Mother Stories
Meet Adrienne Antonson: State Designer, Artist, & Mama of 2
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by Kristin Karch
Sep 10, 2019
There are about a dozen important life lessons we learned from profiling today’s incredible mama, Adrienne Antonson. The artist and founder of STATE The Label has been legitimately marching to the beat of her own drummer since day one. Lesson one: Building a high-style, sustainable fashion brand doesn’t require living in one of the name-checked big cities–Adrienne and her husband ditched Brooklyn to live in Thomson, Georgia (population 6,000+) more than five years ago. They’ve since settled in the more bustling town of Athens (population 125k+), snagging themselves a dreamy farmhouse, and opening up the first brick-and-mortar location of STATE. Lesson two? You can have a fully functioning art studio in the living room and a white sofa (you’ll have to read the full interview for how on earth that one works). But the most valuable lesson we took away from our time with Adrienne is that creativity is the fuel that powers all the incredible things that she does, from designing clothes, to creating sculpture, to raising two tuned-in little humans. Not to mention growing a successful business—today STATE debuts its brand new children’s line, STATE Kid’s Collection. Each piece is made using fabric scraps from STATE’s women’s collections, and each style is designed around the constraints of each scrap shape and strives to use as much of each textile as possible—getting as close as possible to a zero waste model. Similar to the grown-up STATE, the kid’s collection aims to offer affordable basics for families who want to make ethical shopping choices for their children. We promise—once you spot the adorable pieces on little Edla and August in the photos below, you won’t be able to stop yourself. Click through for more wise (and humorous) words from Adrienne, plus a full tour of her incredible home, studio, and store.
-
- "Finding this house falls into the unpredictable predictability of my life that I have grown to rely on personally and professionally. I love taking chances, and being open and positive about them. In this case, I met a guy when I was shopping for buttons in a 100 degree warehouse last summer. After getting to know him a bit, I mentioned that I wanted to live in an old farmhouse on a few acres outside of Athens, Georgia. Low and behold, it turned out his brother had just the place. A few months later we went to see it for the first time. After weeks of looking at dozens of houses and finding nothing, the minute we walked in my husband looked at me and smiled in a very specific way and I just knew it was our house. It really feels like we were meant to be here."
-
- "Just like my taste in clothes, our space is a constant battle between stark minimalism and colorful craziness."
-
- "Our house is from 1840 and the ceilings are 12 feet high. We also have original triple sash windows that go all the way to the floor, so the light pours in. The layout is wide open and the room functions in so many ways. We have tons of art in this room. The biggest piece is a painted floral backdrop we used for a Secret Catalog photo shoot and have since hung in a corner. It was painted by outside artist Valton Murray and it makes the room so bright and cheerful. Our big plaid rug is from Ruggable—I wanted something washable since, well, kids. And, our sofa is Ikea and our coffee table is vintage. We also have a dining room table my parents made for us, which is incredibly special."
-
- An art studio in the living room means it's painting time any time.
-
- "Edla and I started painting when we moved into the house and needed a big piece of art above the couch. We couldn’t decide on what to put there and Kevin suggested we paint something ourselves. Literally, three hours later I had transformed the corner into a makeshift studio and we all made the first painting that night. It’s the best, and allows Edla and I to work on paintings in the in-between times. I’d never paint if I had to get everything out every time, but having it there and ready makes painting a part of our daily lives. I was a painting major in college and have always had some sort of ‘studio’ at home."
-
- For Edla, painting is a daily practice.
-
- "We just painted a few rooms and repaired some things, nothing major."
-
- A family portrait by the artist Valton Murray.
-
- "I’m super thrifty and like to use what I have and make as much as possible. I'm also switching things up constantly. I love how it feels to rearrange the furniture or change out artwork. I think we’ll be in this house for a long time, and I am allowing myself to try bold ideas and experiment—I treat it like a giant studio."
