While I was developing the SS21 collection, the reality was dark. The unprecedented months stretched on due to the global pandemic, while the weeks were punctuated by endless grey, rainy days. As I longed for a better future with clearer skies, I wanted to create pieces that would brighten up your days no matter where you were.

In those bleak moments, I reflected on my trip to Faro, the capital of Portugal’s southern Algarve region. Founded by the Phoenicians, the city has been around for more than three millennia. Roman relics and still-standing ancient Moorish walls mark its age; pastel houses, cobblestone streets and sparkling beaches are a backdrop for rest and relaxation. Centuries of war, disease, foreign rulers and conquest put the present into perspective for the thin slice of time that it is. This reflection forward provides assurance that after hardship there can be beauty.

Romanticizing the past is natural, as is looking forward to a future that remains a blank canvas. Yet the past and future are a part of the present: cherishing the parts of life that truly matter, connection to others, and finding peace in the moment.

Reflecting Forward indulges in the soft color stories from my memories of Algarve, and brings them to the present moment. My hope is that this collection will bring you comfort, no matter where you are. An apricot silk shirt dress and pant set. Textural basketweave sweaters knitted with light cotton yarn. Tactile details in the flower-printed silk skirt, or the halterneck jumpsuit with frayed ribbon details. We can reflect back, but here’s to looking forward.