For a while now, I have had intense feelings of nostalgia and longing for the simplicity of my youth. Before moving to Cleveland over 10 years ago, I grew up in Indiana, where my childhood summers were spent camping outside, catching lightning bugs, and picking strawberries with my family.
When we began this collection, I started by creating a mood board of my past memories and experiences from growing up in Indiana. I kept seeing a pattern throughout the photos of green fields, barnhouse-style buildings, fresh fruit at the market, and more. It all led to what this collection has become, which is a nod to not only my midwest upbringing, but also to my family members, each one contributing to my life in more ways than they know.
Among working on this collection and the feelings of longing for simpler times, I talked to my therapist to get her insight. What she said, I think sums up what this collection means to me — “maybe you aren’t longing to be home, as in the place you grew up, but to be surrounded by the people who feel like home, and make you feel unconditionally loved, no matter where they may be.”
I hope this collection gives you the same feelings of home that it gives me.
With love & sincerely, ER.
