Candace Wheeler : An Advocate For Women In Interior Design.

There is not a lot of focus on Candace Wheeler as a shaper of the Interior Design Profession. And yet she is known in many circles as the Mother of Interior Design.  Candace was one of the first to realize that the arts could be careers not just hobbies for women .
Candace Wheeler lived from 1827-1923. She was an Interior and Textile Designer . Her Honeybee wallpaper design is still considered a classic. It was unusual for a woman to branch out into Textile Design , but more unusual still was her strong passion for helping women of her time achieve financial independence through art and design.

Following the Civil War there were thousands of widows with no means of support. Candace encouraged women to enter the decorative trades in order to help their families. From rural rug making to Interior Design , she was a feminist who believed that Economic independence was even more important than the Political freedom that was being sought.
Ms Wheeler wrote books , taught , formed the Society of Decorative Art in New York City , and was the Supervising Director for the Woman’s Building at the Chicago World’s Fair.

Candace Wheeler believed in the power of the Arts to transform the lives of women who needed to find their own voice and put bread on the table. She was a strong mentor and a great business woman who helped give birth to the Profession of Interior Design. Candace has a life worth studying.

Today is Thursday, do you empower yourself in every sense including financial? Do you use your passion to make your purse fill? Find your interest , find your money , and  find your voice.

Peggy Oberlin RID 4986