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MAKER’S MART Written by STACY KENDALL : Photographed by ALEX HAYDEN
DEEP IN THE HEART OF AMAZON-LAND (a.k.a. Seattle’s South
Lake Union neighborhood), a new space is distinguishing itself from the fast-paced, mass-production ethos of surrounding tech outfits. Opened in May 2017 in SKB Architects’ award-winning 400 Fairview building, JOIN Shop is designed, curated, and owned by Sallyann Corn and Joe Kent, co-creators of local design studio Fruitsuper. The couple, partners in life and work, saw the shop as the next step in the evolution of JOIN Design collective, founded in 2008 by then-new design studios Iacoli & McAllister, Ladies & Gentlemen Studio, and Grain. Fast-forward to 2017: Seattle is now an undisputed hub of innovation, and JOIN Shop—along with the collective, which now includes more than 60 designers—is positioned at its epicenter. The store features the work of more than 40 independent designers, makers, and artists (more than half of them based in the Pacific Northwest).
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Sallyann Corn and Joe Kent, cofounders of design studio Fruitsuper, in their recently opened boutique. JOIN Shop stocks items from more than 40 independent designers.
“We knew we would be more powerful together. The shop brings us full circle; it’s a physical representation of what we’ve done for years.” —SALLYANN CORN, DESIGNER “We believe that the stories behind objects are as interesting as the objects themselves,” explains Corn. “In the same way that nothing will ever replace the weight, feel, and smell of the pages of a good book, a brick-and-mortar shop filled with hand-selected treasures waiting to be discovered will always be timeless and personal.” Beginning this August, JOIN will host trunk shows, book launches, workshops, and art shows. Says Corn, “We believe events build community, connect us to the objects we own, and further our collective appreciation of quality and craft.” ❈
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