ILLUMINATION CHARLESTON // In 2021, Krista & Tami were selected to design a vignette in the historic Aiken-Rhett House for Illumination Charleston, a three-day gathering of creatives in celebration of Charleston history. See below for more information about the vignette and CLOTH & KIND's inspiration for their spaces.

ABOUT ILLUMINATION CHARLESTON //

Illumination Charleston is a three-day event and gathering of the South's (and beyond) most exciting tastemakers, designers, artisans, and personalities, as well as a celebration of the creative and welcoming spirit of Charleston. Created by the Historic Charleston Foundation, their mission is to champion the historic authenticity, cultural character, and livability of the Charleston region through advocacy, stewardship, and community engagement. Illumination Charleston is comprised of demonstrations, tours of historic houses, a market featuring the Southern Living Tastemakers, inspired vignettes at the historic Aiken-Rhett House, engaging talks from some of the brightest stars in the design world, and fabulous nighttime gatherings.

CLOTH & KIND'S INSPIRATION //

This parlor was designed in homage to Dorcas Richardson, one of the enslaved women who spent the better part of her life serving the Aiken-Rhett family in this home, alongside her enslaved husband and their five children. From the few historical records available, Dorcas embodied all of the characteristics of a woman we admire - nurturing, resilient, and compassionate, despite the deeply tragic circumstances of her life. Once emancipated from slavery, she became an entrepreneur, helped other formerly enslaved people open bank accounts, and ultimately demonstrated acts of great humanitarianism, serving as the Matron of the Shaw Colored Orphan Asylum in Charleston from 1870-1877. Dorcas was at the forefront of our minds as we designed this room, in a house with an inextricably and deeply rooted history of slavery - one historically represented with a whitewashed narrative about slavery that reduces the enslaved person to just one thing that defined their entire life and existence. Dorcas was not ultimately defined by her enslavement. Her legacy is that of a multifaceted, admirable, intelligent woman - a daughter, a wife, a friend, a leader, an entrepreneurial business owner, and a humanitarian.

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS // Tripp Smith Photography