Monograms are a way of expressing our Southern Hospitality

Monogrammed Preserve Cover by Samantha Grace Designs

I exhibited for the first time at the  AmericasMart in Atlanta about five years ago.  I was nervous and excited with all kinds of expectations and hopes.  At the time my items were designed around the gourmet shops and I was mainly presenting tabletop products.  My focus at the show was on finding more gourmet shops to carry my line and expanding into the upscale gift shops.  We accomplished our goal and did add new clients in Gourmet and did sign on with new upscale gift shops  but those were not the only companies that were interested in our products.  We were amazed at the number of Monogram Shops that stopped by to ask if we sold our items as blanks for monogramming purposes.  A section of the gift industry that I knew very little about but was soon to discover held a large hold on the gift market in the South.

Royal Monogram of King Haakon VII of Norway

Being raised in the Yankee South (Miami, Florida) rather than the true South,  monogramming was not something I was in the habit of doing to items I bought for myself or others.  I had lived here now for about 15 years but still it wasn’t something I thought of as soon as I purchased a towel or a set of sheets.  AmericasMart was aglow that year with monogrammed items of every sort and the last fading trend of everything you could possibly do with a yard of ribbon.  It felt like someone had thrown up the alphabet in pink and green on every aspect of the show.  In fact, unlike the ribbon trend that faded, even years later AmericasMart still boasts the single initial trend everywhere.  I realized that just because I was not one to emblazon it on everything in my life did not mean that others did not want to and have every right to.  Why not give them new, stylish products to do it with.  A whole new world opened up for my little company.  It turned out my items lend themselves perfectly to the spirit of monogramming and with the help of a local monogram shop, I developed a whole line of items with the monogrammer in mind.  After five years of working towards this goal, I have come to a happy place in the monogram world but realized that even though I know the how – I really don’t know the why.  So I set out to discover the history of monogramming in order to find out why the South is crazy about it.

coin of Theodosius II circa 405-450

Most of what is written about monogramming shows that it basically began with the Greeks and Romans using intertwined letters to identify their coins with their cities or Emperors.   Later on in Medieval times it was a signature of sorts for artists.  Their personal monogram adorned their paintings, sculptures and writings.  But back then the monogram was different.  A monogram was created by combining two or more initials into a symbol or logo that did not separate easily back into its parts.  Initials that were next to each other but not connected were not monograms but ciphers instead.  This distinction has been lost over time but in reality the monograms of today are not really monograms at all – not by original monogram definitions.  It is a shame because as you can see by the pictures, many of the original monograms were quite beautiful.  This artistic quality has been lost over time and replaced with generic, factory processed letters separated rather than intertwining.  Mass production has taken the artistry out of the monogram.

Royal Monogram

During the 16^th century, monograms went out of fashion for a time but then resurfaced at the end of the 16^th century as the family crests became popular and monograms were in high fashion.  They put them on as much furniture and clothing as possible. Then with the start of the Victorian era, monogramming became a means for the upper echelon to indicate their place in society.  The Victorians changed the monogram to be what it is today and the traditional monogram etiquette we follow now was established by the Victorians.  Beyond a place in society, it also defined itself as a mark of individuality and ownership.

EP Monogram Early 20th century

Moving into the 20^th century monogramming waxed and waned, losing its appeal during times of war and then resurging afterwards to stake its claim as fashionable once again.  While researching I found a funny excerpt that could describe (with a few dated exceptions) today’s incomprehension of the craze of monogramming in the South but was written back in 1952 by Rosamond Pratt in an article titled,  “Highly Personalized” (House Beautiful, May 1952):

” Women are in for a good many exhortations these days. They have been urged to get slim, to keep up with world affairs, to budget efficiently, to be abreast with the latest methods of child training, and to learn to serve smart dinner parties without a maid. Lately the distinction of being highly “personalized” has been pressed upon their attention.

” This apparently depends largely upon having their initials or names engraved, embroidered, or stamped upon everything they own. Not only stationery and handkerchiefs are to be thus marked, but their nightgowns, slips, and other lingerie, their pillow cases (Mr. and Mrs.), bath towels (His and Hers), and highball glasses (Lucy and Lew).

“But when every possession of a man or a woman or a couple is indelibly tatooed, it might suggest that the possessors are afraid that thieves are rampant, or that amnesia would overtake them and that they might forget who they are. . . .”

Was Rosamond Pratt right in her funny assumption that we must fear someone stealing our possessions or we monogram in an effort to remember who we are? I certainly hope not but it is curious, what is the fascination?

