by Michelle Boudin
Gillian Stovall knew she would run her own design company, someday. It just took a little longer than she intended.
“I bought the name and domain [more than a decade ago] when I was 27. It means ‘something that is essential’ to you, and I knew I wanted to use it to fill a need in the home space.”
The Charlotte mother of two started working on Part & Parcel Goods in 2022 and formally launched her rug-and-textile company in early 2025.
Stovall has always had a love for design. After earning a master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York, she worked for an auction house as a home-decor and furniture appraiser.
“I thought it was my dream job, but I ended up hating it because it was very slow-paced and there wasn’t a lot of innovation.” She left to take a job at One Kings Lane, first as a buyer and later in product development for the online retailer. She left that role when she moved to Charlotte in 2016.
“It felt like this was a better place to raise a family, so we moved here and I became the Southeast [sales and marketing] manager for Sotheby’s Home, a marketplace for people to sell their personal antiques and heirlooms. It helped me build relationships with higher-end brands, because most of the furniture [made] in this country is actually made here in North Carolina.”
Soon after moving to the Queen City, she realized she missed working in product development and transitioned to a job at Chairish.
“I got to get even more in the weeds creating products and working with upholstery [with Bernhardt Furniture]. The last project I worked on was with rugs. That’s what really piqued my interest. I was shocked at how many looked alike, and even the higher-end brands would source an existing design and market it as their own. There was not a ton of originality, not a lot of people who did their own designs.”
Stovall began sketching her ideas and showing them to friends. The first sketch she did was for a tassel rug, which is now her company’s bestseller.
“I had been designing for a decade and I already had a lot of ideas, so I decided to take the plunge. And when I showed it around, people said, ‘I think you’ve got something here.’”
Stovall describes her line of 10 core designs — available in multiple colors and sizes — as timeless and classic.
“I’m really inspired by classic design and the history of a piece. I know a pattern works when it creates a sense of nostalgia, but you’re seeing it in a new way — I have to have an aha moment, or it doesn’t make the line.”
While her process starts with the design, Stovall is just as meticulous about the materials and the people making them. She interviewed 60 different weavers before finding the right one.
“I knew I wanted to work with Indian weavers because they have a generational talent. I also only use the best quality, sustainable fabrics, like our 100% New Zealand wool and organic, sustainably grown jute and cotton. For the level of quality I wanted, I found natural fabrics were the best way to go, and the best products are made by artisans who have been doing this for generations.”
Most of the rugs are custom and made to order, and many of her clients are architects or interior designers.
“I’m not interested in selling on mass-market platforms. I don’t carry a lot of stock, and that’s an intentional choice.” Part & Parcel rugs are sold on her website, partandparcelgoods.com, and on 1st Dibs, Chairish and The Expert, upscale home-decor marketplaces for antique dealers and wholesale brands.
Having grown up in New York, Stovall has been pleasantly surprised at how well her products resonate with Southern customers.
“When I moved here, I was surprised by how many people entertain in their homes and how many of the homes have colors and patterns and so much light. It’s very inspiring and reflected in my work. My first month’s orders all came from Charleston!”
Soon, shoppers will find even more offerings from Part & Parcel Goods. Stovall is about to launch a line of durable performance rugs made from recycled-plastic bottles, and she’s working on a line of pillows.
“It’s a natural extension, and I’m really excited. I’ve always had a very clear vision for the brand. To see it happening after all these years is scary, but I’m also really, really loving it.” SP
