Meet Simone DeSantis | Textile Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Simone DeSantis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Simone, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Painting on canvas was my first love. I would spend hours blending colors and shaping forms with my brush. Each piece felt complete once it was hung on a wall, but something was missing. I wanted my art to move beyond the frame and become a part of people’s daily lives.

That desire led me to textile design. While working in furniture design and manufacturing, I handled thousands of fabrics. I started studying them—noticing how colors, pattern scales, and materials could completely change a design. Over time, I began to view textiles as an extension of painting. Instead of a single image, I could create repeating patterns that told a story.

My background in painting helped me understand color and composition, but furniture design taught me about function and scale. I realized I could take a single painted design and transform it into countless products. A brushstroke could become a pattern, and that pattern could evolve into an entire collection.

This shift wasn’t just about creating art anymore. It was about making something beautiful and functional—something people could touch and use every day. My paintings were no longer limited to walls. They became part of people’s lives in ways I had never imagined.

Now, when I design fabrics, I still think like an artist. I consider the colors, shapes, and flow of each pattern. But I also think about how the fabric will live in someone’s home. How it will drape across a chair, how it will soften the light through a window, or how it will feel under someone’s hand.

This is art you can live with—and that’s exactly what I set out to create.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I started Willow + West Textiles, I wanted it to mean more than just fabric. I wanted it to reflect who I am as an artist and a business owner. That’s why sustainability has become the heart of everything we do.

The fabric industry is known for its waste and pollution, and I wanted to change that. My collection is made-to-order, which means we only create exactly what designers need. Our printing process uses organic inks and doesn’t waste a drop of water. I chose to work with ethically sourced linen, one of the most sustainable options for interiors. It makes me proud to know our fabrics don’t just look beautiful, they’re made responsibly, too.

Running a business has taught me a lot, but the biggest lesson is this: flexibility matters as much as creativity. No matter how well you plan, things won’t always go as expected. Sometimes, though, those challenges lead to something even better than you imagined.

I’ve also learned to trust myself. My background as a painter and my time studying in Japan bring a level of artistry to my work that mass-produced fabrics can’t replicate. I lean into that, and it’s a big part of what makes Willow + West special. I’ve realized success isn’t about following the old rules, it’s about figuring out how to make your vision happen.

Willow + West Textiles isn’t just a fabric line. It’s the result of years of experimenting, adapting, and staying true to my creative roots. I create personal pieces that tell a story. When choosing our fabrics, you invest in original paintings and hand-dyed Shibori, transformed into distinctive pieces for your home. Each design is timeless, made with care, and rooted in sustainability.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Here’s a week long itinerary to some of my favorite spots in CO:

Day 1: Denver
Start off at the Denver Botanical Gardens, grab lunch at Happy Camper, then head to RiNo to explore the many art galleries and local shops.

Day 2: Lake Dillon
Head out to the mountains, drive through Loveland Pass, have lunch in Frisco, and then kayak at Lake Dillon.

Day 3: Sedalia/Parker
Explore Daniel’s Gate Park to see the bison and magnificent views of the front range, have lunch in downtown Parker, and then ride bikes along Cherry Creek trail.

Day 4: Estes Park
Book a tour at the Stanley Hotel, have lunch at the Post Chicken & Beer, ride the aerial tram, and visit the Colorado Cherry Company on the way home.

Day 5: Colorado Springs
Explore Garden of the Gods, have lunch in Old Colorado City, and check out the Manitou Cliff Dwellings.

Day 6: Colorado Springs
Drive up or take the railway to Pikes Peak and have a famous donut, grab a bite to eat and explore the shops in Manitou Springs.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my professor from Otis College of Art and Design, Debra Valencia, for her continued encouragement to keep pushing the boundaries throughout my career. While studying with her, I created repeatable patterns using hand-dyed Shibori techniques. Recognizing my potential, Debra extended an incredible invitation—an opportunity to travel to Japan and study Shibori with masters of the craft. This extraordinary experience of creating one-of-a-kind textiles deeply influenced me. I continue to incorporate the lessons I learned into my textile designs for Willow + West, and I’m forever grateful for this transformative journey.

Website: https://www.willowandwesttextiles.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowandwesttextiles/

Image Credits
Simone DeSantis