: a project that is not yet finished : a concerted effort to make things better, brighter and more beautiful : our weekly updates on retail to detail and everything in between
Fashion may be aspirational, but it’s ultimately reflective of the times we live in. The way we dress, both as individuals and as a community, inevitably evolves as we ourselves grow. With so much to accomplish in-store and in the world, there is hardly time to rest on one’s laurels. Like all things, it takes concerted effort to move the bar forward.
What a week! You may have noticed that we were quiet last Saturday—and that is because we were really, really busy. International Folk Art Market is a big party every year, and we are often too caught up laughing, crying and chatting in the stores to even look twice at a computer.
A big thank-you to everyone who joined us in-store and over FaceTime—the energy on the plaza was incredible. After the market quieted, we took the opportunity to rest and recharge before jumping into our next venture: the Avant Toi and TAP by Todd Pownell trunk shows coming in August. In between a flurry of collection deliveries, some of us disappeared into the desert to take some needed photography of our latest Pre-Fall arrivals. It’s been a few weeks since we felt the crunch of gravel under our boots and basked in the sun. Taking in the pine-y scent of juniper as we off-road to find the perfect shot… practically heaven!
August is hot on our heels, and with it our next trunk show. Todd Pownell & Debra Rosen of TAP will be joining us in Santa Fe Dry Goods on Friday, August 8th, and Saturday, August 9th to share a wide selection of their diamond works.
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Todd and Debra are renowned for their experimental, fashion-forward presentation of diamonds. From their bench, we see a magnitude of compositions: spiky, reverse-set stones, undulating channel settings and hammered interlocking links among their favorite motifs… all of which achieve cohesion even in the most unusual shapes. Should you be in Santa Fe on 8/8 and 8/9, please stop by Santa Fe Dry Goods to meet Todd and Debra–they are delightful and inspirational.
Meet new designer Daniel Andresen, a German knitwear genius with a penchant for tactility. Considering comfort the foundation of confidence and self-awareness, his silhouettes are relaxed and casual. Handknit from plush fibers such as cashmere, camel and yak, Daniel nurtures textural complexity through an intensive, hands-on studio practice.
While we have our on-site photo routine down pat, outdoor shoots are notoriously tricky. Not only do we have to transport clothing, equipment and ourselves to a far flung location, we often have to compete with the elements to get the perfect shot (and the sun does not stop setting even if you have finally established the perfect frame!) This latest endeavor took us out to the hills of Madrid, a teeny-tiny former mining community about 30 miles south of Santa Fe. Joey, Jazmin, Tim, Sita, Zach, Shobhan and Tim scrambled over shale, coal and gravel to find the perfect backdrop for our Pre-Fall arrivals. Many of the locations had Tim and Joey kneeling in dirt to get the right angle, tethered to Shobhan’s computer, balanced on her knees, ten feet away. As you can imagine, many, many laughs were had—and an equal amount of hijinks! Sunburn and scraped knees aside, the results were worth it. We look forward to sharing the final, edited images with you over the next few weeks.
Officine Creative has arrived for fall in a mix of rugged and classic. Nearly all rendered in suede, the delivery includes the return of the heeled Denner alongside the new Blossom boots—a sporty style akin to a lug-soled hiking boot.
We were lucky to host Mieko Mintz and Yaser Shaw in conversation with Asif Sheikh in Shobhan’s garden last week. In a discussion on South Asian craft, the designers shared their experiences and challenges championing the handmade.
Each year, committing to ethical garmentry feels increasingly urgent. Especially in an area of the world, such as India, defined by its reputation for exquisite textiles. We are proud to represent designers who work with and support the communities preserving the magic of the hand. Some highlights from the talk: we learned Mieko’s silk jackets are worked on exclusively by her most experienced sewists due to the finicky nature of the material; Yaser shared the importance of connecting with nature to “refill his cup” and inspire his embroidery; and both expressed an confidence in the longevity of craft, with young artisans cropping up to continue these traditions into the future.
In the audience was Natalie Chanin, who spoke with us last year on the preservation of Appalachian stitchery through her studio in Florence, Alabama. Alongside Mieko and Yaser, Natalie shared her second trunk show in Santa Fe Dry Goods. Her latest collection, FW25, can be found here.
It’s finally cooled a bit in Santa Fe, and we are well on the road to Fall—new arrivals are coming in daily and brightening the stores. In addition to Daniel Andresen and Officine Creative, we have received deliveries from Dušan, Plan C, Daniela Gregis and Alonpi, all of which are now available in store and will go online in the next week or so. Of note this week is also a flurry of Avant Toi— near 600 pieces unpacked and obsessed over by our team. This delivery will be featured at the studio’s own trunk show in August alongside the works of TAP by Todd Pownell. There is more to come as it all arrives— stay tuned!
