We had been searching for ages to find incense produced in a way that reflects our standards and ethics. It's a harder challenge than we expected, but our search finally lead us to AARVEN and created the perfect introduction to another business that seems to reflect our mission so beautifully that it feels like a match made in sustainable heaven!
AARVEN's journey began in 2010 when artist and designer, Amy Fleuriot-Reade's paths crossed with craft development expert, Bee Friedmann. Several months later the pair were on a product development trip to Kenya together and the concept for the brand was born. Many adventures and countries later Amy continues to design and develop AARVEN's collections in collaboration with the wonderful artisan families and communities she has had the pleasure to work with for over a decade.
Plum & Belle: What are 3 things about your business that make your heart sing?
Amy: First, creating new designs with our artisans, especially the more complicated pieces that challenge their skills and bring so much joy to us both when they come off!
Second is knowing that every sale means the potential to invest more in the groups we work with to allow them to continue their craft.
Third, our shop and wonderful team in Margate. I'm so lucky to work with such brilliant supportive people and I am really grateful for our community and customers on the sunny Kent coast.
Plum & Belle: What makes Plum & Belle a good fit for AARVEN’s products?
Amy: We love that Plum & Belle is passionate about conserving traditions and investing in sustainable businesses that put people and planet before profit.
P&B: What are the key values that drive your business and inform your choices?
Amy: Providing well paid and dignified work for our artisans.
Promoting the continuation of traditional hand crafts - In our world of AI and mass production, AARVEN wants to keep hand crafted goods relevant through design, ensuring that we don't lose these incredible human skills that are quickly dying out. I also design everything we make by hand.
Taking care of our natural resources for future generations - choosing organic and plastic free wherever possible and using natural, locally sourced materials to the artisans who are making our collections.
P&B: Is there an event or outcome that made you feel particularly proud of Aarven?
Amy: Being shortlisted as one of House & Gardens independent retailers of the year for 2025 was a wonderful moment for us.
P&B: Do you have a favourite product?
Amy: It's so hard to choose! I do love to see how our weavers in Ghana bring my designs for our woven lightshades to life and I also love lino cutting the botanical designs for our incense which are all handmade by such a joyful group of artisans in Kolkata.
P&B: What are your future aims for the business?
Amy: For AARVEN to become a household name for ethical homeware and gifts so that we can provide more work for our artisan groups. I plan to set up warehousing in Northern Ireland where I recently moved to with my family so that we can start bringing larger shipments across by sea now that we have the space to store everything!
We really hope you love the AARVEN incense collection as much as we do. It's inspiring Lucy to create a collection of ceramic incense holders so keep your eye's peeled for those.