Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon

Vera Neumann (American b.1907) was a textile designer most known for her hand-painted floral scarf designs. She centered her brand around this signature product, and was one of the most successful female design entrepreneurs of the 20th century. She began her company with her husband, George, in their dining room screen printing linen placemats. As the business grew, they expanded to a larger facility in the Hudson River Valley and hired a staff for design and manufacturing. The product line eventually included scarves, women’s fashion, and home textiles. Vera hand-painted each design herself, and used her frequent travels and folk art finds as inspiration for her latest collections.

Below are some excerpts from the book Vera: the Art and Life of an Icon by Susan Seid, current owner of the Vera Company.

Vera’s iconic ink and watercolor florals.

Vera used each of her trips abroad to inspire her latest collection. Much of the marketing material was designed to feel like a travelogue.

From sketch to final product.

Travel inspiration, to artwork, to final design.