Meet Tessa Ghenender | Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tessa Ghenender and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tessa, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
The philosophy of Amber Fort has always been help the planet and help our people. I sought out to create a low impact alternative for bedding – something everyone needs and uses daily – and came up with an outrageously comfortable and inviting hemp fabric. It’s one of the most sustainable materials out there and will outlive all of your other bed linens with it’s innate durability.

Our hemp bedding is handmade and hand block printed by Fair Trade artisans in India, giving each piece a unique look and feel. We partner with Fair Trade Certified organizations to ensure that our workers are treated fairly, paid fairly, and are empowered to make positive changes in their rural communities.

We are proud to create high quality products that make it easy for customers to support sustainability and ethical manufacturing without compromising aesthetic or comfort. It’s the very least we can do, and we look forward to pushing the bar in sustainability while continuing to give back to the amazing community of artisans that make our bedding possible.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Straight out of High School I had a strong affinity to design and create. I left my very small coastal town to attend design school in London and upon returning somehow wound up on the business side of the apparel industry. I have spent the last decade working in buying, merchandising and ultimately production . My professional experience has given me a well-rounded understanding of what it takes for businesses to flourish as well as the confidence to branch out and start a business of my own.

Starting a business with limited resources is not always glamorous, but I have always welcomed the challenge. It’s like a never-ending jig-saw puzzle that keeps you on your feet with a constant adrenaline. Right when you think you’ve figured it all out, there is a global pandemic and factory shut downs, and you’re back on the ground solving puzzles.

At the end of the day, all of the blood, sweat and tears are worth it. Having a business of your own is rewarding and fulfilling. I am able to feed my creative fire while making a positive impact on the planet.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A huge shout to our fair trade friends in India. Our bedding is truly a labor of love and incorporates the century old tradition of hand block printing, which our talented artisan friends are actively working to keep alive.

Website: www.amberfortbedding.com

Instagram: @amber__fort

Image Credits
Albany Katz & Jennifer Pritchard