Meet the New 'Chief of Blankets'!

In case you missed it, we announced last week some massive dignify news: new owners! In two weeks, we will literally wrap up our current operations & blanket inventory for relocation to its new home with Lauranne.

We’re having a moving sale on certain items — shop here. Canadians, read about upcoming changes to your shopping here.

Most importantly, we want to introduce the new owner of dignify, so you can get to know & love & trust her, like we do. ❤️

Lauranne is sweet and spunky, earnest and bursting with life. When we met in person, my husband & I both thought, “There is literally no better person I can imagine to take on dignify.” This is an interview-style intro between me (Shelley, current owner) and Lauranne (forthcoming owner).

SJ: Lauranne, give everyone an intro to who you are!

LB: I’m Lauranne — wife, mom to a spirited toddler, and someone who’s always had a heart for people and beautiful, meaningful things. I’ve worked in the social impact and nonprofit marketing space for over 15 years, which makes dignify an exciting (pinch-me!) next step. My personal story and work have unexpectedly led me to East Africa and India, where I worked closely alongside women artisans, seeing firsthand how dignified work transforms lives and artisan communities. 

India is also where I met my husband Shinod, had our daughter Lily, and built a life before making the move to Florida this past April.

I love helping people find simple joys that make every day feel brighter and more meaningful. And I really love good recipes, home decor, and a well-told story.

A friend of mine connected me with a former colleague (& friend) of yours, Mallory.  When I met her, she suggested that I meet her friend (you) because “she looooves kantha”, and “even has had a business selling kantha before”. 🤯 This is not exactly a common comment, and the connection felt quite remarkable right from the get-go. Tell us about your love of kantha & history with the craft. 

Oh my goodness—kantha has been a love of mine for years. I remember the first time I discovered it in 2019 while living in India. I was shopping for a friend’s birthday gift and stumbled upon an unruly stack of kantha blankets. I stood in awe looking through the one-of-a-kind patterns, vibrant colors, and intricate hand-stitching. At the time, I didn’t realize it takes days and even weeks to stitch a single blanket, which made me appreciate them all the more!

Since then, kantha has become my go-to for gift-giving—there’s something so special about old saris being given new life. Each blanket connects us to a woman with a story of resilience and beauty, and that is deeply inspiring to me.

I am super excited that you are coming in with fresh eyes and new energy & passion for dignify: both for the products & the impactful story behind them. What are you excited about as you take on dignify & lead it into a new era?

I am overjoyed to step in as dignify’s caretaker—and, as Shelley affectionately calls herself, ‘Chief of Blankets.’ Shelley and Wayne have poured so much love into this company, and it’s important to me to carry forward the heart of what makes dignify so special.

They have built an inspiring community that values people and craftsmanship over exploitative, disposable consumerism. I’m excited to continue sharing our beloved classic kanthas while also collaborating closely with our artisans in Bangladesh to create fresh, modern designs. We’re dreaming about new ways to show you the incredible skill behind each blanket and the real impact your purchases have on women and their communities.

Beyond that, I hope to deepen our connection with you as customers & followers — creating even more ways to engage, celebrate beautiful things, and share in this meaningful work together. 

When I first started thinking about a change, it was hard for me to imagine who was out there who would be the right fit of skills to run dignify. Not that I think I am super-special or extraordinary! But, my experience is that people who are really passionate about working in social good are not the same people who have hard skills in business and marketing. This is why almost all of the fair trade / social enterprise startups I’ve seen over the years have failed — a dream & desire that outpaces the ability to drive success.

When I first met you, and you described your skill set, I started to cry! It was such a thrill to me to hear how perfectly suited you were for the job. What experiences from your past do you think have prepared you for running dignify, and what skills are you excited to flex?

LB: So much of my journey has led me right here. My career in social impact and brand storytelling have shaped both my expertise and my heart for this work. Last year, my husband and I worked with a group of women in South India in need of work to create a small holiday kantha collection, and we were in awe of the response it received. A friend told us “you can’t let this be the end! Please keep doing this.” At that time, of course, we had no idea that dignify would come into our lives.

Embracing new challenges is something I enjoy, and I’m excited to dive into everything — from enhancing customer experiences to developing new products—and above all, helping you see the impact you’re making. I love bringing people together, and living in different parts of the world has fuelled my passion for craftsmanship and ethically made products. 

Before dignify, my husband and I helped our dear friend, Mallory (the one who connected us to Shelley!), launch her e-commerce brand, Mended Co. that empowers survivors of trafficking to create hand-blockprinted home goods. We worked with the survivors, exported products from South Asia to the US, and led all the tasks that give me joy: product photography, website development, and social media.

As a family, it’s our desire to care for people and create opportunities for those on the margins wherever and whenever possible. We’re excited to explore how we can care well for both you — dignify’s beloved customers — and the artisans in Bangladesh. The greatest hope is to bring you beautiful, ethically made pieces that spark joy and better lives around the world.

Around here, the weekly dignify email is known for being warm, personal, & beautiful. We like blankets (obviously), books, food, simplicity, intentionality & not taking ourselves too seriously. What do you want to bring to the conversation & this amazing community of dignify fans?

I bet I’m not alone in saying that every week, I look forward to the dignify email—it’s like a note from a caring friend, a moment of beauty and connection in my inbox. I want to continue that tradition!

Whether it’s helping someone find the perfect kantha throw for their home, sharing glimpses of the artisans’ incredible craftsmanship, or swapping recipes and book recommendations, I want this space to feel like a conversation — one that’s welcoming, inspiring, and true to what dignify has always been about: beautiful things made by beautiful people, with love and purpose stitched into every thread.

You guys! I (Shelley) am so excited. This girl is so lovable! And deep! And capable.

I received the kindest messages from so many people last week about our transition, and many of you mentioned that you will miss the weekly emails. I appreciate the kind sentiment (!), but I do hope that you get a glimpse here of how aligned Lauranne is with dignify, and how well-suited she is to carry the mantle of our weekly email! (if you are not subscribed, why not?! It's the best. Sign up here.) 

Thank you, Lauranne!