Find adventure-ready block-print blankets from Seabird Society
Seabird Society‘s “Shindig” blanket features block-print designs and carrying straps.
Seabird Society was hatched from textile-lover Whitney Holzer’s hunt for something fashionable and functional in which to swaddle her newborn on outdoor adventures. “I started paying attention and noticed nobody was really making beautiful picnic blankets,” she says.
Holzer, whose family owns regional retailer Palmetto Moon, joined a friend for a week-long visit to Jaipur, India, in 2018. There, she worked with local blockprinters to create a prototype, releasing a test run in Charleston in November 2020. After selling out by Christmas, Holzer decided to “go after it,” officially launching the Seabird Society website with her flagship blanket.
The extra-large, lightweight “Shindig” features a water-resistant bottom and soft, patterned top. Each machine-washable blanket has a hidden zipper pocket for valuables, four stakes for securing it to the ground, and carrying straps.
Inspired by nature and her travels, Holzer creates each pattern, sending it to the Jaipur workshop where artisans hand-carve the design into printing blocks. “I like it more than screen-printing because it embraces little imperfections,” she says. Shark teeth, birds of paradise, and more are then stamped onto blankets, wet-dry bags, and a “Motherload” tote for carrying “pretty much anything.”
Moving forward, Holzer plans to expand her line to include bedding later this summer. Find more online at seabirdsociety.com and in local shops including Celadon, Goldbug, and Palmetto Moon.
