Elizabeth Damrich, Creative Director, Designer, and Influencer

I had the good fortune to meet Liz Damrich on Easter Sunday at a friend's house. She, her husband, Michael, and their two young children walked two doors down from Liz’s parent’s house to join the festivities.  At first glance, this is a striking, exotic young family—unpretentious yet engaging, everyone dressed in chic and comfortable fashion. 

I know Liz’s parents Lacey and Carl Hunt, who moved to Pt. Clear from Athens, Alabama, two years ago to be closer to their grandchildren. They are great people. I know Carl from my University of Alabama days when he would speak to students and faculty at the business school. Lacey, who is from Montgomery, is one of those women who stands out when you meet her. She has an elegance and look that is natural yet incredibly stylish.

When I heard that their daughter, Liz is an “influencer,” among other things, I wanted to learn more. It’s quite the story and is still unfolding. We scheduled a sit-down at Nova Espresso, one of her favorite places in Mobile. As an influencer, Liz has a strong following on social media and has worked for years in fashion, branding, and interior design. She has parlayed this into a real business for those companies who hope to market to her audience.

She was born in Athens, which she says is a great place to grow up. At a young age, she and her sister, Catherine, would busy themselves in their home studio, listening to music, painting, and trying on their mother’s clothes. “This fostered a lot of creativity,” says Liz. In the fifth grade, the family traveled to Italy and France during the summer, where the girls were exposed to different cultures, especially fashion. It made a lasting impression.

“I was doomed from the beginning to care about design. My dad loves architecture and design; my mother always had beautiful clothes and an innate sense of style.” No school uniforms were required in high school, so Liz experimented with her mother’s 90’s long dresses, belts, and jewelry. “I developed a point of view at an early age,” she says.

While Liz says she understands why schools require uniforms, she is bothered that it doesn’t foster individuality, making it hard to develop your own style and sense of self. She has always been comfortable having her unique look. “I try to find a sense of elegance, comfort, and style that feels like being at home within yourself.”

Liz attended the University of Alabama and graduated in 2010 with a degree in Marketing and Global Business with a minor in Art History. While in college, she gained experience through public relations internships. She was offered an internship and then a full-time job working in New York City for a creative agency that was at the forefront of the digital and social media revolution. 

This allowed Liz to be entrenched in the fashion and beauty world, sitting in creative meetings with some of the biggest names in the business, such as Harry Winston, Lancome, Marie Claire magazine, and Shopbop, a huge fashion retailer. “I couldn’t believe I was lucky enough to be in the same room with these executives and listening to what they needed for content to sell their products. It certainly was an insightful glimpse into the future of marketing and advertising.” 

These experiences were great learning experiences because the fashion industry was moving toward the digital world. During market research and development of the tone for the digital brand and visual campaigns, she would listen and formulate strategies to create the right pitch. “I love marketing strategy,” says Liz. “This was a total dream, and I loved working with people from all over the world with different upbringings and points of view.” 

Liz and Michael, who is from Mobile, met two days before Liz graduated from Alabama. Michael moved to New York in June. Liz was planning to move to Milan to go to school for product development but had some time to intern in NYC before she was scheduled to leave. Michael picked her up at 23rd Street and 3rd Avenue in NYC, and they have been together ever since. She decided not to go to Milan. 

They married in 2013 in Provence. Michael worked with a medical software company that allowed him to stay in New York, while Liz worked with a creative agency as an account manager. “The winter of 2014 in NYC was brutal,” says Liz. “It got to me.” They then decided to move to Charleston, SC. “It was a good next step,” says Liz. “I love the European feel of Charleston and the natural, historical aspect of the architecture, and it’s close to the water.”

Liz worked for a branding agency and went back to school to study interior design, another passion she has always had. After earning her degree, she decided to go out on her own. “I felt confident that everything would work out somehow. The universe has a way of working with you if you are willing to put yourself out there.” She launched Elizabeth Damrich Studios, managing multiple interior design and fashion clients while inspiring creativity and collaborating with brands on social media. 

She credits her parents for instilling fashion (Lacey), architecture, and design (Carl) in her creative direction. “ Interior design takes time. Brand collaboration happens quickly, so it’s a nice balance,” she says. “It came naturally. I feel so grateful to be able to have a business that allows me to be myself and further develop my creativity.”

Her business includes designing interiors for new builds as well as renovations. On the brand side, companies began to approach her to help shoot and style images for campaigns across social media. “I’ve leaned heavily on my agency experience to do this while developing my own personal brand. I love sharing beautiful moments of life – the way the light comes in while sitting down for dinner, a breezy afternoon on the porch, and how things and products that we love are woven into our lives.”

As Liz developed her style, her followers grew. “After my years in New York, I have a strong sense of how I want to live. I like a slower pace of life. I need sunshine, trees, and a healthy work/life balance.” Many of her clients have come from social media. She has a national following of people that love and align with her sense of style. “The gift of social media is we can seamlessly connect with like-minded and interesting people all over the world.”

Liz loves the reach that social media has afforded her. “I always enjoy interacting with female entrepreneurs who are building their brands and raising families. They have been amazing to work with and always inspire me to keep going.” With clients all over the world, especially coast to coast in the US, Liz traveled a lot up until Covid. 

In 2019, Liz and Michael decided to move to Mobile. She was eight months pregnant with their first child and felt the need to be closer to family. “The bassinet arrived on our front door in Charleston, and that was it. We realized it was going to be tough to be so far away!” As a Zillow lover, she found a historic Greek Revival home in the Oakleigh Garden District in Mobile. They came to see the house without telling their parents. “I loved the bones of this old home and the thought of children growing up in old homes. It’s in my DNA,” she says.

"When we made the transition to Mobile, it was challenging to move to a new city while also becoming a new mother. I started falling in love with the city during COVID as our neighborhood lifted each other up. It felt like a big hug during that time and a beautiful, safe haven.”

Liz has always loved the nostalgia of department stores. Department stores are working to attract younger generations and have begun to reach out to influencers to make that happen. Dillard’s, which is still family-owned with three sisters at the helm, reached out to Liz last Fall. “We love your style and your point of view and think you would be a great fit to create your own brand of clothes, handbags, and shoes.”  

An agreement was made, and the Elizabeth Damrich x Antonio Melani fall collection will be in Dillard’s this August. ”After working with so many brands over the years as well as developing my unique sense of style, I felt ready to put my ideas out there. I pretty much had already designed the items in my mind.”

“The Fall Collection is based on my love of architectural shapes, sumptuous fabrics, silks, and double wools based in neutral colors that expand into colors of mint, olives, and rose for a coastal point of view.” She says her goal is to create elegance and ease with a sense of modernity without being too fussy.

As we were visiting, she told me that the first packages had arrived at her house from production, and she is preparing to produce the photoshoot before the late August unveiling. How exciting this is and how much fun that you will soon be able to see the Elizabeth Damrich x Antonio Melani Fall Collection in stores and online at Dillard’s. Be sure and follow @liz_damrich on Instagram.

Congratulations, Liz, and way to go! You are truly amazing!

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