-
- "Ha, they don’t! Our white couch has slipcovered cushions, but I also cover it with a piece of linen that I can wash regularly. A creative life is very important to me, so if things get painty it’s O.K. What matters is that we’re in the moment and making things together. My husband feels differently—he’s the tidy one—and is always keeping us in check."
-
- "My parents made our dining room table from a Pecan tree here in Georgia. It’s gorgeous and so special to have family dinners on a table built by your family. All of the paintings that Edla has made are treasures. Each one is about something dear to her heart—like our cat Magda passing away, or her portrait of Frida Kahlo—one of her heroes. We also have another piece I commissioned from artist Valton Murray. His work is incredible and he painted a portrait of the four of us in a field of butterflies. That hangs above the mantle and it’s what I’d grab in a fire."
-
- "We have two main areas for the kids, but they tend to sprawl. I’m constantly editing their toys, but they seem to multiply. It’s an endless battle."
-
- "It’s never boring. Everyday—good or bad—wrings you out in the most intense way I could have never imagined. The love I feel for my children is so large, no one could have prepared me for that. It’s like a boat that I float in and nothing else matters."
-
- "Gun violence, global warming, the threat to women’s reproductive rights, access to health care, making enough money, my kids getting hurt, you know, the usual stuff."
-
- "My daughter is Edla Lohr. Pronounced 'Aid-la.' It was the name of my great grandmother who immigrated to Chicago from Sweden. I always loved the name. We even have the steamer trunk she traveled over with, solo, when she was 16. Her middle name, Lohr, is in honor of my step father. It’s his middle name also. He’s incredibly special to me and held her minutes after Edla was born. They truly have a deep bond and it means the world to us for her to share his name. My son is August James. August is just a name we liked. But then the craziest thing happened. Weeks after August was born I got a letter in the mail from my dad’s cousin, Uncle Dick. I’ve only met him a few times, but he’s the family historian on that side of my family. The letter said how pleased he was to hear of the birth of our son August, and how now there are now two pairs of Edla and August siblings in our family. He included a handful of old black and white photos of my great grandma Edla with her brother August in Sweden. We were shocked! I had no idea when we chose the name that Edla had a brother named August. Our minds were totally blown. And James is Kevin’s grandpa’s name, which we love."
-
-
Adrienne wears a STATE Face Dress. Edla wears a STATE Kids tee and a handmade skirt. August wears a STATE Kids tee and Bobo Choses pants.
-
- "Edla is 4 1/2 and into climbing trees, and having me braid a 30-foot-rope into her hair so she can drag it all over and pretend to be Rapunzel. She loves making art and inventions, and pretending to read giant novels. August is 20 months old and is a hilarious maniac. He climbs to the top of everything and then balances on one leg and yells for us all to look. Edla wasn’t like this as a toddler, so it’s new to me. I spend all of my time chasing him, pulling him down from things, and catching him when he leaps with abandon. It’s terrifying and impressive."
-
- An unexpected family photo wall.
-
- "Yes. Always."
-
- "Both were pretty smooth, thank goodness. Lots of varicose veins and pressure, but nothing major! I was so much happier the second time and wasn’t a nervous wreck about every little symptom like I was with Edla. I worked out a ton during my second pregnancy, up until the last day. I felt pretty amazing. I was in better shape then than I am now!"
-
- "Definitely not. With Edla, STATE was much smaller and the studio was in our house. So, it was easy to go pack a few orders or answer emails. And with August, I think I took him to the studio with me when he was five days old. They both came to work with me every day until they were about eight months old. My work team has watched both kids grow up, which is really special."
-
- "When Edla turned three and things got, shall we say, intense, my mom gave me copy of Parenting the Strong Willed Child. She said she read it when I was little and it seemed like something that I could use. It was, and helped me navigate some rough patches with Edla. August is starting his tantrums early, so I need to find that book again!"
-
- The kids' room is a dream.
