Thoughts, Musings, & other Delights

Madder root (Rubia tinctorum) is a natural plant dye material I have been wanting to work with for a while because of the various hues of deep red, pink, corals, rust hues acquired from it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect as I'm a beginner when it comes to botanical dyeing, but I was really pleasantly surprised with the soft palette of petal pink.I read several different posts and watched Youtube videos and decided on doing an alum mordant on four Atèlette pieces that had the slightest imperfections. I'm talking tiny pin...

Vashon Island in the Puget Sound, has been our favorite little weekend getaway since we first visited last winter. We used to frequent the coastal historical town of Astoria (which is in Oregon) as our weekend getaway of choice, but as of late, it's been Vashon. We love the peace and quiet, the rolling hills, the farmlands, and the sweet little main streets. Vashon during the week is pretty sleepy but usually is buzzing on weekends as it is very accessible via a 20 min ferry ride from Tacoma or...

I am someone that is moved by the small beautiful little details in life that reminds me of how poetic it is to exist, right here, right now. I have been brought to tears while watching the sun set at the ocean, have yelped in delight witnessing someone experiencing unexpected joy, and have shrieked with awe when driving by tall fields of grass dancing in the breeze. I feel fortunate that I am someone that can easily find beauty and wonder in things that most people overlook or don't bother to pay attention to. Or they're...

Yesterday I shot all of the pieces that are part of our Spring Reverie with one of my favorite models, Patience (who I met through Instagram), in one of my favorite places just north of Portland. The day before I spent the morning driving through the quiet streets on the island, the water's surface sparkling with sunshine, tree branches with fresh new buds and flowers gently swaying in the wind, the scene was so idyllic. I drove around making sure the locations I wanted to shoot were accessible and to make sure the...

“Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better.” - Maya Angelou I have been thinking asking myself a lot lately what is it exactly that makes Atèlette a sustainable womenswear brand? I hesitate to assign the label on it because I'm not sure if I live up to it, not yet anyway. I think for any sustainable clothing line or any ethical and slow fashion brand, we're all just trying our best. At least, that is my hope that the person who holds the reigns...

I often hesitate to call Atèlette a sustainable womenswear brand because I feel like there is so much more I could be doing, which is a big reason as to why our label says “consciously crafted”. I truly feel that sustainability in fashion (and in life) is a spectrum. I’m not sure WHO, if anyone, has the definitive guide to HOW to be a sustainable clothing label, but I do feel like as a designer and owner, I feel a responsibility to craft and create in a way that aligns...

Growing up, my mother always instilled in me the idea of recycling, reusing, repurposing. Not necessarily because she was an environmentalist, it had more to do with being an immigrant and growing up dirt poor. Nothing was wasted. When we immigrated to America (I was 8), I remember having to wash every jar so they could be reused (great for leftovers, for organizing, for vases). I washed and dried to-go containers (great for lunches or bringing food for your neighbors). Garments you grew out of were sent back to the...

I saw a post on Threads where a life coach had shared something along the lines of “The year ISN’T almost over, you STILL have time to move into that new house, get that new job, find that relationship…you just need to keep going!” and someone commented with “I’m tired. I want this year to be over. I’m tired, it’s been an unbelievably hard year.”And her comment really made me think. Why is our culture so obsessed with “hustle culture” and “doing all the things”? Why do we glorify working...

The role of a skilled tailor might seem like a relic of the past in today's fast paced world of off-the-rack fashion and online shopping. However, having a tailor is not just a luxury for the upper class but an essential asset for anyone who values well-fitted, stylish clothing. It is also a great way to promote sustainability in fashion and in consuming responsibly. Here are some reasons why I think it is important for you to have a tailor.1. A Perfect Fit: One of the most significant advantages of having a tailor...

The website has now launched and I've been a bit quiet again on social media and even in marketing and promoting the new site. Seems a bit odd, but I'm listening to my emotional state and realizing I have been working so much the past year that I need to rest and to recuperate and just allow myself time and space. I only have so much energy and I'm getting a bit older and more guarded with my time.  So instead of constantly "promoting the existence of"-- which is how I feel about...

With a professional background spanning well over a decade in the vintage clothing trade, followed by six years dedicated to curating contemporary apparel from various brands for Adored Vintage, I have traversed the extensive spectrum that delineates finely crafted attire from its less distinguished counterparts. This journey extends beyond the realm of aesthetics, delving into the quintessential attributes that distinguish a high-quality garment. There are and should be distinct price points for the differences. My mission is to share the knowledge I have garnered, with the explicit aim of enlightening...