What do the island nation of Jamaica, the business classes of the University of Florida, the literature classes of the Universite de Niamey in Niger and the highlands of Peru have in common? They represent four points giving shape to Marcel Miller, a minority-owned eco-luxury business devoted to the highest standards in product, production and sustainability.

The Beginning

Arthur Titus and Antoinette Tidjani Alou are brother and sister who originally hail from Jamaica. Their Marcel Miller adventure began in 1999 when Arthur was studying for his Masters Degree in Business at the University of Florida. Antoinette was a professor of Romance Language and Literature.

Through his research for a case competition in a marketing class and the encouragement of his Peruvian roommate, Arthur discovered Peru’s rich textile traditions. Arthur visited Peru and studied the possibility of creating a socially responsible business that would preserve tradition and delight customers. With Antoinette's creative hand as Artistic Director, Marcel Miller was launched.

The Heart

Marcel Miller is committed to luxurious products, but that is merely the beginning. Marcel Miller stands for products that, as Arthur says, are authentic expressions of the traditions, the passions and the fascination of a people – products graced with the soulful quality imparted only by the touch of the human hand.

But still there is more. Marcel Miller is committed to fair working conditions and wages that exceed, sometimes by multiples, the prevailing scale for the Peruvian artisans. This is not the easiest way to do business, but ease is a single and slight virtue to Arthur and Antoinette. They find doing good things for people a far greater virtue and core value.

Though Antoinette is now living in Niger and teaching at the Universite de Niamey, she and Marcel remain the social conscience of Marcel Miller. They are proud of their commitment to social sustainability and the positive impact their business has had on the lives of the local artisans, including narrowing a huge gender-based wage disparity.

Marcel Miller is also committed to being a steward of the environment. The luxurious baby alpaca throw is pure nature—natural hues, no dyes or chemical scouring needed or used. Similarly, the sumptuous cotton in Marcel Miller's throw is organic with a vegetable-based, organic resin wash only—no dyes have been used.

Not only does Marcel Miller offer eco-luxury, but it runs its business in an eco-conscious way by going paperless, using recycled supplies and taking other steps to reduce its environmental footprint.

The Highlights

We congratulate Arthur and Antoinette for their deep committment to growth as an eco-friendly, sustainable brand that is steeped in tangible history and relevance to the artisans while offering unsurpassed luxury and relevance to the recipient.

People are noticing! In August, the PUR line (our organic cotton throw) was named Finalist in the New York Home Textiles Market Week, Best New Product Award.

Stay tuned, it’s just the beginning of the wonderful things Marcel Miller will accomplish. And right now we're honored to offer two exceptionally beautiful eco-luxury throws that will brighten any decor.

Gifts with style and relevance from a socially responsible small business . . .