-
- "I wanted their space to be fun, bright, and full of texture. With the most important factor being that it not be too precious or fussy. Their 'playroom' is really just a big, weird landing at the top of the stairs. It’s great for playing as they use the railings to lower things down—lots of Rapunzel scenes playing out lately— and stretch things across. One of the best things in the playroom is the rocking alpaca I made with my parents for Edla’s first birthday. My parents are woodworkers and made the wooden structure and my mom and I upholstered it with Icelandic sheepskin. The other treasure is the dollhouse we also made together. It’s based off their 1930s Art Deco house. My parents built it and I decorated it. Our collaborations are so special and will hopefully be pieces our kids pass along to their children."
-
- "My mom is magical when it comes to mothering and grandmothering. She’s full of energy and ideas and the kids love every second with her. She was a teacher her entire life and every activity with my kids teaches them so much. The way she infuses each moment with education while fostering curiosity is inspiring and something I try to emulate. She makes life feel joyful and full of possibility."
-
- "We grew up in Gainesville, Florida. I remember lots of art projects and power tools starting at a young age. My mom and I built furniture together and built a four-story ferret cage with french doors and tiled floors—we even made miniature wreaths for the doors! It was a super creative and free childhood—tree forts, go-carts, and painting murals in my room without asking. I was entrepreneurial from a young age—selling things door to door, washing cars, making greeting cards. I have fond memories of having my mom drive me to Kinkos to print my first business cards in 5th grade. I also made laminated membership cards for all of our forts. Also, lots of boxed macaroni and cheese."
-
- "I’d like to think I’m fun, loving, super honest, and a good communicator. Edla would agree and would add that I say too many bad words."
-
- "I feel a great responsibility and interest to stay educated and up to date with what’s going on politically and culturally. Edla and I are already having deep talks about certain topics she overhears me listening to on podcasts or the news—recently she asked me to explain abortion. She’s so curious and asks a ton of questions. I try to be as honest as I can without scaring her or creating anxiety. I want my children to be a lot more engaged in the state of our country than I was growing up. I don’t remember my parents talking about politics at all, or making that part of our family dialogue. I think, in part, things were so different then. But now politics touch all parts of our lives and so much is at stake—the environment, racial and gender equality, health care, taxes, etc, etc, etc.—it’s so critical to not turn a blind eye. I hope we’re modeling that for our children. We try to involve them as much as we can—taking them to marches, to the voting booth—I want them to care and be inspired to help change things for the better."
-
- "Be present, drink lots of water, try not to Google everything, make mom friends who understand what you’re going through, and be kind to yourself."
-
- A dollhouse handmade by Adrienne's parents.
-
- "No! We recently tried a puppy and even that tipped the scale too much. This is the perfect amount of family for us."
-
- "I involve them in everything I do, and a large part of that is some creative project or another. It’s such a fun way to interact—we share ideas and theories about process and execution. They help me problem solve and use tools. And I think they have a sense of accomplishment when we finish something. Painting with Edla has been such a special experience. She chooses to tackle major feelings in each painting and each one is truly a timeline of her processing an emotion—like when we re-homed our new puppy and she was heartbroken. Art is such a healthy way to navigate feelings and I’m thrilled she is already using it to work through hers. She’s a highly emotional kid, so hopefully this will come in handy later in her life."
-
- "Cool, comfortable, and most likely stained with paint or spaghetti sauce."
-
- "I breastfed for a little over four years. That means four years of only button-down dresses with easy access. This inspired a lot of our designs at STATE because I wanted to make pieces for other women in similar stages of life. Motherhood is MESSY. So, I tend to wear pieces that can wash easily and well. And I love to keep it a little weird with print mixing and colors because it makes me feel like myself. We went to a parent meeting at Edla’s new school this week and as we were walking in Kevin said 'You realize your white dress is see-through?' And I said 'Yeeeeah. That’s why I’m wearing these polka dot britches!'"
-
- "I love a simple dress that I can toss on easily, and our Perfect Pants and Swayers are the pants of my dreams. These pants have made me love my postpartum body, and they’re so fun to style. As for brands, I mostly wear weirdo STATE pieces that we’re testing or weren’t good enough to sell. I love my pants from Beaton, and I have a few pieces from Heinui that I adore. Basics from ARQ, shoes from Bensimon, and boots from Cydwoq."
