Susan Hable Smith (left) / Katharine Hable Sweeney (right)
I mentioned in a previous post about upholstering newly purchased vintage chairs with Hable Construction fabric. Sister duo Susan Hable Smith & Katharine Hable Sweeney are the creative force behind this homegrown textile collection. In 1999, based on Katharine's business experience with successful retailers like Kate Spade & Ralph Lauren and Susan's art and design background, the two joined forces in launching their own line of artistically inspired handbags, home accessories, and fabric. The designs are Susan's concepts - a play on shape, color, and line - with a little shake of organic whimsy & fun. The sisters are based in New York City, but pay homage to their Texas family roots, carrying down their company name from their great grandfather's 20th century road construction business, Hable Construction.
I was first introduced to Hable bags & accessories by Bonnie Garrison & Chris Condon, owners of Pollen Flowers here in Atlanta. Back in 2001, after discovering them at the New York Gift Show, Bonnie & Chris were the first local retailers in Atlanta selling Hable. I was immediately smitten with the pattern & scale to their designs. Fortunately, I did get a chance to visit Hable's retail shop in NYC's West Village neighborhood, a cozy 300 square foot space, prior to it's closing last year.
Most recently, Susan Hable Smith was included in an article I read in Food & Wine magazine's November 2009 issue. An underground supperclub based in Athens, GA and known as The FourCoursmen, hosted an evening of food & fare joined by Susan, who provided custom made table runner & Hable designs napkins for the guests - http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/supper-club-confidential
Susan Hable Smith painting her custom table-runner for the The FourCoursemen Supperclub.
