My father and I have always shared a love of textiles and a good story. An avid reader of history, composer of music, devotee of film and animation, and pioneer of color photography, William Eggleston may be deeply responsible for my own love of story in everything. My mother - less voyeur, wildly imaginative and exceptionally literary - maintains the other half of my love for the narrative. 

What began as a series of whimsical trips to see my father in Memphis became an obsession for his drawings and a greater understanding of his sensibility as an artist, and ultimately as a photographer. We shared art supplies and our own drawings and paintings, studied books, watched David Lynch movies, listened to Japanese contemporary pop, and ate sushi together, repetitively and devotedly. 

Thus began a journey into and across stacks of his drawings, both preserved and unpreserved, some neatly archived in boxes, others crumpled up under the couch seat, or on scraps of paper, receipts and the like. I gathered them, studied over them, played with them, and it began to evolve. I stepped into perhaps the boldest part of myself, creatively directing and designing fiercely, taking risks in scale and color. I felt courageous even, and I felt like what I was doing really mattered. I could see the spark in my father's eyes and I could feel in my heart that what we were doing was significant. It was surely worth a debut collection - but so much more.

As I began to identify with this part of myself more strongly, I thought back to a story my mother had told me years ago and since does not remember. In Nashville's Vanderbilt Hospital, in the 1970's, she recalls my dad standing over me, newly born, declaring, "Let's name her Electra! Electra Eggleston!" My mom cried through tears, "Over my dead body!" (Did I forget to mention histrionics in relation to both parents?) I asked her what was wrong with that name. She said Electra was "...electrifying, charged, explicit."

Yes, it certainly was all those things, and perfectly fitting for an American textile and design brand founded on what I may look back on as an artistic rebirth.

I hope you will find your own stories, and even create some new ones of your own, inspired by this unique connection I share with you: our debut print collection and featured artist, William Eggleston I. Maybe my story will remind you of an aspect of one of your own relationships and the narratives within it. Fabric is tactile, and not behind a piece of glass, in a frame, or in a gallery. Get your hands on it, live in it and keep the narrative going. We would consider it a dream fulfilled for you to be a part of our story.

-Andra Eggleston