-
-
Adrienne wears a STATE Painted Robe. Edla wears a STATE Kids dress. August wears a STATE Kids pasta tee and pants.
-
- "I try to lead by example in how to treat others with kindness and respect. I want them to know that they can make anything a reality. I want them to be happy, and full of life. And hopefully, these are the things I’m modeling through how I try to live. But, on the flip side, I could definitely swear less and eat less pasta."
-
- "We just moved here in November 2018, but it immediately felt like home. We’ve lived in 5 cities in the last 10 years, so to finally settle and put down roots felt so good. Athens is the perfect size. Not too big, not too small. The right amount of good food, fun things for kids to do, and lots of amazing, grounded people. Our kids go to wonderful schools and I’m very grateful for the community we’re a part of."
-
-
Adrienne wears a STATE Voyage Dress and Cydwoq boots. Edla wears a handmade dress. August wears STATE Kids bloomers.
-
- "Ireland, in a heartbeat. If I didn’t have STATE and if I wouldn’t miss my mom so much, we’d be there in a second. Every time there’s another mass shooting I look for real estate there. It’s become a weird habit that lets me escape America for a minute."
-
- "I could eat at The National every day. A favorite little road trip is swinging by our friends at Café Racer for drive-through biscuits and then driving to Watson Mill Bridge State Park for a picnic, and ending at Neat Pieces Antiques. It’s an entire block of an old town that the nicest man has made into a never-ending antique shop."
-
- Endless blue skies in Athens.
-
- "I’m very low maintenance with my beauty routine. I always change things up, and have a hard time spending lots of money on products for myself. I just started using Fat and the Moon's Moon Milk morning and night and I'm obsessed. It's making my face so happy. I use Nucifera’s Mist in between steps for extra hydration. My kids love being sprayed with it, too. They line up like baby birds and I spray their faces. I also use the Nucifera Balm on just about everything—it’s a miracle cream! Heals diaper rash better than anything else, dry skin spots, and I use it as a general body moisturizer on special occasions."
-
- "I’d give myself a D in the self-care department. I wish I was better at it, but it doesn’t come naturally. When I can get into a good workout routine, I truly feel my best. It’s impossible for me to workout at home—there will inevitably be a child sitting on me in plank pose. So, I try to get to work a bit early and workout in my office. Not very glamorous, but I recently started physical therapy for my pelvic floor issues after my last delivery. It’s a little intense, but also super empowering. So many women have issues with their pelvic floor and don’t know there is help for it. Kegels! It’s all about the kegels."
-
- Inside the studio and shop of STATE.
-
- "I design and run a clothing brand named STATE. We’ve been an online store for six years or so, but just opened our first brick-and-mortar store in Athens, Georgia, where we’re based. STATE was once just me, but now employs 8+ lovely people and we’re growing every day. We make all of our clothes and also paint and print on them in house. We’re working on a kids' line out of our fabric scraps that launches mid-September and I couldn’t be more excited about that. I love my job and feel so lucky to do what I do."
-
-
Adrienne wears STATE Swayers and a handmade shirt. Edla wears a STATE Kids dress and a handmade skirt. August wears a STATE Kids tee and pants.
