Maker Nation: 8 Amazing Brooklyn Creative Spaces

This NYC borough is a creative hub and craft-centric destination. Visit some maker spaces where you can bring home the goods.

By: Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason

Shop This Look

Photo By: Bellocq Tea Atelier

Photo By: A/D/O

Photo By: Bolé Road Textiles

Photo By: L’enchanteur

Photo By: Eskayel

Photo By: Shuya Design

Photo By: Teressa Foglia

Greenpoint: Bellocq Tea Atelier

There is no place in the nation quite like Brooklyn. The borough, which could be a city in itself, is New York’s largest, home to over 2.6 million residents. And it’s also home to one of the most unique movements in American manufacturing: the maker movement. Brooklyn is home to artisans who are making handmade goods in every industry, from furnishings, to textiles, food and fashion. And where there are makers, there are some pretty stylish ateliers, boutiques and appointment-only studios that you have to explore when visiting New York’s design hub. Here are eight must-see spaces to visit (and pick up some artisan souvenirs) next time you’re in Brooklyn. Bellocq Tea Atelier in Greenpoint is one of those spaces you visit, not just for what they create, but for its gorgeous Instagram-worthy look. Started by Martha Stewart alums Heidi Johannsen Stewart and Michael Shannon, along with interior designer Scott Stewart, Bellocq is more than just a place for special tea blends. It’s a beautiful salon where the brand’s signature yellow packaging is just part of the decor.

Tea Time

This stylish tea room has been built for the tea connoisseur. Organic and herbal blends are assembled by hand, and whole leaf teas can be discovered here as well. The backdrop for the many teas and accompanying items, like candles, is a beautifully appointed tasting room. Plum walls have an aged patina and a sitting room with blush seating offers the ultimate comfortable spot to sit and enjoy a perfect cup of tea. Bellocq is open weekly, Wednesday through Sunday.

Greenpoint: A/D/O

Located in Greenpoint, A/D/O is the new kid on the block in Brooklyn. A space created especially for artists, A/D/O offers a creative environment where makers can fabricate and collaborate on items, while community members can come and view what’s being designed. The intersection of design and community engagement is what makes A/D/O a truly special space for creative exchange.

On-Site Shop

The 23,000 square foot A/D/O building is open to the public daily. An on-site shop offers an assortment of items created by local Brooklyn artisans. And an on-site cafe allows for collaborative sit-downs to happen among artists and neighborhood residents who have an interest in learning more about the borough’s maker community.

Industry City: Bolé Road Textiles

Bolé Road is the name of the main thoroughfare in Ethiopia’s sprawling capital city of Addis Ababa. It’s the road that designer Hana Getachew took many times as a child in the city. Now living in Brooklyn, New York, Hana had a desire to bring Ethiopian textiles to the United States. Bolé Road offers pillows, throws and rugs in bright and eye-popping shades. Each piece is designed in Brooklyn and then handwoven in Ethiopia.

Weaving a Story

The collection of textiles and accessories can all be explored at the Bolé Road showroom in Industry City. The appointment-only space, is bright and open, allowing for exploration of all of the handmade pieces that Bolé Road has to offer. Generous shelving holds pillows and linens and more. To make an appointment, contact Hana by email.

Bedford-Stuyvesant: L’enchanteur

Through Airbnb Experiences, you can book an arts experience with Dynasty and Soull, joining them on a journey of jewelry design in Brooklyn. The day starts with sipping on 24k gold leaf infused tea in their workroom in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and ends with touring a work studio with expertise in West African wire wrapping techniques. The six-hour tour can be booked through Airbnb.

Twinning

Sisterhood is a beautiful thing and it’s made that much more beautiful when you can create together. That is what twin sisters Dynasty and Soull do in their Bedford-Stuyvesant studio. Founders of the fashion brand, L’enchanteur, the two are turning making jewelry into a hands-on experience for those who visit the borough.

Williamsburg: Eskayel

Eskayel is a Brooklyn-based textile design firm known for its striking patterns. Offering a line of eco-friendly wall coverings, carpets, fabric-by-the-yard, as well as furnishings and accessories, this brand is dedicated to bringing artisan pieces into the home. Designs are made with aqueous inks, adding a watercolor detail to each design.

Home Front

Appointments can be made to visit the Eskayel showroom, Mondays through Fridays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. In the showroom, located in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, visitors can explore the brand’s complete collection of textiles, and see their artful line of home furnishings and accessories beautifully displayed. An appointment can be scheduled by calling or emailing the showroom.

Red Hook: Shuya Design

It’s never a surprise to discover the unexpected in New York. In Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, something unexpected can be seen at Shuya Design. The product and furniture design studio offers custom furnishings that are designed to bring warmth into everyday life.

Design and a Meal

Step inside the Shuya showroom to explore contemporary furnishings designed by Shuya Iida and Takafumi Toyama. And after exploring their aesthetic, take the train to the Shuya Cafe de Ramen in Astoria, where the furnishings are placed in a real-life restaurant setting. Visit Shuya by appointment, Monday through Sunday.

Industry City: Teressa Foglia

"Step into the hatmosphere." That’s what it reads on Teressa Foglia’s website. The designer’s millinery studio and shop is located in the Industry City neighborhood of Brooklyn. Once inside, visitors can do everything from sign up for their very own hat-making experience, to shop the latest collection of hand-milled hats that are made using centuries-old techniques.

Hat's Off

Visits can be scheduled by emailing the studio, and once inside you can experience all that the custom hat experience has to offer. Explore the designer’s collection of hats from around the world, get measured for your very own custom piece, or leave with an item from the ready to wear collection. And during your visit don’t forget to inquire about the host of other events offered at the atelier, from makers workshops to small shows and live music. Email to schedule an appointment.