We are eager to share our Archive’s beauty with you.
Enter the Vault for creative exploration, design inspiration, and to give historic archives a fresh purpose in today’s marketplace.
Baxter Mill Archive consists of three uniquely diverse collections.
The Springs Collection
Ilene Danchig Documentary Textile Collection
Studio Messina
This vast design library consists of over 600,000 antique documents, hand-painted artwork, European textile books and garments. The Baxter Mill Archives comes to us from all four corners of the world, spanning over 3 or more centuries.
The Springs name has been associated with textile manufacturing since its first cotton mill opened in 1887. For over a century, the Springs and Close families were instrumental in establishing the SC region as a hub for U.S. manufacturing. Springs Archive Collection is home to the original designs of the iconic brands such as Wamsutta and Springmaid with over 200,000 timeless and classic motifs.
Ilene Danchig began her career in the textile industry as a designer and weaver. Her passion for collecting textiles had led her to amass more than 100,000 textiles and prints from all over the world; representing a vast ethnographic assortment from Mexico, Africa, Thailand, Eastern Europe, and India. Ilene soon realized she could sell her unique textiles and art as an inspiration to the fashion and home furnishing industries. Danchig opened her studio in the heart of the garment district of Manhattan. There she welcomes designers from big name brands – Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne (to name a few).
Messina was established in 1993. This archive represents nearly three decades of collecting. It was amassed from a variety of sources including auction houses in Paris and London, as well as antique shows, textile dealers, private collectors, estate sales and flea markets across the country and overseas. Located on Fifth Avenue off 37th St. within New York City home textiles hub, Studio Messina was home to a well-stocked library providing inspiration to the Home Furnishings, contract and fashion markets. Studio Messina is best known for its well edited, timeless swatches that are suitable for today’s more contemporary markets.
What truly sets the Baxter Mill Archive apart is our brilliant designers that thoughtfully remaster the archive documents to create one-of-a-kind collections. Their years of unparalleled design experience combined with extensive knowledge of creating repeats, printing and weaving processes make them uniquely suited to assist you in creating your next original collection.
Enter the Vault and be inspired to create your next one-of-a-kind collection. This treasure trove of archival designs is housed in a renovated 1880’s Cotton Mill located in Rock Hill, South Carolina… just 20 miles south of Charlotte NC. We don’t bring the archives out one at a time for you to look through. We offer our clients the “keys to the vault” to have their own unique experience driving through the archive.
Partnership with WGSN featured seasonally for lifestyle and interior print and pattern report.
They provide the trends, we provide the archives.
Set up an appointment today with our Chief Curator
KATHY PHILLIPS via Zoom or in person.