Fashion Designer Rachel Pally's Carte
If you purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. We donate a portion of that commission to charity so when you shop, we give on your behalf. LEARN MORE.
While she's designing her eponymous fashion brand Rachel Pally, tie-dying her own linens and raising her two boys, Rachel Pally is also developing intel on who else is making things worth knowing about - and most of them are artisan made, woman owned, small businesses.
As a native Angeleno, Rachel is dedicated to locally and ethically manufacturing her line in downtown Los Angeles. Her mission is to make clothes for “women of all shapes and sizes and stages of life, and to make them feel beautiful and empowered.” The easy and elegant silhouettes are made of soft textiles in natural solids and prints reminiscent of the rich culture traveling the world has to offer. She purchases deadstock materials for production and reuses leftover scraps to cut down on fabric waste.
Sustainability, community and empowering women has always been top of mind and a strong part of the Rachel Pally ethos. And it’s no surprise that her home reflects all of the same values. Carte caught up with the designer as she’s hunkering down in her Los Angeles home with her family. She shares her go-to textile sources, love of Moroccan rugs, favorite stay-at-home outfits and her most coveted goods that are mostly all made by friends and likeminded female entrepreneurs.
Living & Decor
“A lot of things in our house are from flea markets or from travels. My husband and I joke that we have endless amounts of textiles that we've collected while traveling in Mexico, Guatemala, Morocco and Vietnam. I refresh my pillow situation on my couches by going into my closet full of beautiful textiles and cutting them into big pillows. I’ve been collecting them for years. I also make ceramics and collect a lot of vintage and Italian pottery.
Our home is midcentury so it’s an open floor plan that doesn’t have a lot of wall space for storage or art. So, everything we have is out. If we want new things, we have to put away others. I buy things from friends and other small businesses with an ethos that I support.
Midland Shop Vaces
I have beautiful vases from Midland Shop. We put some lavender in them from the garden.
Block Shop Textiles Pillows
I also have several pillows from Block Shop.
Vintage Moroccan RugS
We have a vintage Moroccan rug in every room. I went to Morocco and came home with a lot of stuff years ago. But, I’ve also bought amazing rugs from Etsy dealers - I have a huge colorful one in my living room that was an investment and a long odd-sized runner in my kitchen that I got a great deal on.
Many years ago, my friend Justina Blakeney posted on her blog she uses when she shops for rugs on eBay or Etsy. They was super helpful, the more specific terms get you better results and maximize your searching. Justina’s recommended terms are “Vintage Kilim” “Vintage Berber,” “Vintage Anatolian,” Vintage Flatweave” and “Vintage Turkish Kilim.”
BADIA Design kilim floor cushion
We have Moroccan poufs from Badia Design in North Hollywood. If you’re in LA, it is the most unbelievable warehouse for anything Moroccan. It's like a city long block full of Moroccan textiles, furniture and decor. It feels like a Moroccan souk. It's amazing.
Dunes by Max Wanger
I have a photograph from my friend Max Wanger of sand dunes.
Quarantine by Nicki Sebastian
A few of my other photographer friends like Nicki Sebastian has beautiful, beautiful prints for sale and Marissa Vitale also has a beautiful print shop.
Heath Candles
The Heath candles are amazing. And, when you burn the candle down, you have a little cup.
LE FEU DE L'EAU CANDLES
I also have several Le Feu De L'Eau candles.
Bedroom
PHOTO: PHOTO: RACHEL’S BEDROOM BY NICKI SEBASTIAN FOR RIP & TAN
MEGHAN SHIMEK Wall Hanging
We have a wall hanging by Meghan Shimek behind our bed, which is very special. She's a beautiful textile artist.
PARACHUTE PERCALE SHEET SET
Our bedding is from a Parachute Home, I’m in love with them. They’re the softest, most wonderful sheets.
I don't replace my sheets very often because the more worn out they get, the softer they get. I like when you feel like you’re about to be able to rip your toe through the them - that’s when they're the nicest and softest.
MatTeo Vintage Linen Sheet Set
Our other sheet set is from Matteo, which is also a local business. They're really close to our warehouse in Downtown LA.
SHELTERED CO WEIGHTED BLANKET
I have a weighted blanket on our bed from Sheltered Co. Their weighted blankets are handmade out of crocheted dead stock fabric. They're very special. My younger son has one as well in his bed. He was having trouble staying in bed and sleeping through the night. This blanket has been an instant life changer.
Garza Marfa SADDLE LEATHER ROUND CHAIR
The most special piece in my bedroom is a chair from Garza Marfa. It's a husband and wife team based in Marfa, Texas. They make the most beautiful furniture, pillows, textiles and home goods. The chair I have is made out of hand stitched naturally tanned leather with a metal base. The work is so beautiful.
It was a really expensive impulse buy, but I love it. I feel like it was such a special investment. It's really wonderful.
BADIA POUF
We have a Moroccan pouf from Badia Design in our bedroom.
ANna Joyce Tie Dye Bedding
Both of my kids have bedding from Anna Joyce. She's wonderful. She does really, really beautiful, tie dye bedding as well as robes and sweatshirts. It's nice to have something that they won't outgrow. My son is 7 and he’s had the same bedspread since he was 3 when we bought him the bed. He loves it.
Kitchen & Dining
Lucy Michel Sponge Holder
This is one of the only things I’ve bought in quarantine. I've never done so many dishes in my life as I have in these last couple months. This sponge holder is the cutest thing and makes me not mind my dishes so much.
Kinto Day Off Tumbler
My favorite, favorite, favorite travel cup is from KINTO. It's the best. I've never had such a deep relationship with a cup. I love it so much.
Meha Ceramics
For our anniversary, I bought my husband and I each yin and yang tumblers from MEHA Ceramics. She’s just really amazing. She’s a wonderful ceramicist and gives a lot of money back to important causes.
I have contributed to all of the Still We Rise online fundraising auctions and have been introduced to a lot of amazing small companies through that, which is how I found her.
Heath Ceramics Coupe Dinnerware In Linen
We use the off-white matte dishes from Heath.
Jenny Pennywood Napkins
Her textiles are so beautiful and hand blocked, they’re so special. She’s based in San Francisco.
DIY Tie Dye Napkins
I get cheap white napkins in bulk from a wholesaler and then I tie dye them, I’ve been saving my avocado pits for this next round. I just did a big batch of indigo dye that we’ve been using for our napkins. I'm going to do a tablecloth next because we don't have one and I'm tired of staining the table.
Vitamix
We use our Vitamix every day since we got it 10 years ago.
Staub Cast Iron SKillet
I love my Staub heavy cast iron pieces.
Bathroom
Tubby Todd
We use a lot of natural products, it’s basically all we use in our house. For our kids, we use Tubby Todd for basically everything. It's a mama owned business out of San Diego. They make the most wonderful, sensitive skin products for kids. I just love their ethos and all of their products. We get their toothpaste, their sunscreen, their lotion, everything. I also keep a big bottle of the multi purpose body and hair wash in our own shower and I use it every day too.
Parachute Home Classic ToweLs
Coyuchi Cloudloom Towels
Loungewear
Rachel Pally RIB TATUM PANT and KEITH TOP
I have a set called the Tatum Pant and Keith Top that we cannot keep in stock. It’s a perfect at home outfit. It also comes in soft ribbed fabric.
We have so many great lounging pieces that I feel are perfect for this life. Our gauze and linen fabrics are perfect for at home. I have literally almost not left the house at all and this is all I’ve been wearing.
— as told to Carte