When I began working for Oscar de La Renta more years ago than I’d like to count, I made myself indispensable by learning everything I could about textiles. To many, sifting through piles and piles of fabric was a tiresome task, but I didn’t see it–or feel it–that way. I loved to move each piece between my thumb and fingers comparing textures, colors, drape and other details. I was fascinated by the different ways the fabrics were made and how they could be manipulated. What seemed like pesky minutiae to some was exciting to me. Luckily my enthusiasm for all things fabric had a higher purpose than just appealing to my senses–I became Oscar’s textile editor, a coveted position on the team.

Although I eventually left the fashion world to pursue other forms of design, I did not leave behind my love for textiles. I find that they continue to inform much of what I do artistically.

Throughout this last year, I have been consumed with the completion of Westbury, my retreat in the mountains of Colorado. These past few months in particular, I’ve been swimming in upholstery and other interior fabrics as we finalize the decorating. Simultaneously, I was in the midst of planning my Autumn Collection. At some point, long after decisions were made for both Westbury and the Collection, it became obvious that the two endeavors were intrinsically linked without my conscious intention. It’s as if by osmosis that the papers and ribbons I chose belong in the rooms of Westbury.

In a sense they do, I suppose. I am always driven by the seasons and had long ago decided to give Westbury an autumnal feel. I love the rich palette of reds and browns and greens and oranges. Additionally, I am tactile by nature, so things with a lot of texture always appeal to me.

Call it an obsession with fabrics or just a coincidence, but either way, textiles have yet again proven a huge boon to my creative process.