One day in 2012, Rebecca Reed picked up a pencil and watercolors, sat down and began drawing and painting with a laser focus on fashion. She produced stacks of paper featuring mostly dresses and occasionally accessories, each one different from the last.
Once the drawings started, they didn’t stop. Rebecca’s mother, Jenny Reed, who has a degree in fashion merchandising, had some of the drawings beautifully matted and framed, but there were so many that she wasn’t quite sure what to do with all of them.
“A visit from my former college roommate, who is now an art therapy instructor, was the beginning of turning those paintings into greeting cards and gift bags,” explains Jenny.
Because of the work and dexterity required to turn the art into cards and bags, Rebecca’s ClothesLine has become a mother-daughter project, one that they clearly adore doing together.
“I feel happy and useful, and I love accomplishing something,” enthuses Rebecca. “I also like sharing the experience with my mom.”
Jenny adds, “I love how each design is unique and how proud Rebecca is of her work. When I finish an item, I hate to part with it!”
Rebecca has Down syndrome, but she is very independent and enjoys connecting with her customers.
“Making money isn’t the top priority,” says Jenny. “For Rebecca, meeting and interacting with her customers and receiving compliments and encouragement on her work is the most important part.”
When asked what her dreams are for her drawings and development as an artist, Rebecca doesn’t miss a beat.
“I really just want my work to be noticed,” she says with a smile and a sparkle in her eyes.
She is well on her way. Rebecca has loyal customer friends, sells occasionally at craft events and a curated selection of her work is available for purchase at Inside Out Studio in Hamilton, where she is an art student. Rebecca and Jenny have recently expanded their product line to include bookmarks, which have become a popular item.
Rebecca finds inspiration in thick fashion tomes she checks out from the library, in the pages of fashion magazines and clothing catalogs and in style-focused movies like “The Devil Wears Prada” (both one and two, she is quick to point out), “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” and “Cruella,” plus TV shows like “Making the Cut” and “Project Runway.”
Her preferred medium is watercolor and she combines standard colors with pearlescent watercolor paints for the patterns and designs on the dresses. Rebecca’s precise, swooping lines are reminiscent of drawings from a Parisian designer’s sketchbook and the dresses feature a wide range of thoughtfully chosen color palettes that favor feminine pastels.
For her part, Jenny carefully cuts out the drawings and affixes them to gift bags and card stock for greeting cards and thick water color paper for bookmarks. She adds delicate details, outlines with glitter and attaches shimmering ribbons. Each item is unique and infused with the love and care they take to create them.
For those interested in viewing and purchasing Rebecca’s ClothesLine products, Rebecca and Jenny plan to host open house “Show and Sells” at their West Chester Township residence twice a year. Their first event will be held this month, September 27 from 1-4 p.m.
Interested shoppers are encouraged to reach out to Rebecca at RebeccasClothesLine@gmail.com for details about upcoming events or to set up a meeting to view a selection of products.
“I love how each design is unique + how proud Rebecca is of her work." - Jenny Reed