The Unemployed Philosophers Guild traces its origins back to 1990, when two creative and determined brothers from New York, Stephan and David, found themselves grappling with the challenges of making a living.

One night they stumbled upon a unique process that enabled them to make pins and earrings that they successfully sold on the gritty streets of Manhattan.

That initial success led to local stores expressing a keen interest in their products, and prompting requests for an expanded product line. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of our journey from selling on the streets to our present day “Ivory Tower.”,

As demand for their distinctive creations grew, the proceeds funded the brothers’ graduate studies and also allowed them to pursue their artistic aspirations. For Stephan, it meant delving into the world of philosophy, while David became a historian and filmmaker.

In 1992, Stephan named the enterprise the Unemployed Philosophers Guild, a nod to the realization that making a livelihood as a philosopher was unlikely. “Spinoza was a lens grinder,” he would often say.

Thirty-three years after the the two brothers started making pins and earrings in their mother’s kitchen, the Unemployed Philosophers Guild stands proudly as a group of artists, writers, philosophers, and unconventional thinkers, forging ahead with creativity and resilience. Today, the Guild is comprised of eleven creative people who bring their unique passions and energies to creating gifts for your stores!