Loup Charmant: Native American Style Meets Pastoral Chic
Kee Edwards is descended from both Cherokee Indians and European royalty, a unique genetic splicing that makes total sense when you look at her designs for the eco-friendly label Loup Charmant. Edwards’s gauzy diaphanous whites may look like antique Old World undergarments, but they’re best worn on their own and out in the open, preferably while communing with nature. Edwards recently sat down with Jen Smith, a regular contributor to The Inside Source, an online style magazine presented by eBay, to talk about what inspires her and what she’s currently shopping for on eBay.
TIS: Loup Charmant is such a romantic name. How did you come up with it?
KEE: Loup Charmant means the “Charming Wolf” in French, and it is a personal reference to two beautiful times and places in my life. I’m part Cherokee, and wolf refers to my Native American talisman animal, who is always present and appears in my dreams.
Loup Charmant also reminds me of a lovely transition time in my life. I was living in the Loire Valley of France as a college exchange student. When I began dreaming in French, it was totally thrilling!
TIS: How did the line come about?
KEE: I began conceptualizing while on my honeymoon on the beach—we were in southern Portugal, the Azores, and Panama—so that explains the ‘honeymoon’ theme. Sexy little nothings (without “trying too hard”), nighties, beach cover-ups for a remote tropical island vacation and perfect little dresses for zipping into town.
TIS: So how did it become a reality?
KEE: It all started with the search for the most finely woven airy cloth we could find. We found a group of small family farms in India only to discover that the farmers who grew the cotton were in the process of shutting down their whole production! So we immediately bought enough farms to put them back in business. Then we waited for the crops to grow: getting updates of the seeds being planted, harvested, milled and woven in to our proprietary breezy organic cotton. At the end of that process, I felt like mama hen to this fabric!
TIS: You must live in Loup Charmant.
KEE: I am always wearing my bloomers! Maybe I shouldn’t admit this, but the slips are so carefree and comfortable that I wear them straight to bed and just start over the next morning!
TIS: Where do you get your inspiration?
KEE: Freedom, ease, joy and simplicity are key words for me. Constant inspirations are hand work, traditional techniques, and indigenous cultures. Travel is another one, even if it’s just armchair travel. I am slightly obsessed with Africa. For the past few years, I’ve been devouring books on Africa and am excited to be planning a trip to help plant gardens in rural areas.
For more with Kee, including a look at what she’s shopping for, visit The Inside Source.
The Inside Source writer Jen Smith authored this article in its original form. Images of Kee Edwards and Loup Charmant collection provided by the subject. All photos unless otherwise indicated courtesy of The Inside Source.
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