& Other Stories Collaboration

I’ve been wanting to write a post about the collaboration I did with & Other Stories for some time now. It’s been a whirlwind since I was given the opportunity but with the new year here it seemed like the ideal time to reflect and acknowledge the positive moments of 2019!

Running an independent brand is at times not dissimilar to performing a blindfolded juggling act. You’re not exactly sure if you’ll catch the next ball or where exactly the next one is coming from but you’re using your instincts and making things happen. So, when I opened an email from & Other Stories approaching me about collaborating with them, I couldn’t help but feel the ball just landed in the palm of my hand. I didn’t want to get my hopes up because of course it seemed too good to be true. They’re not only an established brand loved by so many but they are a store whose aesthetic has always struck a chord with me and been a source of inspiration. I decided to keep my cool and not just yet unleash the internal excitement that was on standby patiently waiting to be released. The happy dance, I decided will have to wait until I had a meeting with them and things where one step closer to being official.

With the date set for the meeting I packed my samples, a box of inspiration and display rails my dad handmade for me. I felt like a very small fish about to jump from my bowl and swim amongst the big fish but I was as they say “feeling the fear and doing it anyway!” Once I met the team, I felt all those fears dissolve. Everyone was so down to earth flowing with creativity and passion for their work. The concept was clear, they wanted to support small and sustainable brands by offering a pop up shop experience in their Regent Street store. I was about to share my story with a much wider audience than I had ever connected with. We discussed creating a new range of headbands exclusively designed for the pop up and so I got to making!

I wanted to create something extra special since it was such a celebratory part of War & Drobe’s story. I set out to design a bold statement headband that was light and most importantly didn’t hurt beyond the ears after 10 minutes of wearing it. Pain for the sake of fashion shouldn’t be a thing… just saying! I remembered that during my time working as a sample machinist in the lingerie industry I had salvaged rolls of foam fabric that were no longer the right quality. It’s normally cut down and used as padding for bras but inspiration struck and I though it would be the perfect base for the headbands I was to make in collaboration with & Other Stories. Making something new and contemporary from materials that was no longer useful seemed like the perfect way to send a message of the value of sustainability with each headband.

The day had come for the pop up, it was to run for 5 days during London Fashion Week. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was ready and embracing what felt like a dream come true. It’s an experience that still hasn’t fully sunk in. From the support the incredible & Other Stories team gave me to the excitement and enthusiasm for the brand I felt from the new customers I made; it was truly an unforgettable experience. I have since bumped into customers that I met at the & Other Stories pop up who still support War & Drobe. I can’t thank you all enough for your significant part in the journey. I’m looking forward to seeing what 2020 brings for us and creating more consciously crafted pieces always with you in mind.

With Love,

Nina x