John Legend Teams With Underrepresented Creatives on First Etsy Collaboration

With the help of 11 Etsy sellers across five countries, the singer delivers a casual lifestyle collection

John Legend lounging among the home and lifestyle items that make up his new collection with Etsy, which launched this week.Etsy

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John Legend’s voice has propelled him to global superstardom as well as the elite echelon of EGOT holders. Now, he’s looking to use his elevated platform to give a voice to marginalized groups with his first Etsy collection. The multi-hyphenate partnered with a selection of Etsy stores—with a focus on centering female designers and people of color—to put together an assemblage of limited-edition decor and lifestyle items. While natural materials and warm earth tones tie the group together, each piece has its own unique story.

Artist Charlotte Manser makes her ceramic pieces, like this mug from the collection with Legend, in simple, geometric shapes.

 Etsy
Legend’s personal style inspired the composition of the collection. The set includes ceramics and pots in beiges and browns, handwoven Gullah baskets, textured pillows, and even some offerings for shoppers with animal companions, like dog beds—which Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen’s own crew of furry friends must be especially pleased about.

A print by artist Boriana Mihailovska, who studied at the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria, features three figures. In the foreground, Gullah basketry by Gail Wright and Andrea Cayetano-Jefferson.

 Etsy

“I like to surround myself with high-quality products from the hands of real people who love and are very intentional about their craft.”

John Legend
Working with 11 sellers across Poland, Bulgaria, Canada, the UK, and the US, Legend prioritized striking a balance between his own style and the individual aesthetics of the creatives with whom he partnered. “It was a very special experience for me to collaborate with all these talented artists, because the finished results also tell the story of their producers,” the singer-songwriter said.

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John Legend wears a striped linen bathrobe from Eastern Woven.

 Etsy
Two of the sellers tapped for the collaboration are members of the Gullah basket weaving community in South Carolina, who use their work to carry on the legacy of their African ancestors. As early as the 17th century, the Gullah people were forcibly transported to America from various parts of Africa and enslaved. Through decades of hardship, the Gullah have preserved their cultural and spiritual connection to nature via weaving techniques, passed down through eight generations. Gullah weaving is considered the oldest African craft tradition in the United States. Traditionally, the baskets are made from locally harvested sweet grass, pine needles, and cattails—which all come with the added benefit of a pleasant, earthy scent.

Gullah baskets by Gail Wright and Andrea Cayetano-Jefferson are woven from sweetgrass.

 Etsy

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Gail Wright is a seventh-generation Gullah basket weaver whose work is featured in the collection. She started honing her skill at the age of six, carrying on the customary weaving techniques from her mother and grandmother. “When I saw how hard they worked to provide for the family and how strong they were as women, I wanted to be like them,” the artist said of her foremothers.

California-based designer Su Jin Morse works with a 3D printer to create sustainable pots and vases in harmonic shapes.

 Etsy

“Sewing baskets is not just an art for me, it’s a passion. I love seeing what my hands, mind, heart and soul can create.”

Gail Wright

Gabriela Baiter and Drew Downie of Laylo Pets design minimalist dog beds with timeless patterns.

 Etsy
Fans of Legend’s inaugural Etsy collaboration won’t have to wait long for a follow-up: The vocalist’s second endeavor with the digital marketplace is already underway. His next project, featuring winter decorations and holiday gift ideas, is set to be released at the end of the year.

John Legend Creator Collab and BorianaM Abstract Wall Art Print

$55

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab Ngobolingo White Printed Linen Shirt

$95

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab NgoBolingo Linen Bomber Jacket

$122

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab CHHSweetgrass Stand Basket

$2,000

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab Modern Dog bed and Washable Cover

$79

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab, Black Lotus Pillow Cover, Cover only

$110

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab: Loop – Oak Record Player Stand

$3,343

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab EasternWoven Classic Long Robe, Khaki and Natural Striped Bathrobe

$110

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab MorseStudioCo “CITY PLANTER” Mid Century Modern Black Wood

$78

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab DesmareonandFamily Jewelry Box

$500

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab CharlottesCeramicArt Ceramic 300ml Mug

$65

ETSY

John Legend Creator Collab CharlottesCeramicArt Marbelled Pet Bowl

$60

ETSY