Photo by Amy Dolan, Beached & Rescued Décor
When Bravo TV’s “Southern Charm” star Craig Conover helps design a Lewes pillow, you know it’s going to be good.
In 1631, Dutch settlers traveled to North America to find refuge and a place to call home. Many settled in Lewes, where they began a Dutch whaling colony in the First State. Since then, Lewes has continued to grow and prosper as a beloved, historic maritime town teeming with history, nature and even a pillow collaboration with “Southern Charm” star Craig Conover.
A special collaboration between Conover and Beached and Rescued Décor in Lewes, this chic pillow embodies the heart of the region. In regard to her inspiration for it, store owner Amy Dolan reflects on her childhood in Lewes, going on family vacations to the beach and visiting family and friends with her husband until finally the pair made this maritime town their permanent residence six years ago.
The love Dolan has for Lewes’ culture and history inspired her to collaborate with the Bravo TV star and his Sewing Down South (SDS) team on this exclusive pillow.
“I always try to think outside the box because there are so many stores in Lewes where people sell furniture, lamps and coastal stuff. But I was like ‘What can I do that’s different?’” says Dolan. “I thought ‘Craig [Conover] is from Delaware, and everybody knows Lewes has a huge history, so why not include him?’”
Hailing from Fenwick, Conover is a Delawarean at heart. As a graduate of Indian River High School, the College of Charleston and the Charleston School of Law, he was looked down upon and made fun of for years for pursuing a career in law and pillow-making. More recently, however, SDS opened its first storefront location in Charleston this May.
“So, I got in contact with Jerry Casselano, Conover’s business partner from Sewing Down South, and said I wanted to make my own pillow in a design that’s mine,” Dolan explains. “I wanted it to first be Made in the USA and second, I wanted it made from the Sewing Down South team with their materials, prints, fabrics, etc.”
The design of the pillow took a long time to get down for Dolan. She was searching for a design that would represent Lewes’ history while also having a modern coastal style that customers would want in their homes. Eventually, she came up with the humpback whale. This mammal played a role for Dutch settlers in the very beginning of Lewes’ history, and visitors can spot this beauty in local waters during whale-watching charter tours today.
Each pillow comes with an attached label description of Lewes’ history, and all are crafted with the SDS premium insert—a hypoallergenic alternative to down. A waterproof, outdoor version of the pillow is in the works and will be available at Beached and Rescued Décor when it releases.
Customers can purchase this exclusive pillow from Beached and Rescued Décor, located in the Brush Factory on Kings. They can also contact Dolan directly through her Instagram @beachedandrescueddecor or Facebook page for online purchases.
