There’s a quiet kind of work that happens close to the body. Work that isn’t loud or showy, but felt- thread by thread, seam by seam, against the skin.
Emmylou’s hands move in that space.
Based here in the Hudson Valley, her practice is one of devotion to the everyday: soft cotton, careful tension, the small, precise gestures that slowly become second nature. What she makes are underwear, yes- but more than that, they are pieces designed to be lived in. To hold, to breathe, to return to.
There is something deeply aligned in the way she approaches her craft and the way we think about skin. What we place closest to ourselves matters. It should be clean, intentional, and made with care. It should feel like an act of self-respect.
Emmylou’s work carries that belief. Organic cotton, thoughtfully sourced. Shapes that prioritize comfort without abandoning beauty. A quiet rejection of anything performative in favor of something more honest, more personal.
Her practice began as a kind of return- to her hands, to creativity, to a slower rhythm after burnout. What followed was not just a product, but a ritual. Like baking bread. Like tending to skin. Like choosing, each day, to make something nourishing.
We’re honored to bring her pieces into the store- made here, by hand, in the same landscape that shapes everything we do.
This is Healing Hands.
What is the most meaningful thing your hands have prepared, grown, or created?
Honestly the first thing that comes to mind is my sourdough bread making, which seems a little silly because this isn’t what this is about. But that practice is so nourishing and is a complete expression of love. I feel it’s similar to my undies sewing: it’s like a meditative daily practice in creating something beautiful for someone to wear and feel good in- nourishing in a different way but in my mind equally important.
How do you prepare your mind and body before stepping into your work?
I love to start my days in Hudson with a coffee at home and a walk in town. I love to run or walk down to the river and just see the silhouette of the Catskill mountains. It reminds me where I am and makes me feel so grateful. I usually run into a friend and grab a coffee and then I’m ready to work.
What do your hands return to again and again in your daily practice?
Soft cotton, the tension on the elastic, small precise movements. I feel it’s a bit meditative, like my hands just know the rhythm now.
What is something you have had to unlearn on your path to becoming the undie queen?
So many things! I think about this idea of decentering the male gaze— I want to design things that make women feel good and comfortable and sexy for themselves first. That wearing my pieces is an act of self love before anything else. I also have had to unlearn and quiet the negative thoughts, like “ I can’t do this” or “I don’t know what I’m doing”. I’m giving myself a lot of grace in figuring things out and asking for help when needed. I had this idea for so long and made up so many excuses for why I shouldn’t start. lIt was a fear of success, and it was self sabotaging, and then I just started and the response has been amazing and everyone has been so supportive.
What belief about fabric, femininity, or health do you hold most fiercely?
I believe that what we put closest to our body matters deeply. It should be natural fibers, chemical-free, soft and beautiful. I try to source organic cotton fabric as much as possible, but all of my pieces have organic cotton jersey linings that are sourced from cotton grown in Texas and milled in North Carolina. Natural fibers, especially organic cotton, allow the body to breathe and regulate. There’s a quiet kind of health in that, and also a kind of femininity that feels grounded and real.
Who are you currently inspired by or quietly cheering on?
I have met so many inspiring women on this journey and I don’t think I am at all quiet about cheering them on! A few years ago I met Jocelyn from Ennui and walked in the Hudson Valley Sustainable Fashion show at Rose Hill Farm wearing her pieces. I met her at her home in Kingston and saw her amazing work and also her work space and was inspired that she was doing all of this out of her home- also at 8 months pregnant! I had a similar experience working with Clare from the Hidden Gem and learned so much from her and she has been so supportive and encouraging and helped me grade my patterns early on. I truly believe that seeing them pursue their dreams and create pieces showed me that this is possible. I’m also inspired by my friends creating their art- painting, shooting photos, writing, and curating beautiful things.
What is one tool, ingredient, or philosophy you cannot live without?
My sewing machine of course. I recently upgraded from the basic machine I had bought at Target in San Francisco years ago when I first had the idea to make underwear to a serger, which is a specialized sewing machine. I also got heavy duty machine, and both of these tools make sewing so much faster and my pieces look more professional. A philosophy I can’t live without is the idea that I have to stay in the moment, whether that means just thinking about the piece I am sewing or being intentional with my time. I can get really overwhelmed trying to juggle everything but I need to “stay where my feet are” and I have great friends that remind me to do that.
What role does rest play in your approach to healing?
I rest when I am tired. I try not to work too late because I prefer to work in daylight and I love the light in my apartment, especially in the late afternoon. In the past, when I pushed myself to work, I made mistakes and felt frustrated.
When was the last time you truly surprised yourself?
I think recently, in really jumping into this. It felt like this had been a dream for so long. I was slowly gathering inspiration and learning, building up so much potential energy, and then I found myself here in Hudson. I was really at a breaking point, feeling burnt out from nursing and working in hospitals, and something had to change. I needed a creative outlet and it felt like that part of me had been quiet for so long. My first pop-up at Nina Z was my first big success and I felt so proud. It really feels that things are falling into place here and I have so many opportunities, which feels surprising, but also aligned.
Is there a ritual or seasonal rhythm that keeps you grounded?
I think that living in the Hudson Valley I’m really connected with the seasons. Noticing how the light changes and where the sun is in the sky. I’m loving spring after an intense, real winter. Just noticing new birds singing and seeing little buds appear on branches—it’s a beautiful thing. I love the Farmer’s Market here in Hudson which is where I met Harri! Going every Saturday morning and picking seasonal fruits and veggies and fresh flowers keeps me grounded and in touch with my community.
How has your relationship to your hands evolved over time?
I have learned to appreciate and take care of my hands - they are my tools. I really value the way I can feel the fabric I’m working with, or the feel of the tension in the elastic I’m applying. I’m also looking at my fingers as I sew, making sure they’re away from the needle, but also I’m really loving how my natural nails look and I take time to take care of them..After using the blue tansy balm on my face I love to apply it to my cuticles and do like a mini manicure and hand massage.
What do you hope the undies do for the ladies that use them daily?
I hope that when women wear the underwear I’ve made they’ll feel they are doing something special for themselves, like an act of beauty and self-care.