Meet Samta Jones: Founder of Studio Pastiche

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samta Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Samta, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Working in a corporate setting has been enriching and I learned a lot. However, I found that I was more obligated to fulfilling my goals for a corporation, rather than those in life. I was gaining experience, getting better at my job, but was unable to check off any life goals. I’ve always wanted to have my own shop where I’d be able to sell beautiful items that I had collected from my travels. I wanted to sell clothing that boasted craftsmanship from artisans around the world, but in a modern silhouette. My husband finally talked me into leaving my job and taking responsibility to do the things that I had dreamed of. We traveled for a year and a half, spending time in Europe and India. We spent nine months in India exploring some of its most remote villages. It was on this trip that I was able to reconnect with some artisans in a small desert village in the Rann of Kutch. A decade prior to that, I was in my senior year at Parsons School of Design, and I was able to work with these same artisans. During this period, I formed a special relationship with them while doing my thesis research. I spent time learning their techniques and getting to know them. The work that went into the making of their textiles appealed to me. Their techniques had been tested for hundreds of years and their designs looked just as fresh. This was not only a pivotal stage in my thesis, but also the corner stone for building my own business almost a decade later. I finally took the plunge and started making my dreams come true. All the designs from the drawing board became a reality. It took a lot more research and prototyping to make sure that the products were quality items, but here I am today, with a store of my own, selling the items that I had always dreamed of. That was the process behind starting Studio Pastiche.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The products we sell are all artisan made and unique. I believe that when a product is made by hand, it has soul and inherently sets itself apart. Our unusual combinations of traditional and contemporary designs are our signature style. Each product is made with attention to detail and is designed with utmost care to become an elegant, statement piece. Each set of products is made in a small batch and in limited runs. We make pillows, handbags, and ponchos in fresh jewel-like tones that are meant to brighten up whatever they adorn. Our current set of products is made using a resist-block printing technique where each pattern undergoes a fourteen stage printing process and takes roughly two weeks to complete. Unlike other processes of printing, where the color is applied directly to the cloth, these fabrics are first printed with a resist paste (a paste that masks off the actual pattern of the block used) and then dyed. The process is repeated multiple times with different kinds of dyes, to achieve the final pattern. The process is gradual and time consuming. The symbiotic relationship I share with the artisans along with the perfect nature of the the textile itself; its sheen, its fall, and its delightful softness make me so excited about what I do. It has enabled me to create a product that is truly different. That being said, I have found that most people feel a lot more comfortable buying into established trends and brands. Creating a niche for myself and reaching an audience that is looking for unique statement pieces has been my struggle. Overcoming this hurdle has been one of the biggest challenges of my life, but one that every business owner and designer has to endure. People often ask how one overcomes these challenges, but there is no magic answer. I believe that if you persist, you get what you want.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Arizona has so much to offer from amazing landscapes to good food and shopping. Sedona and the Grand Canyon would be on the list for sure. We have many trails we like to mountain bike and hike and we generally take our friends on some sort of outdoor adventure. There is a great burger place in Sedona that we hit post ride. It’s called The Hudson. For shopping, I generally take them to Scottsdale. One of my favorite places to shop for unique items is Objects.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Studio Pastiche would not exist without the constant support and encouragement from my parents and my husband. My mother has been my partner in crime through every stage in building the foundations of Studio Pastiche. She had been my sounding board, my silent aid through factory visits and shopping trips. More than anything, my family has had faith in me and backed my every decision while I built up Studio Pastiche.
Website: https://studiopastiche.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiopastiche/