Shannon Coles Latham always knew she would own her own business. Little English, a line of traditional children’s clothing and gifts, celebrated its 20th anniversary last year with Shannon at the helm. “Everyone in my family is an entrepreneur. My father Alfred Cowles Jr. owned Bluff City Electronics, and my brothers, Alfred and Daniel Cowles, still own and operate it today. My sister Colleen Capstick founded Need a Sitter almost thirty years ago.”
It was a very natural extension for Shannon to form a business partnership with her daughter Dunn. After graduating from Ole Miss in 2015, Dunn (thinking she would help for a little while) joined her mother on a buying trip; she immediately became an integral part of the business.
Little English is a wholesale manufacturer of timeless children’s clothing, including newborn take-home gowns, smocked bubbles and dresses, as well as beautiful woven blankets, towels and other gifts through its 3 Marthas acquisition. The clothing line initially focused on newborn to size 6, but as the children grew, their loyal customers began asking them to grow the line. To meet the demand, Shannon and Dunn created BISBY, a line of modern children’s clothing in sizes 3 to 14. Dunn was able to help create a more fashion-forward look for the BISBY clothing line by pairing classic fabrics with more modern silhouettes. Their products are carried at many local stores, including Cotton Tails, Pickering Boxwood and Babcock Gifts.
Fabrics for the clothing come from all over the world, including France, Hong Kong and El Salvador. Shannon and Dunn often tweak these international finds to opt for colors that work well for American children’s clothing, and Dunn has even hand drawn some of the fabrics from scratch. They work closely with mills in Spain that can produce their volume at the speed they need to get the products to their customers on a timely basis.
International sourcing has led to wonderful family travel for the Lathams. Shannon grew up traveling internationally and wanted to afford the same opportunity to her family. The trips may be organized around business, including scouring fabric markets in Paris for vintage textiles or meeting with a favorite supplier in El Salvador, but they nearly always include some fun. “We’ve climbed Machu Picchu, visited the Taj Mahal, ridden elephants in India, driven Porsches in Hong Kong, shopped for jewelry and rugs in Jaipur and gone teal shooting in Central America.”
“Success to me is enjoying what I do every day and making sure my employees understand our mission: to provide families with special clothing and gifts that they are truly excited about. It’s a garment that we are selling – but it’s also a memory.” Whether for a first communion, a birthday party or a wedding, many special occasions are enjoyed by children donning Shannon and Dunn’s clothing. Scottie Scheffler’s little boy was spotted in a Little English romper at his father’s recent win at the PGA championship. Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush’s children were all dressed in Little English smocked outfits in a recent family Christmas card.
Shannon now resides in Lexington Kentucky, but she credits Memphis and Hutchison School for the confidence and knowledge she needed to start her own business. “Growing up in Memphis, we were dressed in the finest of southern clothing – beautiful dresses from the Woman’s Exchange and a lot of heirloom pieces sewed by local ladies. That sort of set my taste in the direction of very classic children’s clothes.”
Shannon also emphasizes that allowing her to attend Hutchison was one of the best things her parents did for her. “The teachers were so supportive and gave us plenty of opportunities to speak in front of a crowd and carry ourselves as confident young women. I really strengthened my confidence and found my creativity there."
Shannon built upon those nurtured strengths to create Little English - a woman owned and operated design house with tradition at its heart.