I was at H+H in Chicago. First time. New territory. New show, new energy — and a new company by my side.
And let me tell you: this was… a different world.
A Different Show. A Different Energy.
If you know me, you know I spent years at Quilt Market in Houston. H+H? It’s a whole other universe.
Bigger. Broader. Louder.
Knitting, weaving, spinning, garment sewing, quilting — basically the entire fiber arts family reunion, all in one building.
And the vibe was clear: this industry isn’t sitting still. It wants to move forward. You feel it in every booth, every conversation, every “Wait, have you seen this?” moment.
My Booth. Less Is More. On Purpose.
I had a corner booth. Two aisles, two sightlines — and very deliberately… not much stuff.
While everything around me was screaming “LOOK AT ME!”, my booth was more like: “Come closer. I promise it’s worth it.”
The big Ampersand backdrop in black, white, and mustard — photographic, almost editorial — made people stop. A cream-colored armchair. Quilts on a white wall. A lot of air in between.
Not a trade show booth.
A room.
And the reactions were split (which, honestly, is exactly how you know you did something interesting):
Some people strolled by — not their style, not their thing, totally fine.
Others came in with intention. And those people? They were genuinely excited.
The backdrop landed. Every. Single. Time.
The Product Academy. Standing Room Only.
FreeSpirit invited me to present my collections to a trade audience. We expected 40, maybe 50 people. The room filled. Then it really filled. Then people were standing.
Then the door closed and I, very spontaneously, went: “Yay!” And the room went right along with me.
I’ve been doing this for many years. I know my portfolio inside and out. I’m not a native English speaker — but when I present, I lead the room: calm, clear, confident.
And Scott Fortunoff (the company owner) was there too. As the room kept filling up, he stood up and gave his seat to someone else. That tells you everything you need to know about this company.
The Fashion Show. My Fabric. On the Runway.
JafTex organized a fashion show at H+H. Professionally hosted, six labels on the runway — including a spectacular coat in Kaffe Fassett fabrics.
And then: a dress.
Sewn from my wide backing of the Ampersand fabrics. On the runway.
Goosebumps.
That’s not coincidence. That’s what it looks like when a company supports its designers with care, with a stage, with real investment.
The Dinner. The Family.
That evening: a company dinner with the entire FreeSpirit team. Place cards. Thoughtfully chosen seat neighbors.
I sat between the marketing manager and a sales rep — and both of them looked after me as if I’d always been part of the family.
Scott asked every designer to briefly introduce themselves. Personal. Not protocol.
And the next morning, my art director invited me to breakfast — not to talk about the next collection, not to “review the roadmap”… but to ask: Tell me about yourself. Your family. Your home. What do you want from us?
That wasn’t just dinner. That was a welcome.
The Flight Home. And What Actually Matters.
A show like this takes weeks of preparation. The nervous energy the night before the flight. Finding your footing on-site. Building something up. Presenting. Networking.
And then — it’s over. There’s a quiet kind of blues when the stage comes down and the attention evaporates.
I flew home with one clear feeling: I did well. I rocked the show. And I love my new creative home. Some of my former Moda colleagues came by my booth to say hello, too — and that meant a lot. Real connection doesn’t disappear just because a chapter changes.
But then came Mother’s Day. May 10th. Home in Germany.
Ben came by on his Vespa. We went for a little Mother’s Day ride. My grandson drew me a picture. And I had my morning coffee from the hand-thrown mug Janet Clare has brought to the show for me.
And in that moment, I thought: A trade show is a highlight. I get to be the star. But I don’t have to be. I can just be Brigitte — in my everyday life, in my kitchen, cruising around on a Vespa — and still matter.
Maybe that’s the real lesson from Chicago.
Until next time,
Brigitte
& — because the And always connects