These warm days are dwindling before my eyes. The cool, darker mornings are a gift. The sun has not yet risen when the clock next to my bed reads 5:30am, or even 6am. The leaves on the tulip poplar and sugar maple trees have started to shift colors, some already dropping from the tree. Although we are still clipping flowers from the yard and collecting beautiful things on our neighborhood walks, I feel their brevity. Our two little ones have returned to preschool, which I am grateful for, but this feeling is mixed with a letting go of our more spontaneous and relaxed summer days.
As we transition into our fall routine, I thought it would be a good time to share an update on FW21. Back in January I designed our new collection with the intention of releasing it to stores and online this month, but over the summer we received news that our production was facing insurmountable obstacles because of Covid related delays. Some of the yarns used in our new sweaters are not available until January!
Because of these delays we have shifted gears this FW. I will be taking time to conjure up what’s next. I look forward to sharing more soon. Thanks for all your support. I could not do it without you!
ss21 editorial
movement forward
friends,
I’m very excited to share that we will be releasing a small collection of sweaters in a couple of weeks. it will be small and limited as we find our way through this crazy year. I feel very grateful to even have the opportunity to design right now. Just last month, I didn’t think it would be possible but we have found a way to move forward.
More to come soon!
in the meantime: please vote!!!!!!
Han
Hiatus
Eight years ago I stumbled into a women’s spinning guild in new zealand, not knowing that my interest in wool and textiles would expand to running a clothing label. There was a certain beauty found there that I just had to follow and explore. Over two years ago I gave birth to my first child, and have discovered yet another amazing beauty and gift in witnessing life grow and change and experiencing a certain change in myself too, a whole new level of love and vulnerability. And just a few months ago, I gave birth to our second child, expanding my season of motherhood.
Last year we simplified our collection by offering one sweater in three colors. And though my love for knitwear and textiles is still very strong and present, this year we’ve decided to take a hiatus, to slow down and really reconsider what the future holds as our family grows. I’ve decided to keep our website and insta account as a way to share updates on the beauty I come across.
Life is full this fall; full of transition, nursing, potty training, playing in the dirt, the list goes on. The leaves on our 41 trees are starting to fall and I am so excited for a relief to this summer's 90 degree heat.
Feel free to join as we continue to walk in curiosity about the beauty right in front of us.
Han
Feeling Grateful
As we end our sample sale this week, I am packing away this season’s makeshift studio to make room for a new addition to our family. I am only a few weeks away from welcoming our son to life, which feels like quite nice timing now that the FW18 season has come to a close. The whole world outside my window is in full blossom, changing, resurrecting, new life is everywhere. The timing just feels so appropriate for having a baby in the spring, especially juxtaposed to the December birth I had last time :)
I’m just feeling grateful. Hosting the sample sale has brought back so many joyful memories, creating all of these pieces with friends and partners who have been nothing short of great. Feeling grateful for all of you who have supported us along our journey, we truly couldn’t have done it without you all.
Hoping for a restful late spring and summer, and will be in touch about what’s to come this fall.
Sending all my gratitude and peace your way,
Han
FW18
ABOUT
This fw18 collection looks quite different than most other collections we’ve done. I am always trying to distill down the collection to it’s essence, only that which is truly needed. This year we’ve chosen one sweater - we all need one good sweater - designed for everyday living, one well-made, medium weight sweater that can be dressed up or pared down. I have found that the simplicity I long for in my own life now has trickled into my work. I hope you will enjoy this as much as I have.
michigan summer
For the first time in my life have I gone north for our summer holiday, what a gift! We stayed in a renovated 1800s farm house on a cherry orchard, with amazingly pleasant weather and dear friends to share it with.
How refreshing it’s been to step away from the normal work rhythms for a few months. It’s truly been a gift to reconnect with normal, mundane yet sacred everyday tasks in the domestic sphere. everyday really does feel new with all the ways our daughter is changing and growing, it has been such a sweet season to say the least.
We are gearing up for the coming fall/winter season though, and I am SO excited to share what we have in store. :)
Hope you’ve been well, and more soon!
All my best,
Han
change of season
I’ve been overwhelmed in the last couple of days with the beauty that we’re surrounded by. Spring is in bloom, the baby pine cones on my evergreens have emerged, the maple leaves have blessed us with their presence, new life is everywhere.
It’s a beauty thats deep, and true. It speaks to my soul in a way that no other thing does. Out of the darkness and cold of winter, there comes new life. It’s such a joy to witness this changing of seasons, and something very hopeful about it.
I was getting Olive ready for a rest yesterday, I laid her down and had this moment of seeing this season in life as changing, constantly.
We’ve come into a very special season of life with her — she is such a joy to be with, and is changing everyday. There’s a certain bittersweetness also present because she will only be this little for such a short time. It makes me think of a wabi-sabi beauty that’s found in the passing of time, beauty in the temporal, here and now.
It’s caused me to reflect more on the seasons of my business, and all the amazing experiences and relationships that have been made over the years. There’s a certain practice of letting go that I’m realizing can be healthy. Letting go of what I’m worried about, whether this is personal or with work, letting go of the past, embracing that which is here and now. Embracing that which I love.
Focusing on knitwear this fall means that I can let go of certain objects in my studio that I’m not using as often as I have in the past. Things like the sewing machine, the cutting table and some of our old handwoven fabric. It’s a strange thing, letting go. A certain sadness in transition, a mourning of sorts. Its juxtaposed with an excitement though, one about what’s coming. I know that I will find the Beauty again in the next season. It seems to be everywhere, and I feel grateful to be able to experience it.
Ok, enough about that. The sun is out today, and it’s time to get away from technology and get out in the garden. I’m so excited to watch the plants grow this season and to experience all the beauty that’s right in front of us.
With love,
Han
UPDATE :: new season ahead
Dear friends,
I thought this would be a nice way to keep you all updated on what’s happening with the Han Starnes label. We’ve got some exciting news, and big changes ahead!
As some of you may know, our daughter Olive was born just over a year ago. (I can hardly believe its been a whole year!) Becoming a mother has really changed me. I've slowed down, started noticing a lot more about myself and the little details in Olive as she grows. How amazing and truly humbling to witness such an incredible process that all of us have gone through. It's opened my eyes, to say the least.
As time has become much more limited around here, I’ve been almost forced to focus my work. I’ve been asking questions of what do I love the most, what do I enjoy — it hasn’t been easy to narrow down, as I love all of what we make. Knitwear is the answer I keep coming back to - it’s where we started (starting way back in New Zealand), and honestly what I think we do best. And besides, everyone needs a good sweater! And, when I say sweaters, I mean knits made for warmth, for the cold weather. SO! Here’s what we’ve decided to do - starting this year, we will design one fall/winter knitwear collection per year.
The transition to this way of working will also allow me to have more of a work/life balance, which I am so grateful for. Before becoming a mom, I think I underestimated the joy and love that would come with spending time with Olive - I am so excited about taking the spring and summer months to be more present with her, and reset for the coming work ahead in the fall.
This change also implies that we will not be releasing a Spring/Summer collection this year. Though I love the pieces we have created for this season in the past, I am excited to focus on our forthcoming knit collections. I have already started designing for FW18, it’s a process that’s been in motion for a couple months now. I couldn’t be more excited to share these pieces with you all later this year. It seems like a long time away, but it’ll come quick! In the meantime, I’m starting this journal to share thoughts, inspirations and other updates.
I cannot say thank you enough to all of you who have supported us along the way. What an incredible gift it’s been to me, and to the folks who are working with us to make our pieces. Thanks again and talk soon.
All my best,
Han