A GLIMPSE INTO OUR BACKGROUND & WHERE WE’RE HEADED.
OUR | STORY
WHERE DESIGN ELEVATES THE ORDINARY.
Studio Thirteen, a Jewish woman-owned small business dedicated to imperfect beauty & honoring one’s identity. Before we can venture into the present, we must discuss our past.
10.07.23 rocked the world’s Jewry in more ways than one. Our small, global Jewish community immediately found comfort in uniting with one another, all the while, getting used to our lives & realities drastically changing in spaces we not only once belonged, but confidently, boldly stood by. Needless to say, we saw what happened to us coming from a mile away, given the uptick in antisemitic hate-crimes (but it didn’t make it hurt any less).
Fast-forward a couple months, & we’d lost 60% of our clients due to our Jewishness. This caused us to do some deep & serious thinking about where our small shop, NEW YORK & NARRATIVE, was headed. We had no choice but to close our business indefinitely, & quietly, as to not draw any further negative attention to ourselves, as we watched all that we’d built over the last few years—partnerships, wholesalers, & (work) “friends”—disappear, seemingly overnight. Many, silently; some, ignorantly loud. Running that business, alone, from home, was challenging enough. But this was too much.
Half a year later, we finally started publicly sharing our story. Stemming from the outpouring of love we received from those who acknowledge & celebrate our existence, we gained the confidence to jump back into the game—refreshed, renewed. Our Jewishness has forever been our source of strength, our comfort, our guiding light in a dark world (that only continues to get darker). Nothing forces a Jewish woman to pivot faster than an angry, antisemitic mob. & pivot, we sure did.
Pondering what the number thirteen means to us personally, & its significance in Judaism, things suddenly started to fall into place. New inspiration, new business, new name, new website, new partnerships, new wholesalers, new collections. In turn, new clients. With that, we said one final goodbye to what was once NEW YORK & NARRATIVE.
Out of something horrific & disturbing, we have chosen to begin anew. Although Studio Thirteen is not a Judaica shop, it is deeply rooted in all aspects of what makes up the ethnoreligion & lifestyle of Judaism: rebuilding & repairing the world through kindness & beauty, fostering connections, practicing sacred rituals, mysticism, celebrating the little moments & the big milestones, & so much more. Honoring these parts of our life, & allowing them to be our shop’s driving force, feels essential. Tie in our love of oddly-shaped objects, timeless hues, gifts that encourage communication & self-reflection, dried florals, lots & lots of marble, scents you want to swim in, a moody aesthetic that celebrates both the feminine & masculine, & an excuse to stay cozy all year round, & this is who we are.
To those who see our humanity & cherish our Jewish identity, you will always have a seat at our adorned table. The world can never have too much beauty in it, & we’re delighted to contribute to that, once again.
“Gifting is more than a transfer of the tangible; it’s a physical manifestation of connection, of intention, of care. This simple gesture can truly leave a long-lasting, beautiful impact.”
BRIT | COHEN
Proud Jewish mom, wife, coffee lover, & entrepreneur, our founder & designer, Brit Cohen, balances the harsh realities of antisemitism while creating beauty wherever & however she can; for her sanity, as an escape for those who need it, with a positive vision for the world. & in between, you’ll find she’s obsessing over her adorable pug.