Originally from Boise, Idaho, Luke migrated to New England at 17 to attend Tufts University. There, he learned draping and pattern making while working in the school’s theatrical costume shop. During the summers, he traveled the east coast working in the wardrobe departments of various feature films and designing costumes for small theater companies. After graduating from Tufts, Luke attended the Yale School of Drama where he developed his design skills while building knowledge of garment construction and fashion history.Following Yale, he moved to New York City to assist award-winning Broadway costume designers such as Jane Greenwood and Carrie Robbins. In between assisting gigs, he pursued his own design and styling projects. These projects ultimately lead him away from the performing arts and towards the fashion industry. Wanting to combine the artistry of theatrical storytelling with the business of fashion, Luke envisioned a label that would inspire women through a balance of fantasy and wearability. He returned to Boston in 2011 to develop his brand, enlisting fellow entrepreneur and sister Heidi Brown to serve as the company’s managing director. They established the business in the city’s oldest residential quarter, the North End, restoring a pre-industrial storefront to serve as a showroom for gowns, dresses & separates all handmade in the USA.
An avid history buff, Luke draws inspiration from Boston’s mythological connections to early America; from the stately elegance of Beacon Hill to the Seaport’s weathered utilitarianism. His designs reflect an appreciation for past traditions while embracing reinterpretation. Influenced by the romantic allure of the stage & screen, Luke continues to cultivate a storyteller’s approach to design; creating a visual narrative through each collection in which the wearer becomes the muse.