ARTEMIS DESIGN CO. USER EXPERIENCE COPY
BRIEF: WEARING ARTEMIS IS LIKE WEARING HISTORY. I WANTED TO HELP THIS WELL-ESTABLISHED, BOSTON-BASED BRAND TO TELL THEIR STORY WITH EACH AND EVERY LINE OF COPY USED ON THEIR SITE, IN THEIR WEEKLY EMAILS, AND IN THEIR BLOG POSTS.
SINCE ARTEMIS USES VINTAGE KILIM, SUMAK, AND ORIENTAL CARPETS TO CRAFT THEIR TIMELESS TREASURES, I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT A STRONG, BUT FAMILIAR AND COMFORTING VOICE WOULD HELP GUIDE PROSPECTIVE BUYERS THROUGH THEIR RICH HISTORY AND LEAD THEM BY THE HAND INTO THE “WORLD OF ARTEMIS”, SO TO SPEAK.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, AS WELL AS TO GIVE A NOD TO THE EVER-IMPORTANT SEO, I COINED A FEW KEY TERMS TO BE USED IN EVERY PRODUCT DESCRIPTION, THEREBY UNIFYING THE WAY THAT THE PRODUCTS WERE DESCRIBED AND MENTIONED, AND ESTABLISHING A SOLID VOICE THAT WAS AS UNIQUELY ARTEMIS AS THEIR GORGEOUS PRODUCTS.
OUR STORY
The idea for Artemis Design Co. was born on a trip to Istanbul in 2007. The company’s designer, Milicent Armstrong, saw and fell in love with Kilim carpet bags, Kilim shoes and all of the other accessories that were repurposed from the beautiful flat-woven textile. Several years later, while attending school for Interior Design, Armstrong made her way back to Istanbul, found a small artisan workshop willing to work with her, and began production on her first run of products. These initial pieces took the concept of repurposing Kilims and altered the designs to suit modern, classic shapes.
The first collection, sold out of Armstrong's South End apartment in Boston, became an instant hit, and was quickly picked up by renowned retailer Steven Alan. Artemis Design Co. has grown since then and has garnered the attention of the WSJ, Town & Country, and Esquire magazine to name a few, and has also gained a cult following among interior designers and magazine editors for its unique and one-of-a-kind feel. Artemis has created special collections for Steven Alan, the iconic British brand MATCHES Fashion, Anthropologie, Madewell, United Arrows of Japan, Nate Berkus, and Joseph Abboud, among others.
Reminiscent of Artemis’ modern-day collaborative creations, Armstrong's family learned the art of carpet weaving and entered into the textile business in Turkey in the beginning of the 19th century. They brought the craft back to the United States and opened a carpet factory in Worcester, Massachusetts, called M.J. Whittall. Whittall carpets furnished many notable American homes, as well as the White House. Textile art has been an integral part of Milicent's family for centuries.
Artemis is best known for its magical "Flying Carpet Shoes" — one-of-a-kind Kilim loafers and Kilim smoking shoes that are handmade from genuine Turkish carpets. Artemis is going into its 7th year of business, and Armstrong travels back to Turkey regularly to oversee production and source heaps of Kilim carpets for future collections.
PRODUCT CARE & QUESTIONS
Kilim Shoes Care
Artemis Design Co. Kilim Shoes are handmade by skilled Turkish cobblers using antique carpets. The Kilim textile and leather sole are very durable and will age well with time. If you plan on using your Kilim shoes for daily walks or throughout city streets, you may extend the life of the leather soles by asking your local cobbler to attach a rubber sole to them. Avoid heavy rain or snow, but if your shoes do become a little bit wet, that’s ok; just let them dry out completely and continue wearing as usual. To clean small stains, blot with a warm washcloth. Let heavier dirt or mud stains dry, and once dried, brush them off with a bristle brush.
There are some imperfections in the material of my shoes or bag. Is this product defective?
Artemis Design Co. Flying Carpet Shoes are handmade by skilled Turkish cobblers using antique carpets. Due to the handwoven nature of the carpets that we source, you may notice small gaps in the material, “nubby” areas, and asymmetry — these small imperfections are simply the nature of antique Kilim textiles, and are not signs of a defective product. The photographs of our products are completely untouched, so you should be able to detect any imperfections before you purchase. That being said, if you’ve discovered an issue that displeases you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us — we are here to make sure that you are delighted with your product.
How will Artemis shoes wear?
The Kilim textile and leather sole are very durable and will age well with time. One of the beauties of Kilim shoes is that they will stretch and mold beautifully with time to the wearer’s feet. We’ve received countless emails and calls from customers saying that their Kilim shoes are the most comfortable shoes they own!
Do you do repairs, and what is your warranty?
Artemis Design Co. will repair items purchased through artemisdesignco.com at no charge for up to 1 year following purchase (under all reasonable circumstances). For purchases older than 1 year, repairs could be subject to a fee assessed on a case-by-case basis. We will always do our best to repair your Artemis Design Co. products because we stand by our products and their enduring quality.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS
ABOUT OUR WOMEN’S KILIM LOAFERS
This unique style has garnered a cult following, and its limited releases are collected by fans all over the world. Our Kilim shoes are handmade from vintage, hand-sourced Turkish carpets, which means that no two pairs will ever be alike.
Kilims are a style of textile traditionally crafted on Turkey's Anatolian peninsula using wool, cotton, or silk. Kilims are flat-woven, featuring a thin, tight weave that make them a perfect textile for crafting shoes. Every symbol, color, and pattern woven into the Kilim has meaning and represents a hope, a dream, or a story from the life of the weaver.
ABOUT OUR MEN’S CARPET LOAFERS
Our best-selling Kilim Loafer shape pairs handsomely with luxurious hand-knotted Anatolian carpet, known for its velvety texture and fine traditional patterns. All of our Carpet shoes are handmade from vintage, hand-sourced Turkish carpets, which means that no two pairs of our Carpet shoes will ever be alike.
As opposed to flat-woven Kilims, hand-knotted oriental carpets are known for their “pile,” the small, raised fibers that give it a fuzzy texture and a soft, velvety hand. That quality has made oriental carpets more difficult to work with in the past, but our clever cobblers have found a way to gently shave down the pile while preserving its lush feel and appearance.
ABOUT OUR SUMAK KILIM BABY DUFFLE
Our best-selling handbag. This bag is slightly smaller than our Classic Kilim Duffle, yet large enough to hold all daily essentials — including a bottle of wine! Our Graphic Designer, Lena, even uses it as an overnight bag on occasion. All of our Kilim bags are handmade from vintage, hand-sourced Turkish carpets, which means that no two Kilim bags will ever be alike.
Sumak (also spelled Soumak, Soumakh, Sumac, and Soumac) Kilims have a stronger weave and a more textural hand than other types of Kilim carpets. They are known for their intricate designs that incorporate finely detailed symbols, figures, and representations of animals. The crisp and boldly contrasting blues, reds, and whites often featured in Sumak Kilims make them a favorite among our community.