I started collecting Vera Neumann fabrics accidentally when I came across some of her scarves at an Upper East Side street fair in the early eighties. That’s when street fairs were real community events organized by little old ladies with kidskin gloves and matching handbags. Digging through their remnants of costume jewelry and scarves up for sale on a folding card table, I found my first five scarves. Since then, it has been a passion to collect and find more of the originals.
I had never heard of Vera before, being more familiar with Scandinavian design firms such as Marimekko and Picknick, which I grew up with. But I was immediately fascinated. The color ways chosen by this venerable design icon are full of life like the bubbling expectations of spring and the summer to come. Her brush work is fresh and clear, inspiring a carefree cheerfulness just like the feeling I get seeing the first crocuses peep out of the ground. Thanks to my dear friend Lyndon, who is a highly accomplished hunter of vintage modern everything, I now have the addition of a bed linen set that gets dusted off every spring and lights up my bedroom all summer long.
Vera Neumann history
Vera Neumann’s fabric designs started in her kitchen and quickly moved to Ossining NY where she created the Printex Company with her husband George Neumann. Regina Molaro writes in a 2007 blog post from Global License: “A pioneer in the licensing industry, Vera fostered many successful partnerships with both domestic and international manufacturers. After a series of buyouts, several management mishaps, and Vera’s death in 1993, her vast archive of contemporary work ended up in a storage facility in Georgia.” In 2005, fashion industry veteran Susan Seid purchased the collection, and has rebuilt the brand as The Vera Company. Anthropology did a series of items three years ago and this year Target has re-issued some of her scarves.
By putting on one of her scarves you almost feel like wearing a magic mantle. Many of my mother’s generation—both fashion and home enthusiasts—recall Vera’s bold, contemporary designs and the iconic ladybug symbol that often accompanied her distinctive signature.
Now we are the next generation to follow suit.
More info: “Vera, The Art and life of an Icon” by Susan Seid. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 9/1/2010
Reminds me of garage sale-ing when I was a kid in upstate NY. You never know what treasures you’ll find.
I love the colors in the bed cover in the photo too!
Hi! In the 1970’s one of the first glamorous bed sheet sets I bought was a beautiful Vera sheet set in gorgeous blues and greens graduating inwards to yellow. The pillowcase textile design was so great; when they were joined together on a double bed it created one crescent shape – very original for the time. The quality was excellent and I kept the set for decades, only throwing it out when it became far too worn to use – about 15 years ago. So that’s not bad longevity for a sheet set! Now I see her designs on the Internet and am staggered by her marvellous imagination and subsequent designs. There should be a film made about her.