Oud West, Amsterdam
Who doesn't dream of packing it all up one day, taking off for a dream destination, and making a living by doing what you
used to do in your spare time?
This is Leslie, the former visual director for Anthropologie who worked herself to the bone (loving every minute of it, of course) but then, one day, made a radical decision. She quit her good paying corporate job, packed up her life and moved to Holland. The plan was then to figure out how to blend what she loved about her former job at Anthropologie, and take it one step further.
The result is swarm (www.swarmhome.com).
Through a little known agreement with the Dutch government, known as the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty, American citizen can live and work legally in Holland if they are independant contractors, own their own business, or otherwise work for themselves. Leslie took full advantage of this, and began doing what she has always wanted to do: make her own line of functional art. From chairs to tables, paintings and more - leslie combs the flea markets of Europe, turning other people's trash into something loved and cherished, giving it the time and attention of which no one else deemed worthy. I think her work is a celebration of life and humanity. It is inspired and passionate, and knowing her only re-enforces that.
Her home is literally bursting at the seems with the tools of her trade, and you really get the sense that swarm is growing. ...and that the next phase is going to be very exciting.
Now the irony of all this: who, would you guess is her biggest customer? Yep - Anthropologie....
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