For those of you who have an interest in quality design, fashion, great colors, unique patterns, and a good cause, then Proud Mary ( www.proudmary.org ) has something for you. Harper Poe, co-owner of the company took a few minutes to let me in on the background of how the company began, what it is today and even a little bit about herself.
Q: What is your background?
A: I’m 30 years old. I grew up in Charlotte, NC. Graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Construction Management. I thought I wanted to build houses but I later figured out that I wanted to design their interiors. After traveling and living in Europe, Central America and Colorado for 4 years I finally moved to Los Angeles and got a “real job” working for interior designer Ruthie Sommers ( www.chapmanradcliffhome.com/ruthieSommers.html. ) There I discovered my passion for textiles. After LA, I lived in NY for 4 years where I met my business partner Molly and started Proud Mary in 2007.
Q: How did you get into this business?
A: My first real job was working for interior designer extraordinaire, Ruthie Sommers in Los Angeles. I realized that I loved the products that make a space unique like furniture, textiles, tiles and accessories. During a Habitat for Humanity build in Chile in 2006 I absolutely fell in love with their tradition of textiles and crafts. That trip solidified my love of all things textile and decided then to start a textile design company where all of the fabrics would be printed or woven by artisan groups in developing countries.
Q: Why Charleston, SC?
A: My husband and I visited Charleston after our wedding last April. I have lived in Charleston before and love it’s history and charm as well as the close proximity to my family. I was surprised when my husband said, “I could live here”, especially since he hails from Southern California. We spent the summer debating staying in NY or moving somewhere where we could “slow it down”. We both saw a lot of opportunity in Charleston and thought it would be exciting to be a part of a growing creative culture. So in September we picked up and left the big bad city to start a new life in Charleston.
Q: Where do you get your inspiration?
A: Prints and patterns are everywhere it’s so easy to find inspiration for a new fabric design. Traveling, Latin American culture, fashion, nature and architecture are big sources of inspiration.
Q: Who are your influences?
A: My business partner, Molly and I both influence each other a lot. We both see things a little differently, which is great because it broadens our capacity to create things.
Q: What do you want your viewer/ customer to get out of your art/ business?
A: I want our customer to feel a connection to the artisans that produce our products. People are very aware of thinking “green” but we’d like people to start thinking socially conscious when buying things.
Q: What is your ultimate goal for the business?
A: My ultimate goal for this business is to be able to work with artisan groups all over the world. As we grow we would like to be able to work with different non-profits that can help our artisan groups with various needs they have, especially education for their children. We would like to expand our home décor line to include furniture and ceramics and maybe one day open a brick and mortar store.
As you can see, Proud Mary is so much more than just a business. Not only do they offer incredibly unique and well designed products, but something you can feel good about buying while supporting a valuable cause.
I was fortunate enough this past holiday season to tear the wrapping paper off of a package to see the Proud Mary logo on the box. My husband got me the Diamante Tote. Not only is it awesome looking and functional,but I feel like a good person toting it around town and when people compliment the bag I get a chance to tell them all about how great Proud Mary is.
After an inspiring trip to Guatemala, Harper and Molly are excited about their developing products. Keep an eye out for two new fabrics that will be added to the line. One is a natural dyed fabric made with natural indigo, the other is an embroidered fabric created on a backstrap loom, it is in the style of a “huipil” which is a typical indigenous woman’s shirt. It is extremely time consuming but makes amazing, colorful fabrics. They also worked with a leather workshop on a great new larger/beach tote for summer (I’ll be getting that one for sure!) and met with a sewing cooperative that sews their pillows and bags. It is a great woman’s cooperative that was formed by widows of the Guatemalan civil war. They were surprised to meet the sewers because they were men!! The women that run the cooperative employ men to do some of the sewing work. Harper said, “It was fun to see women running the show!!”
Proud Mary also has a facebook page which is a great way to stay informed on the cause as well as keep up with the latest products. Ask to be a friend.
Here at {e} house studio we love to find companies like this that support great and innovative design but also have a greater purpose in mind. If you know of any other companies like Proud Mary, we would love to hear about them as well.
