Deeply Rooted

Freshly graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from the University of Mississippi, it was 2020 and Ramsay Stayer, like much of the world, felt depleted of creativity.

But after a move to Rosemary Beach, Stayer soon found a welcoming creative community.

Surrounded by an abundance of inspiration, including Northwest Florida’s idyllic coastline and fellow creatives she admires as business owners and friends, Stayer finally felt connected to art again.

“Whether I’m creating art, looking at art, listening to music or talking with other creatives, I have to have creative people and inspiring things around me in order to thrive,” Stayer said.

When thinking of her state of life, she kept coming back to the word “rooted.” Thus, Rooted by Ramsay was born.

Stayer, who has long loved fashion and considers it an extension of her creativity, found herself drawn to merging textiles and her print artistry. An avid thrifter, she began collecting clothing she could repurpose as art.

Stayer wears an olive green Rooted by Ramsay top paired with denim shorts, a snake-buckle belt and a gold bangle bracelet from ExVoto Vintage. Her silver dolphin and colorful pendant bracelets, gifts from her parents, add style and sentiment to her look while rings from Rebecca Pinto Jewelry, James Avery and United Apparel Liquidators (UAL) lean into the boho aesthetic. Photo by Savvibelle Photography

The idea of taking an object and turning it into art is something Stayer has been doing since childhood.

“I come from a very creative household; my mom and her mom were artists,” she said. “My mom always encouraged the creative side of her five children. We always had arts and crafts stuff around and complete freedom to create.”

Stayer’s Rooted by Ramsay collection is crafted with thrifted, donated or upcycled clothing which she block prints using her hand-carved block designs. Her designs are sketched on linoleum blocks, which she then carves away the negative space from to stamp upon the clothing item.

Each design is inspired by the natural setting of the Florida Panhandle. Subjects include shells, palms, a Florida panther, insects, reptiles, fish and all varieties of flora and fauna.

“I love the vastness of the landscape here and the variety of terrains,” said Stayer. “Being so close to the Gulf has been both grounding and inspiring, and I want that to shine through in each piece.”

Stayer gravitates toward oversized button-down shirts to imprint her designs, but she can also do custom designs on a customer’s preferred clothing item. All Rooted by Ramsay orders and other commissioned artworks can be ordered through her Instagram page, @rams_studio.

“Even with my commissioned work, it’s been very rewarding to have people let me vibe and be creative, completely trusting me,” she said. “I want people to feel comfortable and like themselves in my designs.”

↑ While thrifting at Goodwill for new upcycle inventory, Stayer sports a breezy, comfortable look in Isabel Marant pants, Ulla Johnson strappy sandals and Hat Attack purse, all from UAL, plus a casual tank from H&M. Photo by Savvibelle Photography

She hopes to launch a website soon and begin selling at more pop-ups along the coast. From there, her biggest aspiration is to be able to give part of the proceeds back to local ministries.

To Stayer, it’s important to give new life to items otherwise headed to the landfill. Coming from a retail background, she recognizes the need to move away from fast fashion and wants to be a part of the movement. Many of her personal purchases come from Haven House, Giving and Sharing, and Goodwill.

If she’s not thrifting, she’s shopping local. Three stores she keeps in rotation — ExVoto, OKO Lifestyle and BECASA.

“I joke that my alter ego is a Florida Cowboy,” said Stayer. “While it’s always changing, I would say my personal style is chic with a Western, masculine, boho flare. No matter how I choose to present myself through style, it’s going to be fun and feel like me.”

↑ Rooted by Ramsay designs are created by Stayer using a linocut technique in which linoleum blocks are used as relief surfaces. Stayer sketches her designs onto the blocks, then carves out the negative space to create a pattern for printing. Photo by Savvibelle Photography

Her go-to outfit in cooler months calls for wide-leg jeans by Just Black denim paired with Tecovas cowboy boots. In the summer, faded shorts with Doc Marten sandals make for a staple fit. No matter the weather, she almost always pairs a Rooted button-down over a tank top with her chosen style. For events and special occasions, she enjoys shopping online at Staud.

Throughout her childhood, Stayer’s family vacationed in Rosemary Beach. Now calling it home, she’s begun to find her favorite haunts. An ideal evening includes margaritas at Amigos or cocktails at Distillery 98, then stopping into Grays 30A for a grazing board or Ambrosia for a nice dinner.

What does she cherish most about the community? Its people, its artists and its creatives.

“I’ve found that here, there’s never bitterness or competition to get to the top like I’ve experienced in the past,” Stayer said. “Everyone is so encouraging of one another and excited to see other creatives grow. It’s a really beautiful, unique thing.”