Two “mothers” planted the seed for Jean Marie Clarke’s clothing line, Pax Philomena. The Phoenix-based home textiles pro turned fashion designer took inspiration from her late mother, Philomena, and from Mother Teresa. “[I wanted] to take my passion for textiles and put it to use to give back to the world,” Clarke says.“I decided that we should donate to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, since I was born in Calcutta, India, where she started her career.” Clarke’s designs are influenced by her Indian roots, too, with intricate prints on everything from baby clothes to men’s shirts. Most stunning: her signature caftans, whose diaphanous fabrics contrast with their daring patterns. “Textiles are art in motion,” Clarke says. “Mother Teresa said that ‘Peace begins with a smile,’ so by making clothing that is happy, colorful and beautiful… We contribute our little bit to spreading pax – Latin for peace – in the world.”
paxphilomena.com
