Dear friends,
We want to share some important news about Calamityware — and we want to do it clearly, honestly, and without drama.
After many wonderful years, the core Calamityware team — Don, Jack, and Lynnette — is beginning a gradual retirement. This isn’t a sudden change, and it isn’t an ending. It’s a careful transition.
On July 1st, we’ll be shifting ownership of the business to a group that knows Calamityware exceptionally well: the partners at Maryland China, who have been making all of our porcelain products for more than a decade.
If you’ve owned a Calamityware mug, plate, or bowl, you already know their work. They understand the details, the quality standards, the humor, and the slightly unhinged spirit of this brand — because they’ve helped bring it to life for years. They care deeply about Calamityware and are committed to building on the foundation we’ve created, not reinventing it.
Here’s what will not change:
- The distinctive Calamityware look and tone
- The commitment to quality materials and manufacturing
- The love of odd, intricate, and slightly catastrophic designs
- The care given to customers and the community
And here’s what will change:
- Don, Lynnette, Jack, and Nina will no longer be part of the team
- Maryland China will take over leadership of production and the business itself
- Calamityware will continue forward without us at the helm
During this transition, we’ll be sharing everything we’ve learned with our friends at Maryland China — what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what makes Calamityware feel like Calamityware. We want this next chapter to succeed, and we’ll be supporting it every step of the way.
This brand has always been more than a business to us. It’s been a long, strange, joyful experiment — and we’re incredibly proud of what it’s become, and of the people who will carry it forward.
Thank you for being part of this story. We’re excited to see where it goes next.
With gratitude,
Don, Lynnette, Jack, and Nina
Rosemary Reitler
June 12, 2026
Don and Crew,
Just to say thank you for all the fine work you have done and for the many happy hours you have provided me, my family and friends. Please enjoy whatever you decide to do and always remember how many smiles and laughs you have given and continue to give us.
Rose