Heritage and Hands, designed by Hollis Maxson, is a fashion collection rooted in craft traditions of rural Appalachia. This collection explores what it means to create functional clothing that balances utility with regional artistic heritage. Inspired by the generational mastery found in communities like Berea, Kentucky, the garments allow the physical inputs of traditional craft—such as quilting and weaving—to directly inform their structure and design. Built on a foundation of land stewardship and grassroots organizing, the collection honors the complex, matriarchal lineages of the rural South while inviting a necessary reckoning with the places we call home.

As the textile artist behind the collection's palette, I worked alongside Hollis to cultivate a color story that reflects the physical reality of Appalachian craft. My process began with extensive color testing, carefully adjusting natural dye recipes to match our reference tones and build a cohesive visual narrative. Translating these samples into production required preparing each natural dye vat from scratch to ensure consistent color quality. By managing the chemistry and physical demands of the vats, I hand-dyed the entire run of yardage to ground the garments in traditional, tactile craft.