Elizabeth Allen has always had a thing for fabric. She amassed piles of it growing up in Manchester, Massachusetts where she scandalized her classmates by wearing her own red satin creation to the prom. After graduating from Vassar with a degree in French literature, she ventured to Paris where she landed the enviable job of Bureau Fashion Editor for WWD and W Magazine. The intimate exposure to extravagant designers and their unfettered creativity was, needless to say, an eye-popping education. She jumped to the other side of the runway to work at Chanel with Karl Lagerfeld, whose passion for detail and quality inspired her own.

Back in NYC and working as an editor and stylist, the stacks of fabrics climbed the walls of her fifth floor walk-up. Looking to justify her flea market fabric binges, Elizabeth took to her sewing machine and walked into the retailer ABC Carpet & Home with a suitcase of pillows and walked out with an order. Such was the spontaneous and unplanned birth of Elizabeth Allen Atelier in 1998.

The business moved from the gritty NYC garment district to the peaceful shores of La Jolla Ca three years ago. EAA is now recognized for its fresh, sophisticated and distinctive adult to baby collections. All of the printed bedding is manufactured in workrooms in the USA where Elizabeth can keep a finicky eye on everything. The variety of prints and small shop manufacturing allow many customers to design their own bedding. The dressmaker details such as smocking are hand made by kind women in New York and Tennessee. Fall 08 brings the launch of EAA Au Naturel, an equally unique organic collection. While Elizabeth Allen Atelier has obviously grown, Elizabeth is as determined as ever to operate according to old fashioned values- superior quality, personal service and integrity- even if it means the company will never be on the NYSE!