Pastorum Carmina (Latin; Songs of the Shepherds) is a line of handmade shoes, garments, and accessories for men and women, made by designer, Cassandra Reilly. She has worked since 2007, learning to construct clothing and training as a Cordwainer since 2014. The palette of inspirations include, allowing garments to move out of 17-18th c. paintings, landscapes, literature, and Divinity. Pastorum Carmina works to bring you a souvenir from this place of inspiration while inevitably integrating contemporary elements.

The literary motif of the Shepherd, beginning with Virgil in ancient Italy, then Christ and pastoral poets such as Jacapo Sanznnazaro, has been one that is practical in labor while simultaneously lamenting over landscapes; evoking both poetry and song. The toil of the Shepherd and the creative “Song’ invites primordial beauty and Divine inspiration. In this way, Craftmanship is a Shepherd of Beauty ~ embedded in necessity and lamenting a fleeting past, hence evoking the creative truth of primordial poetry and song.

After attending London College of Fashion for Womenswear and Cultural Studies, Cassandra studied Accessory design at Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. When finished with the institutions she studied under a master Cordwainer in Hungary and conducted extensive research in France, Southern Italy, and Ireland. Since returning from these travels she has owned and operated Benedictine Farm where she lives and has her studio. When she is not working on her farming/gardens project she works with a Master Cordwainer in a 7 year apprentice program in Pennsylvania . She is a 2022-2024 recipient of the Folk and Traditional Arts Grant funded by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.