Catching up with Regina Andrew

Regina Andrew was born in Detroit, an industrial city many associate with the auto industry. What's the design scene like there? How has it influenced the incredible brand you've built?

In contrast to the industrial or museum vision that some people picture when they think of Detroit, the design scene here is very forward-facing, eclectic and open to new ideas. There are many art schools here, churning out top notch creatives and pushing things forward. Detroit is on the rise, coming out of the ashes. It's a city ripe with opportunity. And if you have the guts to grab it, it can be yours. It takes grit, but you can do it.

Our big takeaway from living in Detroit is: Wake up every day and be creative, be bold, be confident. Finish what you start. There's an intrinsic spirit here tied to hard work, enthusiasm and to a large degree, individualism.

Carla, as the guide of the brand's creative direction, how did you get started down a creative path? What are you drawn to creatively? What inspires you?

Carla: I grew up an only child to a single mom, so there was a lot of time spent being bored. Creativity was a solution to those long days. I spent a lot of time drawing, crafting and gardening. My surroundings are my biggest inspiration. I collect a lot of bits and pieces, antiques, findings, odds and ends, I have them all throughout my studio. I look at them every day for inspo and use them to create little vignettes.

We also incorporate a lot of photography into what we do to set the mood. When we go to India, China, or Europe, we'll roam the streets, visiting shops and antique markets and always come home with a packed suitcase.

James, how has your history as an artist and musician influenced your work at Regina Andrew? What was it like to shift from artist to entrepreneur? How do these worlds overlap for you?

We both grew up in the 1970s, and the cure for boredom was little creative projects and things. Music started out very early for me, at the age of 3. I learned by ear, developed a social circle of musical people. Learning to play music and perform requires one of the most valuable things: discipline. I also worked in audio post-production for commercials and TV scenes, which taught me the true value of collaboration and how to get the best out of people.

In the end, any outcome of great meaning requires sincere passion. All of these things run through the blood of Regina Andrew, they're infused in our DNA. They've been learned through years of hard lessons, book smarts, the full gamut.

Regina Andrew is known for giving back to the community. What are some of the ways you do this today?

We hire locally, support our local universities and vocational schools, and work with all Detroit-based businesses for our marketing, advertising, technology and analytics. We donate products to local design drives as well as to events and fundraisers organized by the Junior League of Detroit. We also donate to Habitat for Humanity each year.

I know you both have a strong passion for animals - your first project was a designer doghouse for a charity fundraiser. How does this passion inspire Regina Andrew?

We have two rescue dogs. Four or five years ago, we sold a canvas bag featuring one of our rescues and donated all of the proceeds to Last Day Dog Rescue. This was the beginning of a series of bags featuring our rescue dogs. People have started collecting them, and always come to markets looking for the new bags.

What was your first light fixture design for Regina Andrew?

We designed a set of three hand-painted lamps inspired by French toile pattern in the late 1990s. At the time, we found a fabric company making blue and yellow toile, and we worked with it to make it look vintage and distressed. We were doing hand-painted furniture and just decided to make these lights one day. Then this guy came up to me at High Point and said it was his favorite lamp at the market.

What are your favorite Regina Andrew pieces?

Carla: My favorite is the Quatrefoil Alabaster Table Lamp. It's so elegant and graceful, the material looks and feels so great. It's a lamp you could have forever.
James: I'm more of a mechanic, so my current favorite is the Viper Chandelier. It just has everything I like, rough edges, mechanical ingenuity and great aesthetics.

What's next for Regina Andrew?

We're so pleased to announce that we have developed our first outdoor lighting collection with our partner, Coastal Living - an aspirational publication we love. It was officially unveiled at High Point Pre-Market and most of the pieces are currently available online. For years, our customers have been asking us to design outdoor lighting and our collaboration with Coastal Living was the perfect opportunity to make it happen.