What a simple definition for such an amazingly difficult skill! Ellen Holt, master crafter of fine passementerie, entrepreneur, and a fixture in the Dallas Design District since 1984, encompasses the “etc” of the definition. Her work is one of a kind, and so is she.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit with Ellen at her Slocum Street studio, and was treated to an insightful and educational experience with this neat lady. Walking through her trim, tassel, and fabric filled showroom, I was like a kid in a candy store!

How does someone come into the unique trade of making tassels and trims? I was curious and Ellen was happy to share her story.

Trained as a graphic designer and intrigued with the art of weaving, Ellen signed up for a a weaving class “on a whim”. Then another class…and s0 her story began. Ellen’s love of weaving and her desire to be her own boss led her to earn a degree in entrepreneurship at SMU. More study, hard work, lots of practice and very loyal employees have brought the Ellen Holt name to the forefront of this design niche.

Ellen’s World

Every surface in Ellen’s workroom is teaming with one project or another. Interior designers bring in their fabrics, then Ellen works her magic, creating the perfect complementary trims and tassels to match.

Ellen’s workroom is filled with one-of-a-kind looms and jigs which she designed so that she could create truly unique trims.

Ellen buys yarns from all over the world to create her pieces. She showed me how to make multicolored cording, tassels on the loom, and how to use a power drill to twist the yarns.

When she has time, Ellen is eager to show visitors and students the processes that she has developed over years of trial and error, skill and know-how.

Truly Custom

While I was there, Ellen was kind enough to show me a couple of the projects she is currently working on. She was proud to show off this custom trim which is actually three different trims, some from apparel lines, combined to make one really stellar piece. Ellen explained how fabrics and fashion inspire her to to create new and unique pieces.

Next up, both of these hand made trims were custom orders for clients to adorn draperies. The technique used for both pieces is the same, but the different yarns and embellishments elevate the simple to the sublime. (Yes, these really are all handmade!)

The next piece she showed off was a custom piece designed to embellish a shower curtain for a nursery for new triplets. Each colored flower was meant to represent each sweet baby. If so much detail was put into a mere shower curtain, I can only imagine how the rest of the nursery turned out!

New Ventures

Ever the creative entrepreneur, Ellen recently began a new venture designing and manufacturing custom footstools with cushions that utilize her beautiful trims and braids. Now designers have yet another custom piece that they can co-create with Ellen. Can you imagine what all that creative energy together could produce?

Ellen Holt has made a living and a life by doing something that only a handful of people throughout the world do. Like the pieces she produces, she is one of a kind, and Dallas is blessed to have her.

Ellen Holt sells to-the-trade from her Dallas showroom, and sells stock trims, tassels, braids and cord from her online store, www.trimmingstore.com.

Ellen Holt
1013 Slocum Street
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 741-1804
www.ellensholt.com