Thatchers' Pink Box
Here's a little basic information regarding vintage Lilly Pulitzer fabric patterns. If this is a review for you, please just read along patiently while appreciating the fact that I've kept this short, as I could go on and on about it.
Suzie Zuzek dePoo, Martha dePoo and Leigh Martin Hooten are three artists who designed patterns for Key West Hand Print Fabrics(KWHPF)through out the 1960s, 70s and into the 1980s, during which time, KWHPF produced fabric for Lilly Pulitzer. Key West Hand Print Fabrics was founded in 1961 by Jimmy Russell and Peter Pell. Mr. Pell did coloration for KWHPF.
They, as fabric designers, had license to use their own artistic vision when they created prints for Lilly and they did! This is no more true of anyone than Suzie Zuzek dePoo who created the vast majority of Lilly patterns throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s while she maintained her position as head designer for KWHPF for nearly twenty five years. Martha dePoo and Leigh Martin were also very influential and created a multitude of beautiful patterns that were used by Lilly.
I've collected (DH would say "purchased", I prefer "collected") hundreds of vintage fabric patterns by the above mentioned artists from the period when they created prints for Lilly. I love them, I cherish them. If the house was burning down (God forbid), I'd likely run right by the wedding photos and grab my vintage Lilly fabric...I'm just being honest here.
Below are examples of patterns done by the three mentioned artists during the 1970s. The three patterns on the left were done by Suzie Zuzek dePoo, the pattern on the top right was done by Leigh Martin Hooten and the lower right pattern was done by Martha dePoo.
Vintage Lilly Pulitzer Fabric designed by: Suzie Zuzek dePoo,
Martha dePoo and Leigh Martin Hooten
I've always been under the impression that the only additional patterns that I might come across would be through online auction sites or through the occasional person who finds me, through my shop, to tell me that their Floridian Grandmother has "all this really bright old fabric" and that they'd like to sell it (I love those people by the way).
I never imagined that someone could
somehow manage to get three original Lilly artists to collaborate and design fabric today. But, I'm so happy to say that that is exactly what a woman, by the name of Becky Smith, did. She wanted to create fabric that had the same style as our beloved vintage Lilly prints. So, rather than looking for someone who could mimic those patterns, she went straight to the source and met with Suzie Zuzek dePoo, Leigh Martin Hooten and Martha dePoo, who agreed to design patterns for her. To put it casually (because after all, this is a blog), this is a really big deal folks!
Becky contacted me a few months back and informed me of her fabric and more specifically of, her chair, "The Thatcher". She received my name from Martha dePoo, with whom I'd been in contact because I had a few questions regarding vintage Lilly fabric. I actually had a few hundred questions but, I managed to keep it to a minimum. Ms. dePoo was nice enough to take time to answer my questions and realized that I might (ha!
might) have an interest in Thatchers' new fabrics. I'm so grateful that she made the connection.
So, after a few conversations with Becky and taking time to look at Thatchers' web-site, I requested her company's "Pink Box" which is filled with fabric swatches. Once I received it, I was able to actually feel the fabric and get a first hand look at the prints. The fabric has such a nice soft texture and the patterns are gorgeous. There are four patterns in varying colors. I have to admit that my favorite pattern is "Les Trois Princesses De Le Mer" (translation for those of us not fluent in French: "The Three Princesses of the Sea") which is covered with mermaids (I happen to like the pink and green version the best, although the green and pink is nice too). The pattern shows mermaids who are engaged in a variety of activities including, sitting on a shell while looking into a mirror, talking on a
shell-phone and, of course, taking time out to cuddle a pet sea horse. It's just too fun.
The fabric, in textile terms, is a cotton glazed chintz. It's upholstery quality so, you may have drapes made, through your designer, for your entire house. If you're not in need of window treatments, you might consider using the fabric to have pillows made or benches covered or seat cushions or upholstered headboards or...you get the point. It's produced in a fabric Mill that's located in Southern France. Obviously, for Becky, who lives in St. Louis, this wasn't a choice based on convenience. She spent a great deal of time searching for a manufacturer who could make the highest quality fabric. She ended up going with the French Mill that actually produced fabric for her very own great-great grandmother years earlier. So they came with a pretty high recommendation. This also allows her to travel to and from France on a regular basis...which, I'm guessing didn't hurt.
Keep in mind though, that it wasn't just the desire to create amazing fabric that drove Becky. She initially set out to make a great chair. But, this was not going to be just any chair. It is a "bespoke" chair, meaning that they are custom made and decidedly
not mass produced. The chair that she created is, of course, upholstered in her "timeless" fabric. It is a chair made with the belief that it will become a cherished family heirloom. This chair is so special, it's been given a name, it's appropriately known as, "The Thatcher". It can be seen in the photo below. No, this photo wasn't taken in my living room, it came from Thatchers'.
The "Thatcher"
I want one of these chairs for every room in my house. I'm not sure how to incorporate it into my somewhat rustic style kitchen with its copper farm-house sink but, just give me some time and I'll figure out a way.
If you love this fabric as much as I do, please take the time to visit Thatchers' web-site and be sure to read more about the fabric artists during your visit. See link below.
http://www.thatchersfinetimelessfabric.com/
