smARTWORKS's Mission Statement
Offering you warmth with flair by producing wearable scarves for your style and comfort.
Design Inspiration & Philosophy
Drawn to the textures, colors, and patterns found in nature, my resulting scarves are nubby and uniquely three-dimensional with a mixture of fabrics and tones. Those who wear them can express their own individuality and satisfy a need for style and comfort.
I achieve the quality I strive for in my work by manipulating traditional knitting looms and finding innovative ways to use them. I also enjoy experimenting with combinations of yarns that are effected differently by heat and water.
smARTWORKS, Inc. was founded in 1994 in order to foster an environment where I could focus my work on designing and producing scarves. My scarves are well regarded and are found in fine galleries, boutiques and craft shows in the US and abroad.
Company History
The Beginning
smARTWORKS, Inc. opened for business in 1994 by Sonya Mackintosh with a focus on scarf design and production. Founding her business in the basement of her home and supported by local merchants who reinforced the quality of her work, Sonya traveled to many local craft shows to display her hand-loomed scarves.
A long awaited dream of owning her own company, smARTWORKS, Inc. then occupied an old warehouse building complete with ten knitting machines, computers and storage space for large inventories of yarn and thread. The open workspace was a flurry of activity including continuous production, design and the testing of new products through different color and texture combinations, finally becoming automated in 1996.
The Big Move
In early 2002 smARTWORKS, Inc. moved its headquarters to its current studio - - an even larger location that better integrates the different phases of production. The new space closely links the creative design and production arms of operations. The open workroom allows the creative thinking, design and sampling to reach a new level of productivity.
In the Works
Not only has the company grown with regard to physical space, but the demand for smARTWORKS, Inc. products has also dramatically increased since 2002. This demand is fueled by the innovative and creative designs and the frequent introduction of new products. Product development is a focus at the studio which now supports 9 employees. smARTWORKS, Inc. has been able to accommodate the demand of many wonderful new accounts.
Sonya Mackintosh Biography (Short Form)
Sonya Mackintosh is the founder and designer of smARTWORKS, Inc. where she has been designing scarves and managing their production and business since 1994. Her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design and diverse textile-based professional experiences lead her to success and joy in owning her own scarf production company in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains. She can most often be found on the production floor, in her business office, or interacting with customers at fine trade shows. She feels at home as an entrepreneur in the Berkshires as it is reminiscent of her early years as a child in a family of business owners in London, England. Creative, bold, and driven are all qualities that have allowed Sonya Mackintosh to reach the success she has in a relatively short period of time. Fulfilling a lifelong dream to be in business for herself, Mackintosh has created a design company that now competes on an international level. Her work is well regarded and can be found in the finest of galleries, boutiques and craft shows.
Sonya Mackintosh Biography (Long Form)
Designer and Founder of smARTWORKS, Inc.
Sonya Mackintosh is the founder and designer of smARTWORKS, Inc. where she has been designing scarves and managing their production and business since 1994. Her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design and diverse textile-based professional experiences lead her to success and joy in owning her own scarf production company in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains. She can most often be found on the production floor, in her business office, or interacting with customers at fine trade shows. She feels at home as an entrepreneur in the Berkshires as it is reminiscent of her early years as a child in a family of business owners in London, England. Creative, bold, and driven are all qualities that have allowed Sonya Mackintosh to reach the success she has in a relatively short period of time. Fulfilling a lifelong dream to be in business for herself, Mackintosh has created a design company that now competes on an international level. Her work is well regarded and can be found in the finest of galleries, boutiques and craft shows.
Education
A native of London, England, Mackintosh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. However, her creative training did not start at R.I.S.D.; previously she studied art history in Avignon, France, Architecture with the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and ancient natural dye techniques in Western Turkey. Additionally, she is well schooled in the use of multi-harness looms and the production of Jacquards.
