Why Greek Names?

The Story Behind Our Wing Designs

Let me tell you how a Baptist Sunday School kid ended up naming fairy wings after Greek gods.

Growing up, the only “other gods” I knew about were the ones mentioned in the Bible as things we shouldn’t worship. But here’s the thing about telling a curious kid not to think about something – it just makes them want to know more. What were these other gods? Who worshipped them? Why did they matter so much they had to be specifically mentioned? What was so bad about them that they had to be banned?.

We will be talking about this more in the coming months and probably years. It’s kinda one of my special interests as anyone who has been around me long knows very well. Sorry guys! I can’t help myself. It could be worse. My special interest could have been in studying migratory patterns of Spodotera frugiperda aka “army worms”. See? Religion is better, right?

Back to the story. That curiosity led me to jump at the chance to study Latin in high school. It was 1984-ish and our little rural school needed a foreign language. Ms. Burden, god love you whereever you are, volunteered to learn one to teach us hillbillies some culture. She picked Latin. a base language to give us a foundation for all the romance languages should we wish to pursue further linguistic studies. So naturally I fell head over heels for classical antiquity. Would I have anyway? Probably, but she gets the credit. And yes, there was that one time we translated a Stray Cats song into Latin for a state competition – but we do not have to speak of such things. (Coughs under breath “Nerds”) My classmate who will forever be Jeffe and MK, you know who you are. Yeah, we did that.

How Wings Get Their Names

Truth be told, it’s pretty simple: I create the wings first, then let the wings speak to me and I choose a name that feels right. A name from Greek mythology for no other reason than I love them and maybe some knowledge might rub off of the readers. I am a historian as well as a costume designer. There’s no complex system, no deep symbolic meanings – just the natural connection between beautiful things and beautiful stories.

The first wing design I deemed fit for resale was named Chloe. The original photos are on the product page. Chloe happens to be my daughter’s name, who was named after the Greek goddess, the smell of the French perfume by the same name and the fact that it was in the Bible. We spell it, Chloe with two dots of the “e”, because that’s the Greek way.

Why Greek Names?

I love the classics. The stories, the philosophy, the whole rich tapestry of ancient thought from Socrates to Pythagoras – it’s all fascinating to me. While I can’t claim to remember much Latin vocabulary these days, that early exposure to classical culture left a permanent mark on how I see the world. I’m still finding wisdom in the works of Mark Anthony and Seneca. Another discussion for another day.

Currently, our collections draw mainly from Greek and Roman mythology (with a preference for the Greek – their names sound more exotic to us I think. I mean, Diana doesn’t really inspire awe as a name anymore does it? But Artemis? Exotic sounding. Who knows? Maybe one day when I run out of Greek mythology, we’ll venture into Anglo-Saxon or Celtic mythology for inspiration. There are so many beautiful stories in every culture. I want to do a zodiac set.

Looking for More?

If you’re curious about a specific wing design’s name, you can find descriptions of individual styles in our product listings. And if you’re wondering about custom designs – yes, we do those too.

Ready to find your perfect pair of wings? Browse our collections or contact us about creating something uniquely yours.

Custom Fairy Wings – Made to Order

Transform your vision into reality with our signature handcrafted wings. Each pair is meticulously created to your specifications, from size and shape to color and embellishments. Available as samples or in wearable wings sizes XS-XXL with custom sizing options available with consultation. Perfect for professional photography, theatrical productions, or bringing your unique character to life.

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