Lillian August talks past, present and future

Once a doctor’s wife pursuing a master’s in non-verbal communication and symbolic logic, divorce forced Lillian August to reroute. No longer able to afford the lofty pursuits of academia, August relocated to Kentucky where she had heard about the state’s economic development programs for women. There, she created a business of her own designing fabrics and quilts. One night while sleeping on the floor of a fabric mill, waiting to approve colors, she was asked what name to put on the selvage. “Lillian August,” she responded, melding middle and maiden names. And right there in the wee hours, a legendary brand was born.

“You’re only as good as your references, research and assessment of the market,” says Lillian August, the matriarch and namesake behind a family business that has sustained 30 years, weathered crises and trends, and includes nine licensed furniture, decor, and textile collections with companies such as Hickory White, Wendover Art, Currey & Company and Wallquest for wallpaper and fabric, as well as a flagship store.

Once coined the American Laura Ashley, it was August’s debut wallpaper collection with Imperial in the 80’s that first turned heads. That her second wallpaper book was a best seller was no fluke. The design world was responsive to her visually romantic storytelling, drawing on English country houses, coastal mansions and fashion for inspiration.

August’s three sons—Dan, John and Michael Weiss—have all participated in the brand’s success. Dan, who wrote his college thesis on his mother’s cottage business, naturally slipped into the role of licensing agent in 1987 and is CEO of the company today. John Weiss came on board in 1990, and is the current COO. Michael Weiss helped his mother with upholstery designs for Frederick Edward back in the day and has a furniture collection with Vanguard now. August is grateful for the talent and dedication of her sons. “We complement each other,” she says, “from my feminine romantic to the male sensibilities for more tailored and modern looks!”

The family tradition continues as August’s grandchildren Caleb and Eliza now collaborate—he on the art line and she on an upcoming line geared towards millennials. While Eliza may teach her grandmother about her generation, she is learning about passion and endurance from one of the most driven women in the business of home. Amazed by August’s rich supply of clippings and handmade mood boards that rival any Pinterest board today, Eliza says, “She is constantly creating. I never met someone who works harder than she does.”