Meet Erin Brownstone of Wolf & Irving in Manhattan Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Brownstone.

Erin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My family has been making home decor products in LA for 30 years and I have worked in textiles and printing for much of my career. Because of that background, I took on a DIY project of making the table linens for our wedding. The table linens came out beautifully, and when I couldn’t find linens I liked to add to our registry that matched our house, I knew we were really onto something. So my new husband and I decided to try and turn that DIY project into a business.

Like me, my husband grew up in a family business. In fact, his grandfather used to manufacture furniture in Los Angeles. So it was only natural that we’d embark on this adventure together. We’re really proud to say that we are third generation manufacturers in LA.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been smooth at all! It took a long time to find the right designs and the right fabric. We tested dozens of fabrics from just about every continent that makes fabric. We were really happy in the end to be able source fabric from the U.S.

And even though I have a manufacturing background, setting up the website and marketing were entirely new to me. So that’s been quite a learning experience, too.

Speaking of which – working with your husband is also a learning curve — we have to keep work separate and we had to figure out when we were working how to divvy it all up. For example, one easy and helpful switch was for me to take over our social media and marketing and for him to take over some of the operation tasks. Initially it had been the reverse, but over time we slowly migrated to the right roles.

But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Learning as we go is all part of the beautiful journey of owning a business. I’m learning that you can’t control the road and make it smooth — it’s more about how you react and adjust when issues arise. I try to look at every challenge as a learning experience and I’m learning a lot.

Wolf & Irving – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We make table linens that make sense to use every day. Our table linens are easy-care — they feel soft but they are also machine washable and more stain and fade resistant than traditional cotton or linen. That means it’s easier to dress up a weekday meal or your Thanksgiving table, since they last longer, look better over time and don’t require additional care outside of your normal laundry routine.

We also prioritize the environment. We can’t claim to be perfect but we’re driving electric cars, using solar panels, and doing our best to be responsible. So those personal values are something we try and reflect in Wolf & Irving. That’s why our linens use only the highest grade of skin-friendly ink and are made out of recycled materials (plastic bottles to be exact).

We also make our table linens right here in Los Angeles, California. We’re proud to be local and a family business and think of each table linen as going from our family’s table to yours.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We’re lucky to be able to draw on the experience of family businesses and L.A.-based manufacturing on both sides of our company. Amazingly, my husband’s grandfather and father used to manufacture furniture literally across the street from where my dad was making window coverings. (Strangely, that’s not how we met which is too bad because it would make a great story!) There are a lot of benefits to being the third generation to manufacture in LA. We have a supportive (and experienced!) family to talk things through with, and I’m so grateful for that.

Some of the things I thought were bad luck originally actually turned out to be good luck. For example, we thought we had sourced our fabric and were really happy with it — then we hit problems with being able to keep it in stock. It forced us to keep searching and we actually ended up finding the perfect, eco-friendly fabric we have now. Things always work out for the best.

Pricing:

• Napkins (set of 4): $44
• Placemats (set of 4): $47
• Tablecloth: $89
• Runner: $59

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wolfandirving.com
• Phone: (424) 290-0074
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wolfandirving
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wolfandirving/
• Other: www.pinterest.com/wolfandirving

Image Credit:
Kristen Schellenberg
Amanda Jameson
Matt Misisco

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