Charleston, South Carolina, designer Elizabeth Calcote looked to the singular style of the South when she launched Sistersgrimm, her line of silk scarves, in 2013. “The South, and Charleston in particular, inspired my color stories, from the purple of wisteria to the red rooftops of our skyline,” she says. “Each Sistersgrimm design is a small piece of Southern Americana, with a history like our own.”
Aqua Hanging Cloud and Ruby Calamity Jane bandanas from Sistersgrimm.
Calcote, who studied printmaking at the College of Charleston, prints silk scarves, bandanas, and pocket squares (which can be tied at the wrist in lieu of a bracelet) by hand. “I carve the design into a wood block and after I stretch the silk, I press the carved block rolled with ink onto the fabric,” Calcote says. After the first application of ink dries, Calcote dyes the fabric again to achieve a super saturated hue and hems each piece to a specific size.
Jade Cleopatra scarf.
Blush Theodora scarf.
And she isn’t stopping at accessories. This summer, Sistersgrimm will launch the first products in a line of housewares including block-printed tablecloths and tea cloths inspired by lowcountry botanicals including indigo, cotton, and camellias. “I love a good tablescape as much as I love a good outfit,” Calcote says. “So I’m very excited to branch out.”
Periwinkle Athena scarf.
Designs are available online through Sistersgrimm and exclusive pieces are available through Ibu Movement, just in time for Mother’s Day if you order by May 4. Sistersgrimm will also accept custom commissions until April 30.
Editors note: With Father’s Day just around the corner, Calcote’s stylish pocket squares make a great gift for any dapper Dad, too.
Emerald Leon and Chestnut Leon pocket squares.
