Beautiful SJ Scarf Collection Inspired by the Images She Loves

Wherever Sheila Johnson travels, she photographs the beauty and the inestimable power of the scenes she sees. Whether she is just waking up on a winter morning in Hunt Country to see a sugar maple in its fiery splendor, or visiting Haiti after the earthquake to find and photograph a still-standing classically beautiful blue door of grace and strength that could not be bowed by the elements, she sees beauty all around her.

Because she cherishes the beautiful things she sees, and because she so wanted to share them to inspire others she worked with Mirko Iglio, the noted Florentine textile design consultant, to create a new line of truly spectacular scarves that reproduce her photographs on enormous, supple, natural fabric that Mirko says are "… miraculously Bella!"

"Everywhere I go I've taken my camera for the last twenty years," Sheila explained. "Photography is an artform I love because, if you keep your eyes open, you will really see every aspect of what's going on around you.

"I believe Virginia horse country is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Every morning when I am at home, I see something beautiful in the ever-changing landscape.

"It was a dream of mine to be able to share my photographs with others. As Mirko says, 'Florence is the most famous textile city in the world,'… so it was only natural that I ask him to help me create my collection."

Best known as a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, Sheila's roots have always been in culture and the arts—a lifelong love that her new SJ Scarf Collection fully expresses.

The stunning scarves are large enough to wrap around the wearer several times. The vibrant colors of her photographs form a gorgeous abstract palette when draped across ones shoulders, and a stunning reproduction of her spectacular photographs when fully extended.

Described by Italian Vogue as '…a mother, artist, sports enthusiast, film producer, designer, philanthropist and social engineer in a petite powerhouse…' Sheila's SJ Collection of luxury scarves that she refers to as "wearable art" are "…destined to become another part of her ever growing empire."

"Each scarf tells an inspiring, uplifting, intimate story," Sheila explains. "Even among the rubble in Haiti, there was real beauty."

Questioned by Yomi Abiola of Italian Vogue about her business acumen, she explained many things about success that women can learn from sports:

"Women need to play the game to get the deals. We learn how to broker deals, how to empower ourselves, not behind the desk, but through real competition."

Johnson is very much on the field and playing at the top of her game. Her stamina for creativity and expansion are inexhaustible. Her mantra is to keep giving back and empower the community.

Today, Sheila is not just giving back through philanthropy and industry, she plans to share her inspirations and her passion with others through her beautiful photographic scarves.

Her ties to the world of art and design run deep. She serves as chair of the Board of Governors of Parsons The New School for Design in NYC, where she funded both an award-winning design center and a scholarship for talented but underserved students. In May 2012, Johnson, along with designer and friend Donna Karan, was honored by Parsons for her contributions to the field. A fervent advocate of arts and education, she was appointed by President Obama to serve on the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

An accomplished violinist, Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Illinois. A mother of two, she lives in Middleburg, VA, with her husband, the Honorable William T. Newman, Jr.

For more information, please visit www.sheilajohnsoncollection.com.