Toronto Artisan Takes Home Etsy Design Award

Celebrity judge Sarah Jessica Parker chooses Moh Alsulaiman of Terroso Studios in the home décor category

We all love Etsy. From handmade ceramics to jewellery, it’s a treasure trove of talent. The visibility Etsy has given to individual artisans is unparalleled with its collection of talented entrepreneurs, not to mention its global reach. The Etsy Design Awards celebrate standout sellers for individual products each year across multiple categories, and a star-studded judging panel calls out their favourite makers. For Toronto’s Terroso Studios, helmed by Moh Alsulaiman, it was Sex in the City star Sarah Jessica Parker who named his hefty and unique planters as her top pick in Etsy Design Awards home décor category. Alsulaiman’s terracotta planter with chain and saucer is bold and tactile, evoking the Classics. Alsulaiman crafts the piece in multiple colourways and finishes to match a range of interior design styles.

Alsulaiman established his home-based studio three years ago, shortly after graduating during the pandemic. As a recent graduate and immigrant with limited relevant experience, finding a job was challenging, especially amidst COVID-19 closures and layoffs. However, Alsulaiman’s belief in the power of necessity as the mother of invention led him to start his own venture, which has since thrived.

He explains that the terracotta planter, with its eye-catching chunky chain, “represents the connection between us and the earth, through nurturing and nourishing the plant that will be growing in it.” The Toronto local taps into his Syrian roots in crafting his sculptural objects. “I take inspiration from my heritage and culture, where handmade ceramics, antiques, and extensive collections of jewelry —including rings and chains — are seen everywhere.”