ElleSummersStudio

Elle Summers Studio is on Morada Way in Islamorada, inside the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, and the premise is simple: Summers paints original artwork, and that artwork becomes things you can wear and use. The source material is the water and the island she moved to, and it shows up as the sort of saturated color that looks slightly unreasonable until you have actually looked at the Florida Bay flats on a clear afternoon.

The range is wider than a clothing rack. On the wearable side there are yoga leggings and skorts, kimonos, maxi and retro dresses, palazzo pants, tops, scarves and hats. On the carry side, crossbody bags and tote bags. And then there is the part people miss, which is the home goods: original art pillows, art prints and cards. Designs carry names rather than SKU numbers, things like Suncoast, Island Life and Abstract Garden, and she paints new ones continually, so the collection turns over rather than sitting still. Every design is her own, and the pieces are sewn in North America.

The location is the other half of the reason to come. Morada Way runs between mile markers 81 and 82 and it is Islamorada's arts district, a cluster of working studios, galleries, a brewery and boutiques in a few walkable blocks. On the third Thursday of every month the district runs an Art Walk from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, with artists working in the open, live music on an outdoor stage, food from local restaurants and shops staying open late. If you are choosing a day to come see Elle Summers Studio, that is the day to choose.