Collection: ABOUT

Hi, I'm Jeanine Matthews. As the creative force of LILLAGREN, I am inspired by smart design and slow fashion. I see beauty in details, and use my photos of city and plant elements in original fabric designs and accessories. I want to capture bits of the character of a place; what draws us in, what makes a story. Each Lillagren scarf begins a tale of a place, a word, a feeling. Where that story leads is up to you.

I started Lillagren by merging interests in photography, textiles and sustainable fashion with my professional creative experience. I hold a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington and a Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. I worked in corporate, non-profit and studio settings for years, venturing into usable art as a second or third professional adventure. Using the old sewing machine I learned on as a kid, I began to create; experimenting with fabrics, printing and left-handed hemmed edges. I set out to make accessories that felt meaningful. I began to design fabrics using my photos of urban and botanical details. I made collections, themes, scarf designs with meanings. I believe scarves are a simple way to maximize a wardrobe, adding versatility and self-expression.

As a big supporter of efforts to buy better and buy less, I value thoughtful decisions about what we wear and what type of businesses we support. Lillagren and the scarves are created in this spirit--sturdy and usable art made with intention, using less harmful and more sustainable methods and materials. At every turn and step, I strive to make the details matter.

THE PRODUCT

Storied Silk. With the scarves, it's about details; what makes the story, what calls our attention and draws us in. WHAT IS THE STORY YOU WANT TO TELL?

The ELEMENTS Collection features bold, patterned silk, with illustrated details of everyday surroundings.
The STICKS + STONES Collection features vivid images of city details, enhanced with redefined name-calling words.
The CITIES + PLACES Collection features details of favorite locations in lush colors, narrated with poetic writing.

LILLAGREN scarves are versatile, usable art. Every scarf is made with two layers of 100% silk crepe de Chine. This natural material is ideal for both coolness and warmth, and considered to be the most durable of the cultivated silks. Small batches of fabric are created in the US with bio-degradable, non-toxic inks and a digital process that uses less water, electricity and fabric than conventional textile printing. Every scarf is designed and sewn in Seattle, Washington.

THE BRAND

Make the Details Matter. It’s a sentiment, a directive, a brand purpose. Notice things. Appreciate beauty in the little moments. Be informed. With LILLAGREN, everything is about making the details matter.

This means creating accessories that are both beautiful and useful. It is the way I design fabrics, research materials, and individually sew each product. It is why I continue to seek more sustainable resources and production. I believe that what we choose to wear, and how those items come to be, are not details to be taken lightly.