Note #03: On texture and connection

Musings after a weekend in Auckland.

I’m sitting at the airport in Auckland, waiting to head back to Wellington. I’ve been in my hometown to do another showroom - our version of a pop up, sharing our beautiful wares with our Tāmaki customers. It was also an informal Auckland introduction to the Underlena line, which we launched two weeks ago.

We were hosted by Francie, a beautiful knitwear label originally hailing from Melbourne, Australia. The founder, Anna, moved to New Zealand with her Kiwi husband two years ago and now calls Auckland home. We met shortly after Anna had moved; I was in Auckland for a showroom and slid into her DM’s saying that we should catch up while I was in town, having not previously met her. It was swiftly agreed that we would meet for a mid-afternoon glass of prosecco (my kind of woman).

I was soon to discover that Anna and I share many of the same values when it comes to business, growth, how we want to show up in the world, and how much fun we’d like to have while doing it (plus a shared affinity for great lingerie). So when Anna offered to host Underlena for our next Auckland showroom, there was no hesitation.

The Francie Studio in Auckland.

Francie’s knits are made between Melbourne and New Zealand, focusing on natural fibres (think: alpaca, merino, possum, silk) in contemporary yet nostalgic shapes. Once we were fully installed into their light and spacious studio, it was evident what sort of match this was: heavenly. During the weekend, I heard this reflected back to me, culminating in the final thought that there are few better feelings than sitting on your bed in a pair of great knickers and a soft knit on top, with nothing underneath. So it’s in this spirit that I write my shortcuts to sensuality for the month of June.

Shortcuts to Sensuality: June

• Choosing an Italian-style hot chocolate instead of (yet another) coffee

• Taking the short days as sign of luxury to go to bed absurdly early

• Spending an entire Sunday just cooking for the pleasure of it (in particular, to make Stacey’s beans from last week)

• Revelling in the softness of my new Francie Campfire knit - the lightest alpaca - merino blend that feels like a cloud

• Saying yes to a freezing wintery swim before I can change my mind

• Slipping on my favourite (ultimate, perfect) Underlena Brief and it really just making me feel hot

• Eating a gilda - a pintxo made up of a green olive, an anchovy and a pickled guindilla pepper. Balanced, salted perfection.

• A classic - soaking in the bath with a novel until I become a prune. Currently reading Ragtime, by E.L. Doctorow.

• Enjoying the simplicity of a divine Three Fates Pétillant Naturel with a salty crisp after a long day.
  

Said pet-nat + crisps

We have a stacked schedule for Notes on Sensuality, and I’m very excited to share them with you this month. Stay tuned, and subscribe for our continued musings.

Yours in sensuality,
Maxine x