Car Vinyl Monogram

As we have gone into the 21^st century, we are seeing a spike again as it is not just  clothing and home accessories but also fashion accessories of all sorts albeit still mainly in the southern states.  At the time that I discovered the tremendous amounts of monogramming that was happening around me, a new means of monogramming was in its infant stages.   Soon after my learning experience at the AmericasMart, vinyl lettering became the new trend.  Lots of colors and designs to choose from and now the ability to monogram items that previously had not been candidates for personalization.   Machines were sold that were cost effective and simple to use for the monogram shops.  This took monogramming to a new level especially in the South where 7 out of 10 cars started boasting a vinyl monogram on their rear windshields. So the trend continues and before long someone of keen mind will come up with another method of personalization that will blow us all out of the water.   Something we’ve never thought of before.  I look forward to seeing it happen but we still don’t have a clearer answer of “why?”.

Organizer Bags by Samantha Grace Designs

It seems that with the advent of same sex marriages, monograms have a new issue at hand again.  The traditional formats decided upon during the Victorian Era have been challenged during our times.  Our societal changes are demanding answers to questions such as how to display a monogram of two life partners that want to embroider a joint monogram on items in their home.  What about the woman who wants to keep her maiden name alive in her married monogram?  Monograms have disappeared and reappeared many times throughout the centuries and have changed in a number of  aspects as I am sure they will change as much if not more in the coming centuries.  One thing is clear though, since the monogram dates back to the time of the Greeks and Romans and has survived the many centuries in between, then I would think that we will be continuing to see it around for many more.  I will be curious to view the next trend in monogramming and find out whether the rest of the country will catch on as well or if we simply have to say it is part of our charming “Southern Hospitality”.  The restaurant created by Justin Timberlake and his friends Eytan Sugarman and Trace Ayala is based on this concept of southern hospitality and as you can see by their logo, a monogram is a part of it – a true monogram, not a cipher, good job boys.

Southern Hospitality Bar & Restaurant Logo New York City

Maybe I am reaching here but I wonder if the popularity of the monogram in the south has something to do with this coined phrase “Southern Hospitality”.  In its essence it means kindness to newcomers and strangers dating back to the time when a fellow on horse back could drop in at a southern plantation unknown by the owners and he would be welcomed in to share dinner and spend the night.  Kindness to a stranger and making a person feel welcome and cared about is at its core so isn’t that kind of what we are doing when we give a gift with personalization?  What we say here is that I didn’t only think of your event, run to the store and  pick something out,  I took the extra step by going to a shop and having it personalized just for you.  I spent time figuring out what your tastes in embroidery are, what all three of your names are and took the present to a higher status by adding that personal touch.  That monogram  is saying I care about you and I want you to know that.  And in turn when it is for ourselves, maybe we seek comfort and happiness  when we monogram our own items.  It is a luxury and therefore a treat.  A treat we give ourselves to show we deserve something good.  Something that lifts our spirits and our hearts.  I can accept this better than my purse is there to remind me of who I am or being afraid that someone is going to steal my baby’s bib – can’t you?

Monogrammed Headbands by Samantha Grace Designs

Living among southerners has given me a new appreciation for what they are all about.  When I first moved here I wondered about those statements you hear floating around that all that southern hospitality is fake.  “It’s a ruse they use to get what they want”, they say.  The longer I lived here the more I realized it truly is not.  Are there people out there like that? – of course but there are some of those people all over the country, not just in the South.  My husband’s family is very southern so many canned preserves and home grown vegetables have travelled over my doorstep with sweet notes attached – I am here saying again thank you sincerely.  These are gems to receive.  They are gifts that mean something beyond just the “I should bring something”.  These thoughtful individuals put their heart and soul into growing the fruits and vegetables and then their hard work to can and pack them just for this type of occasion.  They share a piece of their gardens with you that they painstakingly worked on.  That is a labor of love which makes that piece of their garden a piece of their heart – a true meaningful gift.

So where does all this leave us?  I have firmly come to the conclusion that popularity of monogramming in the South is directly related to the idea of wanting to bring something that comes from the heart and is thoughtful and caring.  Because we aren’t all fortunate enough to have a fruit and vegetable garden or fortunate enough to be able to make it grow, southerners have taken monogramming on as that extra-special addition to turn a gift into a heartfelt hug.  Is it obnoxious to the rest of the country?– maybe,  but by viewing it in this light it should add the southern charm to a monogram that is meant to come with it.

Sources:

The Rules of Monogramming  -  www.embroideryarts.com

Monogramming:  History and Ettiquette -  www.articlebase.com

Late Roman Imperial Monograms – www.ancientcoinmuseum.com

All About Monogramming:  A Look at the Classic Way to Personalize Just about Anything – www.karenperkins.suite101.com

The History and Meaning of Monograms – www.amidprivilege.com

Southern Hospitality Restaurant & Bar – www.southernhospitalitybbq.com

current monogrammed products – www.samanthagracedesigns.com