Professional Experience
Her professional career with textiles began in London where she developed her love of fabrics as an assistant to the buyer for the Reputation Fabric Company. Crossing the Atlantic she freelanced knit design for Jane Bharns Inc. and later took a position with the International Woolen Company in New York. Expanding her understanding of the textile industry, she became a senior associate with Kingsley Associates where she oversaw the entire handloom department. Through these experiences she was able to bring her dream closer to reality by starting smARTWORKS, Inc. in the basement of her house in Ghent, New York in 1994.
Her Design Inspiration and Philosophy
Drawn to the textures, colors, and patterns found in nature, Sonya's resulting scarves are nubby and uniquely three-dimensional with a mixture of yarns and tones. Those who wear them can express their own individuality and satisfy a need for style and comfort. Sonya achieves the quality she strives for in her work by manipulating traditional knitting looms and finding innovative ways to use them. She also enjoys experimenting with combinations of yarns that are affected differently by heat and water. smARTWORKS, Inc. was founded in 1994 in order to foster an environment where Sonya could focus her work on designing and producing scarves. Her scarves are well regarded and are found in fine galleries, boutiques and craft shows in the US and abroad. Her creative individuality garnered Mackintosh the Miliken Young Textile Design Award and acceptance to the highly regarded American Craft Council, Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft, and Artrider shows.
Private Life
In her free time Sonya can be found at her home in Ghent, New York, working with her horses, playing with her black Labrador retrievers, and spending time with Steve. She enjoys the outdoors, hiking, boating and reading in the sun. She also looks forward to moments spent entertaining and traveling with friends and family.
Early Years
Sonya was inspired by close family members: her grandparents experienced great success in the confections industry, her mother was the owner of a flourishing bookstore, and her father was a vibrant restaurant and private literary club owner. Her elementary and secondary education in the finest European schools, along with her rich family heritage, provided Sonya with the foundation required to emerge with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, grounded in an appreciation of the Arts.
Steven Seward Biography
Steven Seward is a native of the Berkshires and partner at smARTWORKS, Inc. He co-manages the smARTWORKS, Inc. production studio and property in addition to his duties as the owner of Seward and Sons Lawncare. Steve's smARTWORKS, Inc. responsibilties also include helping to set and achieve long term business goals and representing the company at craft shows.
You may know him from his time spent working in the family tire business in Sheffield, MA or as a local volunteer fireman. And when he isn't busy at work he enjoys time spent with his two sons, boating, traveling, and following NASCAR.
Press Placements
Click on the thumbnails below to view the original story.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is filmed wearing her "little red" Sabrina scarf on Tavis Smiley Reports aired on January 28, 2010.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is photographed wearing her "Little Red" Sabrina scarf in Berlin at the celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 2009.Click on the photo to the left for a closer look as well as the following links for more views: FoxNews video coverage, press photo gallery of the Berlin Wall Anniversary, APA coverage, and EuroNews video coverage.
The Sabrina knitted scarf in color #2245 is the "Little red scarf" worn by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the front page of the Financial Times, Saturday, February 21, 2009. This image, and similar ones have been spotted in many US newspapers and their websites including the Charlotte Observer and The Wall Street Journal.
"Secrets to a Great New Look" on ABC Channel 6 (Boston) News
"Material World," Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, December 2008/January 2009
"Living Style," Berkshire Living, November/December 2008
smARTWORKS scarf spotted "On the Street" in the New York Times, January 20, 2008
"From Basement to Small Business," Berkshire Record, January 6 - January 12, 2006
The Production Studio
You can find our studio in Sheffield, Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Mountains. We enjoy producing all of our scarves in this solo-studio space and take pride in its useful and creative environment. Please call us for an appointment and directions.
Photo archive
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge.
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Berkshire County Day School's Wear to Be show (2005)
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Holiday Sale at Dorothy Taylor in San Francisco (2005)
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Holidazzle, Kentucky Art & Craft Gallery (2005)
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Nina's Holiday Trunk Sale, Newton, MA (2005)
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Farm Chic II - a benefit for Berkshire Grown (2011)
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