David has known John Derian for many years. Our shops are just a few blocks apart, and he’s been a longtime customer and friend. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the John Derian Company, and we had the privilege of stepping into his world — not just as fellow shopkeepers, but as admirers of his quirky magic.

If you know John, you know he didn’t take the traditional path. No business plan, no five-year vision — just a lifelong love of making things. Since childhood, he’s been drawn to the handmade, the old, the oddly beautiful. That instinct never left him.“It was a passion that turned into a business,” he told us in his studio, surrounded by decoupage plates and antique imagery.

It all started in the late ’80s, when he found a box of 18th- and 19th-century prints. One thing led to another — collages, then decoupage — and before long, what began in his apartment grew into a beloved brand, known around the world. But John never lost the personal touch. He’s in the shops and studios daily — arranging, re-arranging, creating, and with customers. His stores feel like a dream: part old-world curiosity shop, part Americana, part John.

What he does is authentic. That word gets thrown around a lot, but with John, it really applies. He didn’t follow trends. He followed his gut. He made what he loved, and trusted that others might love it too. John is humble about it all. He’ll say he “didn’t know what he was doing,” but I think that’s part of the magic — trusting beauty, and letting it lead.

Through collaborations, experiments, storefront expansions, and even the shift to online sales during COVID, John has stayed nimble without losing the soul of what he does. And after 30 years, his studio still makes every decoupage piece right here in New York.

David always said, "You can’t fake soul. You either build a brand that means something, or you don’t."  John built something that means a lot. To celebrate 30 years of creativity and friendship, we’re releasing a limited-edition tee featuring the iconic red anchor from John’s decoupage archive.

Welcome to John's world. You’ll want to stay awhile. 

[shop the Anchor Tee]