Meet Amy Larson

Equal parts design, activism, and cooking are a recipe for success for this apparel and kitchen goods creator

By Elyse Major

The goods you create through your Overseasoned brand are available nationwide, and three collections even give back a portion of proceeds to organizations including Planned Parenthood. How did it all begin?

I started my business in 2016 publishing recipes in monthly zines, highlighting the key, seasonal ingredients to cook from that month. Then in January of 2017 in the wake of the Women’s March, I penned my first slogan, “Smash the Garlic and the Patriarchy,” and began printing it on tea towels, tote bags, and aprons. Customers and stores started requesting it on other products and my merchandising business started growing. I began coming up with other slogans that intersect food and feminism like “Cabernet and Equal Pay” and “Shuck the Patriarchy.”

You recently relocated to Rhode Island from Cambridge. What brought you here?

I loved living in Cambridge but am originally from Portsmouth and after almost 10 years of city living, my husband and I wanted to move to RI to get more living space and access to the beautiful coast.

What are your bestsellers and what makes those items resonate with customers?

The Smash the Garlic and the Patriarchy design was my first creation and it continues to be a bestseller; I came out with the Shuck the Patriarchy collection in 2022 and that is also a bestseller. Lately people are really loving the Hot Girls Eat Pasta and Hot Girls Eat Bread lines as well. I think all of these designs respond to a societal frustration in my customers and that’s why they resonate so well, like the people who are loving the Hot Girls Eat Bread line are sick of diet culture and a male-dominated society telling women how they should look, dress, and eat. And then the Shuck the Patriarchy collection speaks to a special demographic of people (many of whom are in New England) who love oysters and hate the patriarchy.

Where do you like to eat and shop around the state?

Little Sister and Madrid European Bakery in PVD; Hunky Dory, Warren; Beehive Cafe, Bristol; Jayd Bun, South Kingstown; Our Table, Jamestown; Nitro Bar; and many more!

Any upcoming market events?

May and June are especially busy filled with upcoming events in Providence, Bristol, and Boston. Visit my Upcoming Events page at Overseasoned.com for dates, times, and locations.

With summer so close you can almost taste it, it’s time to take things outside. Whether you’re hosting a fancy porch party, dining under the stars, or prepping a luxury picnic, your guests will be swooning over a special night to remember.

Visual Feast

Since 1998 Stacy Carlson has been helping Rhode Islanders live stylish lives via her interior design business and home goods shop, Lou Lou’s Decor. Whether you head to Bellevue Avenue in Newport or Main Road in Tiverton, you’ll find a wide selection of table linens, place settings, glassware, and decor that will bring coastal grandmother charm to your table.

Center Of Attention

Sharon Thorpe, the floral designer and artist behind Rose of Sharon in Cranston, embraced the assignment of navy and orange, creating centerpieces overflowing with bushy blue hydrangeas and roses with mandarin oranges cleverly mixed in. Use a large floral arrangement to be your showstopper or place candle holders between smaller bouquets to experiment with height and textures.