Through a "Silk Road" approach to business, Mary Miller and Katherine Young hope to share the arts and crafts of ancient cultures. Throughout their careers, they have traveled and dreamt of a business that would allow them to work with beautiful textiles and antiques by designing, sourcing and bringing these items to Europe and America. As a company, they see their roles not just as merchants, but also as storytellers, bringing messages of hope and inspiration about the creative spark, initiative and integrity of artisans around the world.
Mary and Katherine have worked with the TABITHA Foundation in Cambodia since establishing their business, and it is now an integral part of White Ginger. The quality and color of TABITHA's hand-loomed and woven silks is matched by the importance and success of the foundation's humanitarian work. In addition to promoting the foundation's silks, Mary and Katherine are actively supporting house building and savings programs, well and livestock projects. Their work with TABITHA has led them to designers and philanthropists throughout Cambodia who believe in the culture, the people and their extraordinary silk.
Mary Miller spent twenty-five years living and working in Yokohama, Vienna, London, Lugano, Switzerland and Taipei, Taiwan. With a Master's degree in Art History, Mary worked as a docent at the renowned National Palace Museum in Taipei for six years. In August 2005, Mary and her husband David relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina when David took a position in the History Department at Charlotte Country Day School. Mary has joined the Mint Museum as a docent and has created a White Ginger base in Charlotte.
Katherine Young grew up on Martha's Vineyard, MA but her fascination with other cultures has led her to a variety of educational positions in England, Greece, Italy and Switzerland, where she and Mary met. She currently lives and works in Taipei, Taiwan with her husband, who teaches English at Taipei American School.
Some of our favorite sites:
Ode bills itself as a magazine for the 'intelligent optimist." We find it informative and inspiring. You can subscribe in print or read the articles online here. http://www.odemagazine.com/index.php
EWG is a nonprofit environmental research organization based in Washington, DC and a leading content provider for public interest groups and concerned citizens who are campaigning to protect the environment. You can look up information on food, cosmetics and many other areas. They offer very handy shoppers guides with lists of the most dangerous pesticides, ingredients to avoid. http://www.ewg.org/
The Real Goods website provides a wealth of information about living more sustainably, and they offer many products to help support this goal. http://www.gaiam.com/realgoods/
www.arbonne.com, a pure, safe and beneficial product with a unique emphasis on anti-aging and wellness. This is an enlightened personal care company, socially responsible and a pleasure to use.
The Green Guide offers another comprehensive website, providing info online and in print about all aspects of living greener. http://www.thegreenguide.com/
The Ideal Bite offers earth friendly ideas in daily email tip with links to four or five good resources. They cover all topics and can be slightly sassy and irreverent.