San Francisco shopping days as a teenager, with my sister and friends is where my love of shopping eclectic markets wherever I travel started. We would hop in the car and head out for an adventure. We wandered Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown like they were magical realms. Back then, World Market was on the Pier under the name Cost Plus Market, and stepping inside felt like entering a treasure trove from distant lands. Buildings full of goods from around the world—colors, textures, spices, artifacts—each one whispering a story. I was hooked. I had never seen anything like it.

Between my twenties and thirties, I found myself either working in or living near San Francisco. There was a tiny little shop tucked between the skyscrapers of the financial district, close to the old Greyhound station. I stumbled upon it one afternoon on my walk back from work. Inside were Indian and Middle Eastern treasures—flowing skirts, embroidered fabrics, incense, brass trinkets. I bought the most beautiful skirts there, pieces that made me feel like I was wearing art.

Working in the travel industry opened even more doors. Before my family grew, I had the chance to travel and explore markets around the world— In Mexico, Tijuana’s lively stalls, Guadalajara’s artisan alleys, Tolucas "tianguis" open air market. The shops and markets in Northern Japan, and the enchanting markets of Paris. Wherever I went, I found myself window-shopping, collecting, and following that subtle inner pull toward objects that spoke to my spirit.

As my life shifted in recent years, I let go of many of those treasured belongings—sold, gifted, or passed on. Yet the love for soulful, global, meaningful items never left me. It waited quietly, ready for the next chapter.

This store is part of that chapter—an offering of beauty, energy, and wonder from around the world, curated with heart and inspired by a lifetime of following what calls to my soul.