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How WE STARTED

My love for college towns began as a child, the first time I set foot in Auburn, Alabama, for my very first football game. I remember going to the downtown bookstore, the one that’s been “Family Owned and Operated” for generations, to pick out the requisite Auburn Tiger T-shirt and shaker. I was so proud to let the world know where my allegiance lay, and happier still to make the walk from downtown across campus among thousands of fans, students, alumni, and residents, to the stadium to cheer on our beloved Tigers.

As an adult, my job took me all over the country to some of the most beautiful college towns: large cities, small hamlets, and everything in between. I lived for several years in one of them, and while it was not my “home turf” it was home, and still holds a very special place in my heart to this day. 

College towns are wonderful places, not just on Saturdays in the fall, but every day and every season. There’s a dynamic and a rhythm to life that exists in a unique way in every college town. The traditions, celebrations, particular restaurants, a favorite local watering hole, the perfect picture spot, and so much more make each college town unique. 

So what is College Town Toiles? College Town Toiles is a bold, print-based product brand, inspired by each college town’s spirit, traditions, and celebrations. Our vision is that seeing your town represented by College Town Toiles’ products will bring a smile to your face and pride to your heart. Spirit is always in style.

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Sincerely,
Shannon

The  COLLEGE town toiles team

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Shannon LOUGHRIDGE

Founder and President

Shannon lives in her college town of Auburn, Alabama, with her husband, two teenage boys, and the family dog. When she's not designing products for College Town Toiles, she enjoys watching her sons play football, good food and good wine, throwing parties, and traveling. Her favorite season is fall, primarily because of SEC football when you can hear her yelling "WAR EAGLE" all over town.

Emily Bauman College Town Toiles

EMILY BAUMANN

Graphic Designer

Emily is a graduate of Florida State University. Like Shannon, she too lives in her college town of Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband and daughter. Emily's adventurous spirit and love for exploring have taken her all over the US, and she has a spectacular collection of photos from her travels. Emily and her husband are talented DIY-ers and love spending their fall Saturdays dressed in garnet and gold on the FSU campus, cheering on their beloved Seminoles.

Elizabeth Nist College Town Toiles

ELIZABETH NIST

Illustrator

Elizabeth is a native of Auburn, Alabama, with a true gift and passion for art. She is currently a student at Auburn University, where she is studying biomedical sciences. In her spare time, she loves meeting friends for coffee, traveling, and running. More of Elizabeth's fabulous pieces can be found (and purchased) on her Instagram page, @colorsofbliss.

College Town Toiles is a bold, print-based product brand, inspired by each college town’s spirit, traditions, and celebrations.

What is a toile?

IT RHYMES WITH Y'ALL

The word “toile” (pronounced “TWALL”) comes from the French word for linen cloth. The word is shortened from the full name toile de Jouy, which means linen or cloth from the town of Jouy-en-Josas, in the suburbs of Paris. Toile de Jouy was a specific type of linen printed with romantic, pastoral patterns in a single color—usually black, blue, or red—on an unbleached fabric.

 

Although the word toile means fabric, the word toile has evolved to also refer to the original design aesthetic of the fabric.   

Vintage

Modern

College Town Toiles is a bold, print-based product brand, inspired by each college town’s spirit, traditions, and celebrations.

our style

College Town Toiles designs are a modern twist on classic toile. Our hand-drawn illustrations capture the essence of college town life by highlighting the symbols, emblems, and traditions that make each town unique. These designs are exclusively ours, and appear on our entire product line, from textiles to home goods to men’s and women’s furnishings.

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