-
- "I was born in Gainesville, Florida. After high school, I went to College of Charleston in South Carolina and studied studio art. I taught myself to sew in fifth grade and experimented with making clothes. After graduating, I started designing and selling clothes in Charleston. I met my husband and we moved to Vashon Island, Washington, on a lark, where we lived and worked on an alpaca farm for a few years. It was heaven and I did lots of felting from the alpaca’s fleece. Seattle is where STATE started and I made my first smock to wear as my farm uniform. We moved around a bit more and ended up in Brooklyn for a few years. It was very pivotal for me, as I started understanding how traditional fashion manufacturing happens, and started working with a factory in the Garment District—which I still work with today! I was also working at the Textile Arts Center there and met dozens of designers who became friends and great resources. After Brooklyn, we headed south to a tiny town called Thomson, Georgia (population 6,000+), where my mom lived, and that’s where we had our two children. It was a quiet and affordable place to settle for a bit and also where STATE really took shape and became what it is today. Having more studio space, and the drive that parenthood brings, helped the company grow from just me to a handful of incredible employees. After the fog of early parenthood cleared, we were ready to live in a more progressive town, and Athens, Georgia, felt right. It truly feels like home and we’ve recently convinced my folks to move here, too. My dreams of a family compound are taking shape!"
-
- "I always known I’d work for myself, and that is so convenient as a mom. The kids can come to the studio anytime and it’s like a second home for them. And now that we have an amazing team in place, I can slip out for doctor appointments or to be home with them if they’re sick. From a creative perspective, motherhood also shapes my work. It inspires the functional clothing I want to be wearing—and thus design—so I can crawl around on the floor with them, but not sacrifice style or design. I also want to build something cool that they look back on fondly. Lately. Edla has been saying she wants to work at—and run—STATE one day, and nothing makes me happier. I doubt it will play out that way, but the idea of building a company that I could pass along one day gives me more motivation than anything else right now."
-
- "Yes! My life depends on our support system. As I mentioned, my mom and stepfather recently moved to Athens and we spend lots of time with them. We also have a wonderful nanny who helps with the kids' school pick-ups, etc. She allows me to be at work for a full day, which gets more and more critical as STATE grows. My husband, Kevin, is also an amazing dad. He wakes up early to pack the kids' lunches, and also makes breakfast each day. He loves things to be tidy, so insists on cleaning the kitchen each night after dinner—he says I do it wrong, ha!—and it’s such a treat. I get to play outside with the kids while he methodically cleans and listens to old Irish ballads. It’s a sweet routine."
-
- "I have finally made peace with not being perfect. Some days I’m an A+ mom, and mediocre at my job, and other days I crush it at work and barely see my kids. But I think it all evens out in the end."
-
- "Mom guilt is real. I feel it often and haven’t found the best way to process it. It’s the worst when you child gets hurt and you’re not there to help or stop it. That deep, sinking feeling stays with me for hours and hours. But, it’s unavoidable, and I try to forgive myself. We can’t do it all, and we're all doing our best."
-
- Bring your daughter to work, every day.
-
- "'Me time' is on short supply. Work used to offer some peace, but as STATE grows we have employees everywhere! Showers are where I can find a little bit of quiet, and I try to maximize that by drinking a glass of wine AND watching TV on my phone while I shower. It’s a multitasking triumph and I love it. One perk of motherhood is that I’ve developed the ability to make a few single seconds feel like hours. For instance, if I’m outside with the kids and a breeze comes, I close my eyes and drink it in. Slowing everything down and relishing those few seconds where it’s quiet and beautiful, letting the wind wash over me and listening acutely to the sounds, feeling the sunshine and the shadows. I come fully into my body and the moment, and I imagine zooming way, way out above us, seeing myself as a tiny person in this giant world. Something about that calms me and gives me peaceful perspective—I’m not just a mom, or an artist, or a wife. I’m just a human. I can get a lot of restoration out of those few seconds."
-
- At work, even more inspiring places to create.
-
- "We’re considering a big expansion at STATE, which is the right amount of exciting and terrifying—as I’m learning the best things usually are! Personally, I’d just like to take better care of myself and get in great shape. Take a trip alone with my husband. And I’d love to build the kids a treehouse."
-
-
For more on Adrienne, her gorgeous family, and her creative pursuits, follow her on Instagram.
Leave a Reply to Kat Cancel reply
Share this story
What an inspiring read! Swooning over the farmhouse interiors. So warm, welcoming and mis-matched. Haven’t been so tuned into the brand before, but the article definitely has changed that. Thank you so much!