MY STORY:
My career as a textile designer started in the early 90s, with Murphy Artisan Ties. At the time, I had just graduated from college and was spending the summer with my father, making hand painted canvas products for craft shows in the Pacific Northwest. Our art caught the eye of the vice president of Mallory and Church, a large menswear company based in Seattle, WA. He asked if we would be interested in designing a unique collection of hand painted silk neckties for their private label division. We established a small design studio in northern Washingtion state, where we trained local artists how to paint on silk and replicate our designs by hand. The finished silk was cut and sewn into luxury neckwear at factories in the Seattle and New York garment centers. Our line was succesfully launched and sold to large department stores and menswear shops nationwide.
My father eventually moved to Seattle, where he expanded the operation and opened a small retail store at The Wallingford Center. I was living in New York, where I managed the production side of the business and designed half of the yearly collection. As the business evolved and we began to diversify, we introduced our own line of scarves and ties to smaller boutiques and gift shop owners/buyers at The American Craft Council Show, The Rosen Buyers Market, and The Chicago One of a Kind Show. By the year 2000, we dropped the larger corporate accounts, and focused on servicing our 200+ wholesale accounts.
Our little company produced thousands of yards of beautiful hand painted silk over the course of these years and had established wonderful relationships with our loyal clients and collectors accross the nation. Our art was recognized by the Japanese government, and my father was honored to attend the Osaka World Expo, where our work was described as an "outstanding example of American textiles". We had the good fortune to become successful working artists with the help of those who believed in us and enjoyed our art enough to wear it over their hearts. My father passed away in 2010 and as a new mother, I was forced to give up the business.
I had always wanted to take classes at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC to further develop my understanding of industrial patternmakeing and clothing production. I persevered, and was able to fulfill my dream of producing a small collection of hand painted silk dresses and accessories, out of my Brooklyn studio, before I moved back to Baltimore, MD to be closer to my Mother. I continued my education with courses in European Tailoring, Pattern Making and Couture Techniques, under the direction of Ella Pritsker at the Maryland Center of Fashion Design and opened a design studio in southern Pennsylvania. Here, I enjoyed several years of stability and creative growth designing bespoke garments, making silk accessories, teaching classes, and presenting my new work at country clubs and fashion shows throughout the northeast.
My studio is now located in Olympia, WA where my child is starting college. I am exploring new opportunities in the area to share my skillset through teaching classes, expanding into local markets, and continuing to provide custom clothing, art and accessories for my beloved clientel. If you are looking for something unique, heartfelt and beautiful to wear or give as a gift, I would be delighted to design something with you and our bring ideas to life together.