Our Co-founders believe in creating long-term partnerships with our manufacturers
and producers around the world. How do they create these meaningful partnerships?
They go straight to the source. We’re building a new line of footwear + accessories
made with a focus on waste reduction and recycled materials. So, as they do, off they
went to Portugal to work alongside designers and cutting edge factories using innovative
materials to produce the next iteration of Alice + Whittles.
We all had questions. We sit down with Sofi to get them answered.
"I love landing in a new country, taking a breath of air leaving
the plane and enjoying a few moments of having nowhere
in particular to be."
Traveling has definitely changed with a toddler in tow. Those same moments of quiet reflection are fewer and farther between – but different ways of experiencing the world open up with having a child around. É is very social, so he promptly throws us into our new surroundings by making friends with just about every person that passes. Kids don’t have the conditioning that most adults have - their energy and love of simple connections is so disarming.
Now the best part of being here is seeing how much Émile loves it and is loved. We enrolled him in a local daycare for the mornings so we can get work done. The entire village knows him. We run into friends of his in the village while around town and he is over the moon. Some of his first few words have been in Portugese.
Waking up to the roosters from nearby farms. Working from under the walnut tree in the garden.
Afternoon walks on the farm to pick lemons, plums, oranges and berries that are now in season.
Evening jaunts to the coast or extra long dinners at home on the terrace.
The markets here are amazing – we shop for fruits, vegetables and fresh fish Wednesdays and
Saturdays. It’s lovely and simple. The consumption economy just does not exist. Clothes are
worn and re-worn, washed carefully, hung to dry, mended when they need to be.
It’s really no different from packing for a one week trip. And going to a warm climate is much easier. I packed a couple of summer dresses, a jumpsuit for the evening, a few pairs of denim + t-shirts, a pair of yoga pants and one sweater.
As for shoes, I brought a pair of flat sandals, one pair of heeled espadrilles and a pair of our new Luxa Sneakers. All of which can be worn day or night. It helps that sneakers can make it into even evening attire these days.
20:80 city/country. Walk as much as possible. Eat local. Sit down for a drink.
Bring your own bag and wear or carry what you buy.
Pack better. Always. I think I pack light until Nick reminds me that he only brought
one sweater, two pairs of trousers, three t-shirts, a few pairs of underwear, and a
toothbrush. And it all fit in a weekender.
Time is clean, breathing is slower, and food is better.