Southampton is a beloved oasis for Jumelle Collection co-founders (and twins!) Katherine Rosbottom and Elizabeth Rosbottom, and a key influence for their feminine, elegant designs.
How long have you two been going out East? Katherine Rosbottom: We’ve lived in Southampton for 20 years, and our lives in Southampton and New York City have become inseparable. Southampton is our backyard—a quiet retreat just 90 miles from the city, offering a welcome reprieve from the pace and energy of our New York lives. We often refer to it as “the back and forth,” a rhythm that allows us to enjoy the best of both worlds. It’s a seamless balance between the vibrancy of the city and the tranquility of the coast.
How does the area shape your creative process? Katherine: Southampton has been a source of inspiration from the beginning. In fact, the signature blue of our Jumelle Collection was inspired by the stunning hydrangeas that bloom in our backyard each summer. We were so captivated by their color that we literally matched the blooms to a Pantone shade, creating a hue that became an integral part of our brand’s identity. It’s a constant reminder of the beauty, tranquility, and timeless elegance that Southampton brings to our lives and work.
Elizabeth Rosbottom: Something about the calm, quiet, unhurried pace of life Out East helps my creative process fully unfold. I often bring vision boards, fabric swatches, and early concepts with me from the city, but it’s not until I arrive in Southampton that everything begins to crystallize. Removed from the constant energy and distractions of urban life, I’m able to see the fabrics, silhouettes, and details with fresh clarity. The proximity to the ocean, the natural beauty of the landscape, and the simple rituals of daily life—from visiting local farmstands to enjoying the colors of the sunset to cooking with seasonal ingredients—create a sense of grounding. I do most of my sketching and illustrating out here, and designs evolve organically. The textures, colors, and ease of coastal living often find their way into the collection. Being in a place that I love so much brings out my strongest creative instincts, and many designs begin to truly come alive there.
Does the Hamptons’ serenity inform your designs differently than NYC’s energy? Katherine: The contrast is at the heart of everything we create. New York brings energy, movement, sophistication, and a sense of purpose, and we’re constantly inspired by city life’s culture, architecture, fashion, and rhythm. Southampton offers the opposite—a sense of calm, ease, and understated beauty. That balance naturally finds its way into our designs; silhouettes are refined and polished, reflecting the sophistication of New York, yet they’re designed with an effortless ease that speaks to life in Southampton. We gravitate toward clean lines and timeless shapes that feel equally appropriate for a city dinner or a weekend by the water. Our color palettes are often influenced by the natural landscape of Southampton—the blues of the ocean and hydrangeas, the soft greens of the dunes, the sandy neutrals of the beach, and the changing light throughout the seasons. New York inspires the sharper, more tailored elements of our collections, and the confidence with which our pieces are worn. Ultimately, our design aesthetic lives in the space between the two—polished but relaxed, sophisticated but approachable, timeless yet modern.