PHOTO BY: DARREN LYKES PHOTOGRAPHY
Industry newcomer Leslie Roberson brings her lifelong passion for design—and years of experience crafting chic tablescapes for dinner parties—to the weddings world with a new Hyde Park luxury linen rental storefront, The Velvet Collection. It’s a shift from her previous career as a corporate recruiter, but there’s at least one big similarity. “I specialized in building long-term relationships with candidates because the next opportunity might be the perfect opportunity,” Roberson says. “I’ve used that same philosophy at The Velvet Collection: I focus on building long-term relationships with my guests.” With this new venture, Roberson helps couples and planners elevate their wedding aesthetic and create breathtaking guest experiences through uberluxe linens. She has more than 500 unique designs and colors in her inventory, from velvet to Panama linen, so there’s something to match every vision board. Her personal aesthetic? “Chic minimalist,” she says. “I love textures, bold colors and strategically placed patterns.” (Jewel tones are trending in 2022, she adds.) But at The Velvet Collection, it doesn’t stop at tablecloths and napkins: The fabrics can be used as pillow covers for reception lounge vignettes, to upholster a bar facade, and more. Just ask the stylish proprietor Roberson for ideas—she’s expanding into interiors this summer, and has an innate sense of design. 5305 S. Hyde Park Blvd., vclinen.com
PHOTO BY: JASMINE OLIVER, J. LAURYN PHOTOGRAPHY/ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE VELVET COLLECTION
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