The Mecca of Monograms — Leontine Linens Pops Up at Mecox in Houston

Jane Scott Hodges breathed new life into the traditional linens industry in 1996 when she debuted her New Orleans-based company Leontine Linens with its oversized monograms in vibrant colors.

“Color and scale are paramount to giving linens a modern vibe,” Hodges says. “The letterform itself can be incredibly traditional, but all that seems to disappear when the monogram is in a shade of chartreuse.”

It all began 23 years ago when Hodges was engaged and wanted to build a trousseau but couldn’t find the linens of her dreams. In Kentucky, she discovered the Eleanor Beard Studio and fell in love with its beautiful handcrafted linens. She ordered some for herself and began selling them from her home in New Orleans.

In 2002, she purchased the studio, which was originally founded in 1921, and built on the success of the native needleworking talents of local women in Kentucky.

Leontine Linens is known not only for its beautiful design and quality, but also for its custom nature. All linens are made to order, with the fabric cut off the bolt expressly for the project, in any color, with an eight to 10 week lead time.

Devotees include top-tier fashion and interior designers Tory Burch, Katie Ridder, Charlotte Moss, David Kleinberg, Alex Papachristidis, Alexa Hampton, and Tommy Hilfiger. The linens can be found around the world in historic estates, villas and penthouses. Leontine has been featured in Town & Country, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest and more.

Oprah Winfrey has named Leontine Linens’ jewel round as one of her favorite things, and Hodges and her company were among the 10 recipients of Martha Stewart’s American Made Award in 2015. In 2014, Hodges published her first book, Linens: For Every Room and Occasion (Rizzoli).

While Leontine’s Magazine Street showroom in New Orleans is worth a design pilgrimage, Jane Scott Hodges will touch down in Houston for a pop-up shop at Mecox in Rice Village, 2504 Amherst, on Wednesday and Thursday, September 11 and 12, from 10 am to 6 pm each day.