Crafting Timeless Style: An Exclusive Interview with a Vintage Artisan Couple

Today I am joining my friend Brenda from 1010 Park Place for our monthly Ageless Style Series. I am so happy to interview the artistic duo behind “Indian Pink” and “The Pillowman”. I have followed them on Instagram, drooled over their booth at Round Top, and popped in to their now-closed store Indian Pink in Santa Barbara. And I love their curated style that blends the charm and character of vintage elements with the rich colors, intricate patterns, and exquisite craftsmanship of traditional Indian textiles. Let’s get to know JP and Tamara, who are crafting timeless style: an exclusive interview with a vintage artisan couple.

Crafting Timeless Style: An Exclusive Interview with a Vintage Artisan Couple

Please share your story with us. Jean-Philippe, you are an East-Coast native, while Tamara was born and raised on the West Coast. How did your paths cross, where have you been along the way, and what brought you both back to California to settle down in Montecito?

Our paths crossed in early 1988 back in college in Boston when we started dating. We’ve lived mostly in California, but also lived in New York City, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Manhattan Beach, California over the course of 35 years and moved to Montecito for the last four years.

Indian Pink – tell us how this name came about for your business that offers design services, custom upholstery, and of course, PILLOWS!

Tamara has been a flight attendant and still currently flies with AMERICAN AIRLINES where her passion for vintage textiles around the world started and what ultimately led to the birth of Indian Pink, when she first visited INDIA and fell in love with the PINK CITY 30 years ago! Indian Pink started with just pillows but has evolved into a lifestyle brand with furnishings and art, as well as textiles.

How do you keep your marriage strong while running a business together? What has changed about this work-life relationship as it has evolved from married, married and raising small children, and finally to married with children as they have grown older?

Being a husband and wife team has its challenges but more importantly has been a beautiful experience. We really! really! complement each other. As JP would say, he is the designer in the family  and I’m the artist with the eye. 

You have three children – tell us about raising a family while running your business together. 

We have three children, two older and out of the house, and a 16-year-old finishing high school in a couple years. We are a very close-knit family. As JP would say “the tribe.” They have done many vintage shows with us and enjoy the design culture (for the most part!) especially when we are in Round Top, Texas. .

Round Top! How many years have you been attending, what can attendees expect to see, and where can they find you? 

This will be our eighth show in Round Top. We started with a very small booth at Marburger Farm & now are showing at the Compound. RoundTop is the largest vintage event in the states for the designer, retailer, architect, and more.

You might enjoy reading about the restoration and revitalization of The Compound here.

Crafting Timeless Style: An Exclusive Interview with a Vintage Artisan Couple

For readers not attending Round Top and wanting to experience your creations and style in real life, where else will you be in 2024?

We are starting to venture off to the East Coast with other shows in East Hampton & Hudson, New York, Brimfield, Massachusetts, to name a few. We are also looking at doing a lot of European sourcing to explore more vintage fines, and possibly do some shows in Europe.

Jean-Philippe: How would you describe your style?

JP aka the PILLOWMAN, is definitely a fashionable eclectic man, and he also likes to pick outfits for his wife! His biggest style influence would be Ralph Lauren! 

Tamara: How would you describe your style?

I describe my style as classic and artful. I like a classic base. And then I’ll throw in a vintage jacket or something artful! 

You both have a love for hats! Tell us your favorites and why. 

Yes, we love hats! Both old & new. They really finish off an outfit.  

Some of our faves are:

Thunderbird Hats @thunderbirdhats 

Lovely Bird Hats by Jaime Haskell @lovelybird 

Hats by Teressa Foglia @teressafoglia

Other than hats, name three accessories you each cannot live without. 

3 accessories we can’t live without would be:

• A great pair of boots
• Vintage denim 
• A custom, handmade dress or blouse! 

How do you keep up with the current trends all the while creating exquisite, timeless pieces that last?

We always stick to the classics!True fashion never dies!

Share your words to live by.

Wear what you want and what makes you feel good! 

I hope you all enjoyed reading Crafting Timeless Style: An Exclusive Interview with a Vintage Artisan Couple. You can follow Tamera on Instagram here. You can follow JP on Instagram here. Explore their website here. If you would like to revisit some of my previous ageless style interviews you can find them here.

Get JP and Tamera’s style here:

A big shout out to Tamera and JP for sharing their unique colorful aesthetic. Brenda had her interview cancel this week, but she will be back next month. You might want to check out her most recent post here.