Those who have been fortunate enough to grow up spending time with grandparents know that the memories made from Sunday dinners, family traditions, and storytelling are held close to the heart and create a valued legacy. That holds true for sisters Taylor Moore and Marty Rickenbacker; the time spent with their grandparents, Ernie and Rubye Kirkendall, had a lasting impact on them from childhood but also spurred on an inspiration that would turn into an entrepreneurial career: Urban Garden Prints.
Taylor and Marty’s family has always had a close tie to nature. They recall stories of their grandparents surviving the depression and their grandfather working in the cotton fields. The sisters spent days out in the garden with their grandmother harvesting fresh vegetables and delicious figs, all of which made their way to the dinner table. Their grandparents had an entrepreneurial spirit and instilled in Taylor and Marty a strong work ethic. Their parents, Russell and Janice Johnson, also had a major impact on the sisters’ future career path. The Johnsons opened a furniture store in Aiken, and Taylor and Marty grew up around the business learning the ins and outs and also fully immersed in the interior design aspect.
By 2012, when Marty was in college and Taylor was practicing law, the two had an idea that perfectly combined their experience from gardening with their knowledge of running a business and their passion for creativity and design. They began pressing plants, right here in Aiken. The collection began with harvests from several local South Carolina farms and used a process very similar to how most dried flowers as children-between the pages of a book. Taylor and Marty use two boards to dry out the botanicals.
After having children and several years of pressing flowers and plants as a side gig, Taylor and Marty turned their love for botanicals and creative minds into a full-blown career. Urban Garden Prints began in 2018 blossoming simple, neutral pressed botanicals to an expansive collection including vibrant colors as well as birds and other coastal art. Taylor and Marty have a strong business sense about them, but it’s their design knowledge and focus on aesthetics that really sets their pieces apart. Bringing vintage pieces back to life with color and collaborating with many different artists has been another avenue in their successful business. Today, Urban Garden Prints has grown from selling locally in South Carolina to serving 49 of the 50 states and even customers overseas.
When asked about their favorites, two are in the running. “The hydrangeas are for sure! We have several varieties in our collection that will bring a loveliness to any room. A close second is the tobacco. The neutrality of the leaves and its crisp look is truly a stunner!”
Marty and Taylor, through Urban Garden Prints, have curated beautiful, timeless, and classic pieces for any home.
"Our hydrangeas are a personal favorite! We have several varieties in our collection, and we think their beauty brings a loveliness to any room. We also love the neutrality of the tobacco leaves, and its crisp look is truly a stunner! Recently, we have enjoyed supporting independent artists and adding their art to our line. Working with other creatives has been inspiring and fun!"
