At Cora + Spink, we believe in doing things with thought, purpose, and just enough curiosity to keep life interesting.

The name comes from my great, great, great aunt Cora, who, in 1817, set off alone on what was then known as a Grand Tour. At the time, it was common for young men of means to travel Europe in search of art, education, and experience. For a woman to do the same was rare.

Cora spent over a year moving through Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and further east, following a path shaped more by instinct than convention. There are only fragments of her story now, passed down quietly through family. But one thing always stands out: she travelled to understand, not to conquer, and she believed that happiness came from being open to the world.

When I started Cora + Spink in 2003, it wasn’t with a grand plan. Just a feeling. And while much has changed since then, the approach has remained steady — careful, considered, and a little unconventional.

Our only real motto is this: everyone who touches a Cora + Spink product should be happy. That includes the people who make them, the people who sell them, and the people who carry them — whether or not they know anything about Aunt Cora.

It’s a small way of doing things, but it’s ours.