To celebrate International Women’s Day, we hosted a panel, "Anthropologie x Nest Present: A Conversation with Creative Leaders" at our Financial District store. Among the powerhouse panelists were women who are reshaping industries, pushing boundaries, and paving the way for a more inclusive future.

Upon arrival, guests were greeted with pillars as empowering as the women who sat in front of them. Each panelist was dressed with artistic flair, some even wearing each others’ designs (check out Nashira Arnó Studio for timeless jewelry essentials!). Also front and center, a display of each makers' creations, marking their place in the world as successful women and artists.

Our very own Carolyn Keer, Senior Creative Director (Anthropologie's first-ever Art Director!), who has led the Art Department for the past two decades, shared: “At Anthropologie, we work to support women’s crafts through our artist collaborations. They are an opportunity for us to share new craft and art with our customers while getting their name out there. We still operate with a small-business mindset, aiming to find the small artists and businesses with big minds, and truly celebrating the creativity and work that goes into each project.”

Amanda Lee, Senior Director of Market Access + Sourcing at Nest, who works to ensure that artisans and makers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to build strong market relationships, continued: “We’re grateful to Anthropologie for championing makers and women in the same way that we do. These collaborations are powerful so with a seat at the table I see that as Nest’s role to pull up the chair for other women, taking the opportunity for success.”

Our partnership with Nest was established in 2022, aimed at supporting and celebrating a diverse array of artists. Today, we're proud to continue our support and partnership to inspire inclusion.

If you haven’t heard about URBN Home Office, know that everyone is creative (it doesn’t hurt that the environment is designed to the nines, with people in mind!). Carolyn spoke to the amount of energy, talent, and collaboration that evolves into something novel every day. She is constantly amazed at the remarkable ability of each individual to harness the energy swirling around the office and channel it right back into the world.

Lacie finds her shared working space as a rich source of inspiration. When she’s deeply immersed in her work, she needs an outside perspective. The conversations she has with fellow artists in the space ignite new ideas and spark her creative drive.

On the flip side, Zara thrives working alone. Her go-to for inspiration? Nature, especially in changing her perspective, which helps trick her brain out of its routine. “It's refreshing and fun to look backwards,” she said. For Nashira: “My experience with creativity is something that comes through me and I grab it, or it goes.”

The common denominator for these artists? An early passion for creativity. For each of these panelists, it was evident there was no blueprint to becoming an artist. Nashira shared a childhood story of her cutting up her mother’s dresses, Zara’s parents supported her by allowing her to explore a variety of mediums, Lacie’s parents put her in art classes (and even made pressed flowers before she grew Framed Florals), and Carolyn signed herself up for every craft category possible at the county fair (winning first prize, of course).

Each panelist nodded in unison as Nashira spoke about the unwavering confidence she felt as a child: "I couldn't imagine doing anything else growing up. When it comes to art and creativity, ignorance can be bliss, so I often go back to childhood and implement that confident way of thinking."

The panel delved into the multifaceted landscape of confronting the hurdles they encounter as well as the strength of their contributions.

Women experience unique challenges, a reality illuminated by Lacie and Zara as they shared their poignant narratives. For Lacie, the delicate balance of motherhood and running her own business informs everything she does, allowing her to work harder, and so much smarter. Meanwhile, Zara finds empowerment from the intentional shaping of her mindset and approach, fortifying her resilience in the face of an obstacle.

To highlight the distinct talents women bring to the table, Amanda eloquently underscored their collaborative and open approach, drawing parallels to the cooperative spirit in lionesses in forging partnerships: “We’re naturally intuitive and collaborative with the innate ability to connect, so we proudly lean into having more partners.” The outcome? A plethora of creative inspiration and success.

Bringing together inspirational women reshaping industries and fostering inclusivity, attendees left the celebration enriched and empowered, carrying forward the vision of a more equitable world.

Makers are the heart and soul of Anthropologie, so we are proud to have partnered with Nest in 2022, and each year since. We are honored to have donated $150,000 to date in support of Nest’s work for gender equity in the artisan economy.

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