maxine smith – The Interiors Addict

Barefoot Gypsy do the global homewares sourcing for you

Maxine Smith of Barefoot Gypsy could arguably have my dream job. Spending her days travelling the world in search of unique new and vintage homewares, she is committed to supporting artisans from remote tribes in Thailand to co-ops in Moroccan villages.

Giving customers an insight into the rich tapestry of world cultures, Maxine’s ever-changing collections are gathered simply because she falls in love with each and every piece on her travels and wants to bring them home.

Her latest collection celebrates the artistry of local Thai tribes and Moroccan pompom blankets. Reclaiming unique vintage fabrics from the Hmong Hill Tribe and handmade embroidery, each piece is an original example of craft and design. This luxe range of floor and decorative cushions find the perfect balance between modern style and traditional artistry.

Boasting three unique ranges, there is the Indigo Hill Tribe design, which features indigo batik and Hmong fabric; the Striped Hill Tribe design, made from handmade embroidered fabrics, and the Karen Hill Tribe range, designed from reclaimed vintage clothes from the Mae Hong Son area of Thailand.

A place where originality is celebrated, Barefoot Gypsy make the hunting and gathering of beautiful global homewares easy.

Shop online.

Photography by Annette O’Brien | Styling by Greenhouse Interiors and Noël Coughlan

As a fanatic global traveller, Maxine Smith, like many of us interiors addict, always loved collecting home furnishings, textiles and accessories from around the world. Yet after a point, her collection grew so big that a business was born: Barefoot Gypsy.

Maxine describes the online boutique as: “A destination for beautiful global objects with a conscience.” She’s committed to supporting local craftspeople and artisans, sourcing old and new pieces from Uzbekistan to Bolivia to Morocco. Moreover, she wants to give customers an insight into the rich tapestry of world cultures, with eclectic pieces telling their own individual tales.

“We have a dynamic mix of products, all unique and beautiful in their own right,” says Maxine. “I do not limit my collecting to any one region or country; I just keep searching for more spectacular pieces to add to the collection, wherever they are.”

Maxine says she sources everything responsibly: “I really love when I can support something bigger than the piece itself. For example, with the Moroccan wedding blankets and wool pom pom blankets, I have started to work with a co-op in a village outside Marrakesh to support the community. It means a lot to be part of something more.”

With her travel bug by no means sated, she is determined to keep sourcing new stock from around the world. And while that requires a lot of research, it is the fortuitous discovery of a new place, shop or artist that makes Maxine incredibly grateful that she has managed to make a career out of what she loves.

Shop online.