The Seedling Collective owner Meaghan Foran shares her favorites for the home this spring, including (below, from top) handblock-printed napkins, set of two for $28, Tulusa; Notto denim linen cushion, $160, Red Barn Mercantile, Alexandria; Orikata saucer pendant, $749, Room & Board.
Meaghan Foran is quietly launching a revolution in Old Town Alexandria. While the owner of pop-up haven The Seedling Collective would likely disagree (it’s her Midwestern modesty), simply ask those seeking chic, handcrafted products from some of the area’s most promising creatives. In a short time, the space on Royal Street has opened eyes to new talent and given a temporary home to indie brands like modern women’s line Mission Edit, international fine jeweler
Seyyah and the textile block print geniuses from Tulusa. This month, The Seedling Collective welcomes Garden Home, a local textile designer who creates beautiful pillows and blankets from sumptuous materials.
“When I was thinking of how to frame The Seedling Collective, I definitely had independent brands on my mind,” says Foran. “I was trying to frame something that would create a more dynamic space for our neighborhood by catering directly to these small yet amazingly professional entrepreneurs.” The spot has garnered so much buzz that some brand owners who already have a storefront have opted to pop up with Seedling. “It offers a different perspective for your clients—something fun and different to keep people engaged in the brand,” she says.
Before opening her pop-up space, Foran ditched the legal field to launch jewelry boutique Alx&Co. in Old Town with her husband, Tim. She also holds a master’s degree in international affairs. “I’m constantly applying what I picked up in my work in corporate and legal environments to our small-business ventures, but I have so much more autonomy and satisfaction from what I do now,” says Foran, who favors a Scandinavian aesthetic—coupled with paintings from artists on both sides of her and Tim’s families—in her home decor. “I love running creative small businesses that are very different from the norm.” 121 S. Royal St., Alexandria
Photography by: Greg Powers
