Toronto where I now reside, there was no shortage of cultural festivals to enjoy. Also my grandmother and aunt! My family is from the Caribbean: Trinidad & Tobago to be exact. A lot of the baskets I retail, I’m sure my grandmother could make them. She was quite skilled at sewing and weaving, so I believe it’s in my gene pool to love handmade items lol.

Website: www.moodlivingco.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/moodlivingco

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.