Stately Atelier
The Heist sisters, from left, Andrea, Alyssa, and Alexia.
Stately Atelier, the brainchild of three entrepreneurial sisters, is finally making its grand debut. For anyone lucky enough to catch a glimpse of their first scarf collection, it’s clear: This isn’t just about fashion — it’s about art, memories, and a deep-seated family bond.
The dream of the sisters launched digitally on Thursday. They are selling framed scarves, veritable museum pieces that belong in a decorative or protective art frames that surround and support.
But let’s rewind for a moment. Before there was Stately Atelier, there were three Heist sisters: Alyssa (the baby) Andrea (the middle sibling) and their eldest sister Alexia Heist. Raised in West Texas in a family in which the entrepreneurial spirit was as natural as Sunday dinner, business talk was second nature.
“We’ve been around business our whole lives,” Alexia says over the phone. “Our parents’ company has been a fixture for decades, and even our aunts and grandparents built businesses of their own. It’s in our DNA.”
Another aspect that binds these three sisters, in addition to business and family, are their school ties.
All three have degrees from the Neeley School of Business at TCU. You could say they all bleed purple as well. Despite having similar educations, each sister focused on separate majors – which, when combined, create a great foundation to start a business with. However, all the business sense in the world doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t have a product that appeals to a specific market.
Despite all their brainstorming, the sisters struggled to land on the one idea they could collectively get behind. Then came an aha moment, sparked by something as simple as a framed scarf.
“It hit me while I was out on a walk,” Alexia recalls. “I’d always wanted to frame an old Hermès scarf of mine but never got around to it. And suddenly, I thought — why not us?”
While that lightbulb moment came in Texas, the real inspiration had been simmering for months — perhaps even years. The trio had taken a transformative trip to Europe in the summer of 2023.
Strolling through the cobbled streets of Como, Italy, they discovered silk shops filled with scarves so intricate and masterful they might as well have been museum pieces, according to Alexia.
“There’s something magical about the craftsmanship in every scarf we saw there,” she says. “It wasn’t just fabric — it was storytelling. Art you could wear, passed down through generations. And we realized how much we wanted to honor that artistry.”
One scarf, in particular, stood out: a delicate butterfly design that each sister purchased as a keepsake of their adventure. That same scarf would later inspire the Stately Atelier logo, a graceful homage to transformation and beauty.
When it came time to name their new venture, the sisters turned to the essence of what scarves meant to them. Dignity. Elegance. Uniqueness. “Stately” captured the regal feeling they associated with their art, while “Atelier” — French for workshop or studio — paid homage to the rich history of silk production and Parisian fashion.
“Luxury scarves have always been synonymous with timeless French elegance, and we wanted that reflected in our name,” Alexia says. “But this isn’t just about selling scarves. What we’re really offering is art — unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that are meaningful.”
In a world saturated with sameness, Stately Atelier has made it its mission to celebrate uniqueness. Each scarf-turned-art piece is carefully chosen, framed, and finished to preserve its individuality.
“To us, art is personal,” Alexia says. “It should resonate with the person who owns it, telling a story that no one else can replicate. That’s what makes each piece so special — and so worth the effort.”
Of course, working with family comes with its own set of dynamics. But the sisters lean into their differences, letting each personality shine in their respective roles.
“I’m all about marketing,” Alexia verifies. “Andrea’s the dreamer and people person who keeps the energy alive, while Alyssa is our logistics queen — she’s practically running a mini supply chain over here.”
Their collective strengths are precisely what have propelled the business forward. From designing a launch plan to sourcing and framing their inaugural collection, every step has been a collaboration fueled by love and late-night laughter.
They debuted their pieces at the Folds of Honor Gala held at AT&T Stadium just weeks before their official launch party. The response? Enthusiastic, with their first two pieces sold even before the party began.
As Alexia reflects on the milestone, one word keeps coming up: pride.
“Taking an idea and turning it into something tangible — it’s a feeling we can’t describe,” she says. “But what makes it even more special is the support we’ve received from friends, family, and the Fort Worth community. This journey has been about so much more than scarves or art. It’s about connections, memories, and creating something lasting.”