SONHOUSE is a new chapter to our story, as well as evolution of our former brand, Very Fine South. When I started VFS in 2014, I named it accordingly as many of my skills and inspirations were derived from my Southern roots: colors named after favorite Southern plants and flowers, and product names inspired by ancestors who had influenced me. While those things remain dear to my heart, it was a culmination of a life that was externally focused. All the while, my point of view and talents were coming from the inside out. As a result, I was feeling a disconnect from the brand.
In the fall of 2019 I lost my father. He was my north star, and the ballast to my ship - the one who inspired travel and adventure throughout my life and could always help me find the bright side of a cloudy day. Losing him shook me to my core and set in motion a process of deep personal healing. My heart was broken into a million pieces, and nudged me to find new levels of courage. The deeper I dug into my heart, the louder it was shouting to live more intentionally on this brief journey we are given. It was a calling to share a story, and also to believe in bigger dreams I’d always held.
And so, SONHOUSE was built. A collection of pieces to tell a story that will grow over time.
Why the name? Simply put, I’m always chasing the sun. When the weather dips below 60, I’m heading out in search of the endless summer. Since a young age the sun always seemed to be a theme in my relationship with my dad. He was born on the summer solstice, the day with the most daylight of the year. And he reassured me during tough times by saying “there are brighter days ahead”. But to tell the whole story, on the darker days, it’s my two sons who fill the house with the light that keeps me going. We continue to chase the sun together as a family, finding moments and memories to tuck away for a rainy day.
A picture of me, taking a picture of my dad, taking a photo of the sunset. He was always behind the camera - thank heavens for smart phones that captured these memories.
