I actually have a small ask of y'all. This year we're really focused on identifying some key, strategic luxury boutiques and retailers who might in interested in carrying Lilith. As a brand, we want to be intentional about who we partner with, so if there are concept stores that you shop in your respective cities/countries (we're all for global presence 😎) or even pass by on your way home, that you feel are aligned with Lilith and our brand ethos, please do shoot us a note! If you know a buyer or shop owner, even better. I'd be so grateful for an intro! You can reply to this email or email me at sarah@lilith.nyc.
I make this ask because retail is really hard these days. Most multi-brand retailers are suffering: Nordstrom has announced it may go private, Matches Fashion announced they were closing last month, Kering group has dropped a distressed Farfetch. And I was even shocked to learn that the fairly new, concept department store, Neighborhood Goods, closed down this past January. Unfortunately, this means that most brands are likely to lose money and not get their invoices paid as the retailers go under. And in other cases, it means retailers are reluctant to onboard new brands because they have yet to liquidate old inventory.
So we really want to be intentional about who we partner with moving forward - shops who do a *really* good job curating and activating brands and ones with a strong community and client base.
Have I ever shared that we have the absolute BESTcommunity?
Like THE BEST. Because we do!
Sorry to the rest of y'all. 😌
Storytime.
Two years ago, Oliver (pictured in the last photo) started sharing amazing photos of his girlfriend, Irenka, in her new Amberlou Brick sneakers. I opened a DM, only to see that he shared a folder of images from all their travels. Oliver's dad had introduced them to our brand when he purchased a pair as a gift for Irenka. Since that summer in 2022, Oliver and Irenka have been sharing their amazing travels and gorgeous photos with us: from Portland, Oregon, to Granada, Nicaragua, Athens, Greece, to Plodiv, Bulgaria. Some of you may remember this incredible video from Nicaragua they shot that could easily double as a tourism ad for the country.
Well this past week, I was sent another folder of incredible photos with a shoot they styled in Granada, complete with horses! Cue Cowboy Carter! 🐴🤠
Oliver shared that he was inspired by “the spirit of Lilith's photography style” (shout out to Ryan & Jonathan) and shared a bit of how the horses came into play: Behind every photo shoot is a lot of memories. When I look at these I remember how hot it was that day and how the umbrella prop was very useful. Also, how we chased down some cattle farmers to ask if we could borrow their horse for the photos. Fun times. ☂
And this is not the first time our community has been inspired to create based on our editorial style! Elina Banerjee created this beautiful shoot along with a video in Chandigarh, India last year. 🥺
Grateful is an understatement but I'm truly thankful for this community and so glad we've created a space to inspire each other as we navigate through our different journeys, paths, and even travels.
I haven't picked up the book just yet but was reading this article published by the author, Aarathi Prasad.
When we think of silk, we might think of gorgeous, floor length evening gowns or perhaps saris made of up yards of silk fabric that drape a women's curves beautifully. But in this article and her recently published book, Prasad explores the use of silk on the battlefields under Genghis Khan's rule, borrowed from Chinese warcraft. Tightly woven Bombyx mori silk fashioned into undergarments proved effective in battle, as the fabric would wind itself around a weapon's point, preventing deeper penetration of a wound.
Even more intriguing is how the silk fabric and the protein sericin produced by silkworms expedited wound healing - the silks would later be used for wound dressing as well.
Such a fascinating read! Can't wait to pick up a copy of the book.
I spent a few days in Antwerp last August and absolutely loved it. Great food, shopping, and design inspiration all around. Can't wait to book another trip soon! 🇧🇪✈️
A great interview with Eriko Miyagawa, Shōgun's producer who oversaw language interpretation to ensure Japanese dialogue was period-appropriate and its euphemisms translated accordingly. Example: The Japanese euphemism for sex is “to hold tight.” Literally, it means “to hug.”
If new guidelines are followed, we will see a 20% reduction in breast cancer mortality rates. That is absolutely wild. Moreover, “Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer, so the new recommendation is incredibly important to address this disparity.” Make your appts, friends! 🗓️
I would be remiss not to mention Kendrick's Euphoria diss track but surprisingly, this was not my most listened to track this week!
TikTok got me with this one - Tommy Richman's Million Dollar Baby. The VHS edit is a little lo-fi at moments but the funky beats got me. I'll probably tire of it if everyone starts using the sound for their TikTok videos, but for now, it's the perfect track as the weather gets warmer and we head into summer. ☀️
