A Place for All the Little Things: Q&A with Courtney Levi Hunter & The Waight
Please welcome Courtney Levi Hunter of The Waight, one of the nine participating businesses at the Seattle Restored Collective Market! After a career as a creative director and knitwear designer, Courtney is pursuing practical, mix-and-match ceramics at the Collective Market as a way to bring community together.
Q: What drew you to creating your business idea?
A: Making ceramics as a business came about recently for me. I was truly pulled to it by something nagging inside me that I had to do it. Ceramics has been a hobby of mine for 5 years, and only since September of 2022 have I been pursuing it full time. Before this, I was a knitwear designer and creative director for companies from Ralph Lauren to LOFT, and I did that for 17 years. Last year my husband and I moved to Seattle from New York City and also had our first baby, so while all this change was happening, it felt like a natural time to reevaluate all aspects of my life and that was when I saw it was a natural time to make this transition to pursuing my passion.
I approach ceramics with fashion in my mind, thinking of it in collections and imagining how it will look in someone’s home or on their table. I also take care to make pieces that can be mixed and matched and won’t go out of style. The idea is you can start to build a collection of pieces, but you don’t have to buy a full set all at once.
People often wonder about the name The Waight. It is a play on the idea that good things are worth waiting for and embodies the principles of slow living.
Q: Why did you want to participate in the Seattle Restored program?
A: I believe stores can be a place of discovery and add value to a community. Downtown Seattle has so much potential and being a part of helping to reinvigorate it is important and exciting to me. Now that I am spending quite a bit more time in Downtown it is even more apparent how needed this program is and has only made me more passionate about it.
Q: What’s it like working with other participants on the Collective?
A: I am learning from every single other participant in this program. Even if our businesses are different or our approach is different, there is something to be learned from each business owner. Everyone is very generous with their time and knowledge and it has been helpful to me in a meaningful way.
Q: Has this experience changed your thinking about how to proceed with your business in the future?
A: It has made me more excited about brick and mortar and I’ve been doing lots of daydreaming about what could be next. I have always enjoyed visual merchandising and it’s been an especially fun challenge with our diverse product range at the Collective. It’s been fun merchandising it in the space.
Q: Has your experience with Seattle Restored so far opened up other opportunities?
A: Yes, I have had some inquiries about custom pottery and met people who are interested in taking a class with me at some point in the future.
Q: Anything else you want us to know?
A: I recently introduced a collection around artful organization that includes trays, bowls, and small trinket dishes for organizing all those little things you never know what to do with, everything from mail, to jewelry, to fruit on your countertop.
VISIT THE WAIGHT AT THE COLLECTIVE MARKET
Address: 1503 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
Open hours:
Thursday | 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Friday | 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Saturday | 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday | 12:00 am – 5:00 pm
Dates: January 14 – April 23