If you follow our studio closely or if you have ever been shopping with me, you know I am obsessed with fabrics and ribbon. My first trips out of the mommy nest, happened just 3 short years ago, when I went on my first business trip to San Francisco. On that trip I began seriously shopping for ribbons or materials that could set my bouquets a part. I never use standard acetate junk ribbon on my designs, so I am always searching for yummy, sexy ribbon. Since San Francisco, I have been to NYC several times where I added to my ribbon collection. I have been to all of the famous ribbon stores in NYC and I truly love them all, but last week I found a fabulous new source and I am super pleased with this finding. Please meet Heirloom Ribbon Company.  

Opening up my ribbon purchases was really fun and I am thrilled to now have this company as a resource for my brides. Here is a little history about this fabulous ribbon company.

www.alextex.com
In August 1988, Alexandria Textiles, Inc. was born as the engine for Jane Porter’s creative textile design.   Jane’s paternal grandfather, Joseph Najarian, a 1912 Olympian Gymnast from Alexandria, Egypt, came to the United States in the 1920’s to work in a silk ribbon mill in Greene, NY.  Today, the Najarian family still runs the last narrow goods mill in the USA:  www.heirloomribbons.com

Jane Porter’s passion for textiles began at an early age.  Growing up near New York City, her grandmother, Ardemis Bedrosian, a fashion designer in her own right, taught Jane about excellent fabrics.  Together they designed and sewed all of Jane’s dance and party dresses in the 1950’s and 60’s.   Jane always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer and launched her first commercial line of clothing in 1968, making and selling dresses in Egyptian cotton.
A member of Colgate University’s first coed class in 1970, she pursued costume design for the University Theatre.    After careers in Nursing and Investment Management, she returned to her true love–textile design. Studying at Philadelphia Guild for Handweavers, she learned to spin, weave and dye with natural dyes, and then opened a school for the fiber arts in Chadds Ford, PA.

Mentor and Master Dyer Michele Wiplinger of Earthues, helped Jane focus her passion on printing fabric with natural dyes in the summer of 2000 during a master class in Michele’s Seattle studio. Loving to dress up for work,  she returned to her first love of fashion design. Her lines for the professional urban woman reflected a comfortable elegance in fabrics that travel well.  She is a member of Atelier Designers and One of a Kind Show.

And Heirloom Ribbons:
www.heirloomribbons.com
L.A. Najarian is one of the last operating mill in America, weaving high quality narrow goods for many applications. Aram Ribbons is  unique line designed for the accessory and garment industry.  These specialty ribbons are also used for decorating, floral arrangements, weddings, gift wrapping and crafts.   They are washable and colorfast.  The fabric is strong and lends itself to multiple uses.  Attention to detail and creating a suitable hand is paramount in every weave structure.

The Heirloom Ribbon company serves wedding and event planners, craft shops, florists, political election committees, schools and universities, men and women’s fashion designers, and the accessory markets.  These are ribbons that your customers will pass down to future generations.

I have had a lovely time this week communicating with Jane and I am excited to be working with this historic company. I love this story and I am excited about supporting this company!! Wait until you see what I create with this ribbon. We will be using this ribbon this weekend!!!!!!!