By Shayna Mace | Photography by Shanna Wolf
Laura and Sachi Komai are out to prove that anyone can be creative. creative.’ And they dismiss it completely,” says Laura. “We’re just trying to move them from ‘I’m not creative’ to maybe, ‘This is something that I can think about doing.’
The sisters have co-owned Anthology, their paper and craft shop, since 2008. Located on the 200 block of State Street, Laura notes she and Sachi have worked on the same block for 20-plus years. The duo started out as managers at Little Luxuries, then struck out on their own to open Anthology.
Laura explains that the shop’s name refers to a collection of artistic works — like a music anthology or a poet’s compilation — and the sisters chose it to reflect a curated collection of artworks.
“It’s things we love, gathered,” says Laura.
The two-story shop carries a dizzying array of cards, gifts, stickers, T-shirts, and crafting and paper supplies. Laura says the sisters, who work with “easily over 200 vendors,” look for items from smaller letterpress studios and independent artists from across the U.S., although many are from the Midwest.
“Our customers like the mix of things [here]. They come in here and feel inspired, but also happy,” says Laura. “We have a really unique space, and I love it. [Our location] is equally accessible to everyone — we get people from all sides of town — and [from] all over the world. If you’re visiting Madison, you’re going to come State Street.”
The sisters are also artists and sell their own work at Anthology. Sachi draws and is an illustrator and Laura focuses on collage and photography.
Working with her sister for the last 23 years has been a joy, says Laura.
“It’s funny, some people are like, ‘I could never work with my sister.’ But it’s really interesting; we have different strengths. We really balance each other out, and it works well,” she says.
230 State St., anthologymadison.com
