Coppersmithing is one of the world’s oldest trades, dating back 60 centuries by some estimates. In Santa Clara del Cobre, Mexico, the native P’urhépecha were considered the world’s most advanced metallurgists of pre-Hispanic times. With skills honed and passed on since the 16th century, 82 percent of the population continues to work in copper crafting – in fact, there are an estimated 2,000 coppersmiths working in more than 300 workshops; many of them are direct descendants of the early P’urhépecha. Growing up in the region, Founder and Creative Director Alejandra Ochoa de Thompson, dreamed of bringing the artistic beauty of copper and time-honored craftsmanship of  Santa Clara del Cobre to the United States. In 2002, that dream was realized when Thompson started by selling copper sinks at markets and showrooms. As the unique copper sinks started to build momentum, they caught the eyes of national retailers at an International Builders Show. Soon,  Thompson products could be found in Home Depot Design Centers. A few years later, Thompson added retail and merchandising leadership by bringing on former Thomasville Furniture CEO, Fred Star. Today, the family business has expanded its offerings of kitchen and bath products from copper to hammered stainless steel, ceramic, and composite granite.