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Designer Interview Series: Sara Moffat, Teo Griscom & Riley Salyards of Jackson, Johnston & Roe

Fall is creeping up, and while I am anxiously awaiting my first glass of hot apple cider (or any spicier ROOT concoction, if it is one of those days) I am a bit broken up about the end of summer. The freedom that comes with the warm, sunny days and balmy nights always seems a bit stifled when you put on your first sweater. Regardless, that very same sweater gets me very excited for the new season of fashion at Art in the Age!

This Fall we proudly debut women’s line, Jackson, Johnston & Roe. The designers behind the brand are childhood friends Sara Moffat, Teo Griscom, and Riley Salyards. I had the opportunity to grab some of their time to learn a bit more about the line, its history, and their long-standing friendship…

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JJ & R Study Sweater pictured above, available at Art in the Age

In the fashion industry, design duos are certainly more common than trios. How do you three collaborate so successfully?
With any relationship there are tense moments. Luckily, the three of us have been able to maneuver through any difficult situation because we are able to be honest, and we are unafraid to argue. Working with three people definitely adds a whole new element, but we each take turns generating the momentum, which is incredibly valuable.

Has the fact that you were childhood friends made working together easier or more difficult?
It’s debatable… probably easier because we can be honest with each other.

Sara and Teo choosing buttons” courtesy of Juliette Hermant

Why did you decide to name the clothing line after your respective mothers’ maiden names?
We are all very close to our mothers. Also, Sara’s grandfather turned 94 this year and Teo’s grandfather is 92. They are incredibly tickled that the line is their namesake. We also enjoy that our label sounds like a law firm.

Grandfather Jackson

Could you explain what is meant by your philosophy of being “timeless and of the time”?
We want our line from each season/collection to be worn for years. Our line is fairly basic, but in the details, it is similar to older techniques of construction. We are delighted by clothing that has a certain function. Many vintage pieces were made with sustainability in mind. It was certainly less of a consumerist mindset, which we agree with. Each JJ+R piece is made with intent and may include older details, but these always serve a certain constructive function. This combination will continue to be important to us.

Grandfather Johnston

A lot of your pieces have the feel of belonging to a bygone era. Do you draw inspiration from older generations of relatives and their styles?
Yes, again we look to older construction details and shapes for our line. There are plenty of influences from our grandmothers, grandfathers and great aunts. For instance, Sara inherited many incredible pieces from her great aunt Eleanor, who died when she was 95. She lived an incredible life of independence and travel, even spending years in Italy as a spy for the C.I.A. All of her clothes were custom made and ranged from lingerie to ball gowns. She kept everything, and Sara inherited the entire wardrobe! We often marvel at the smart construction and beautiful design of the pieces in her wardrobe.

Sara’s Aunt Eleanor

The three of us also have been avid thrift store and flea market shoppers. We revel in the many treasures we have found from Paris and Japanese flea markets to middle-American thrift stores.

The green and eco-friendly movement is really taking hold in the lines of young designers. How do you distinguish yourselves from other members of the movement?
Environmental awareness has been part of our upbringing and is second nature when considering our line. Our options have grown considerably in terms of fabrics and trims because of the recent green movement. We do not make a big fuss about distinguishing ourselves from other lines using organic and sustainable fabrics and techniques, because for us it has always been important and a part of our process. We want to support the movement and at the same time we want the best for our line in every detail.

Arrival of Spring 09 Fabrics, courtesy of Juliette Hermant

You incorporate “peace silks (aka - Vegetarian Silk, made from the fibers of silkworms allowed to live out their full life cycle) into several of your recent pieces. How did you discover Peace Silk, and do a lot of other designers use it?
Riley’s mom found the source for us, which is really great. (It takes a village….) Yes, other designers do use peace silks, but the fabric is incredibly expensive!

JJ+R shorts and vest pictured above, available at Art in the Age

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Thank you, ladies of Jackson, Johnston + Roe for taking the time to let us know more about you. We cannot wait to debut the line on the floor!

In the meantime, please call 215.922.2600 with any inquiries regarding JJ + R, and be on the lookout in our online store for the Autumn/Winter 09 Jackson, Johnston + Roe collection!

Written by admin on 08/29/2009 in AITA Original | Blog | Fashion | Interview | Theory/Criticism