Rita Mehta had worked for Target for seven years—touring factories abroad, learning about sustainable sourcing, assessing product quality from Asia—when she realized she wanted to do the opposite of all that. She wanted to rediscover America—American-made products—specifically for women. Guides to men’s goods had already swung toward American brands; Mehta would do the same for women.
She began her blog, The American Edit, in 2013, and quickly discovered how much women wanted this. Not just American brands, but an enthusiastic explorer to cut through the thicket of dubious sourcing and find the best of these makers—quality over quantity. The blog has nearly 46,000 followers on Instagram. Mehta is now a brand herself.
This fall, she signed on to lead Mia’s ongoing transformation of its museum store, while continuing The American Edit. She had already been consulting for various stores, such as Wilson & Willy’s Neighbor Goods in Minneapolis’ North Loop, while working on the blog. Now she has, in a sense, a store of her own. “Museum retail has always been a dream job for me,” she says. “Whoever is coming in the store likes art in some way. I love the idea of extending that experience of art in the galleries and the collections to retail.”
Recently, Mehta underwent another round of self-examination. “I started to worry whether everything I’m doing in my retail work is simply promoting materialism,” she says. She responded with a podcast—Why Do We Have Things?—to explore a new perspective, the idea of objects as experiences. “The most thoughtful pieces, even a really well-made jacket, can bring me joy every day,” she says.
It’s a notion that translates well to Mia. “We say that Mia inspires wonder. Through the store, you can bring some wonder home with you,” Mehta says. As the store has matured in recent years from its postcard-and-poster origins to something more boutique, it has become a destination for well-made goods. But Mehta hopes to focus further, keeping the quality while renewing the store’s connection with the art upstairs—the retail equivalent of eschewing art for art’s sake. “It’s a work of art, but is it relevant?” Mehta asks.
With that in mind, here’s her list of favorite holiday gift ideas in the store right now:
The perfect pencil
You can’t bring pens into Mia’s galleries, but you can bring pencils. The store now carries a version of the iconic pencils made by Faber-Castell (a German company, in a nod to Mia’s current Luther show). Obama reportedly was given one in the five-grand range. This one goes for $12 ($9.60 for Mia members).
Classic plush animals
Steiff, another legendary German company, created the original Teddy Bear. Nuff said. Their stuffed animals, still made with simple expressions even in the Disney era, are instant collector items, and have been going fast in the store.
Beginner guides to faith
Mia began carrying the “Very Short Introduction” books on world religions when “Luther” opened. But the acclaimed series of short, smart books makes for good neighbors in an age of fences.
Enlightened stuffies
Ouef toys, made by fair trade in Bolivia, want to break the stigma of stuffed toys. “I like kid’s toys that can exist anywhere, in any home,” Mehta says. For example, a big stuffed bottle of Champagne, for tipplers if not toddlers.
The do-good doll
When you buy a Dumyé doll, you’re essentially buying two: For every doll purchased, another is gifted to an orphan. That earnestness extends to the doll’s trademarked Purpose Pocket, where you can stuff a meaningful message.
The vase with a face
Mehta and her coworkers call these Emoji vases, for their variety of whimsical expressions. They could be a perfect hostess gift, Mehta says, impressive yet small enough to avoid drawing attention. And depending on how well you know your host you can add the appropriate sprig of holly or, heck, mistletoe.
Creative jewelry
It’s not surprising that Mary MacGill took creativity seriously—she’s from the family behind the Pace/MacGill gallery in New York. When she went to jewelry camp in middle school she came home inspired but frustrated; she had great ideas and no way to weld or otherwise realize them. So she thought harder—”creativity within constraints,” Mehta says—and still makes pieces in a line-art style that reflects this smart but simple origin. “It’s like a high five!” Mehta says of MacGill’s hand cuff that, in fact, depicts a hand.
Notable notebooks
The Appointed series of notebooks and other office supplies was started by an accomplished graphic designer who, when she jumped off the computer, wanted the best analog materials she could find. Instead, she found them wanting. Her own designs now extend to rulers, calendars, and even a brass pencil cup—fashioned by a car-parts maker for the ultimate in simple durability.
A Steiff teddy bear.
A plush Champagne bottle, when whimsy beats thirst.
Mehta calls these porcelain vessels “Emoji vases.”
Appointed products for the analog writer.