The name Second Sonder came before the idea, consciously at least. I’d wanted to build a community of like-minded creatives and was looking for a common thread to do so. When I started to consider a move from the fashion industry into interiors it clicked. I realised that to me a room isn’t about rushing to fill a space, it’s about the objects in it with real presence that make somewhere feel like home. My passion lies in finding those pieces and the name was already there. The new brand idea came together naturally.

My design career began 18 years ago with leather jackets and jeans. Clothes rooted in culture and craft over trends, pieces that outlived seasons and became the foundation of a wardrobe for many years. I was fortunate to travel the world for inspiration. From flea markets in LA and Paris, to warehouses in New Jersey and Notting Hill, a spooky trip to Salem, and incredible vintage stores in Hong Kong. Finding pieces from the past with a story lived in the material through a unique patina, markings or wash, or interesting design details, trims, or a cool shape or silhouette.

I’d take these back to the studio in London and they’d become the starting point for sourcing, developing leather finishes, denim washes, and designing new styles. I worked by Spitalfields Market which was an absolute treasure trove every Thursday. Lunch breaks looking for a Lewis Leather biker, a French workwear jacket, or my enduring love of finding vintage 80s and 90s Levi’s 501s. Eventually this expanded into furniture and homeware and I’d buy vintage trunks, ceramics, and chairs that would travel home on the bus and move around my rented flats with me.

The places changed but the feeling of home these created didn’t. And when I bought a place of my own, I invested in a serious grown-up feeling Hans J Wegner GE 240 Cigar Chair from Denmark and that started a whole new love affair with mid-century design.

Over the years a career rooted in design grew into consulting, creative direction, founding my own company, and building brands from scratch. It’s harder to romanticise the reality of building businesses than scouring flea markets across the globe, but it has made me who I am today. I’m a designer, creative director and brand builder, work I’d still love to continue with the right clients. I’m motivated by business, strategy, and all that comes with it alongside the creative. But the brands I’ve co-founded and built to this day have ultimately been for someone else, and it’s time to put what I know into practice on my own terms with my own taste.

I’ve spent the last couple of months starting to curate pieces for the first chapter of Second Sonder. Art, objects and antiques that bring a room to life and can be appreciated for their design and their craft. This won’t be the big loud launch I’ve worked on before with others. It will be softer, quieter, and slower, in keeping with the brand I’m building. Alongside it I want to get to know my growing community, those from the interior design industry, building their own home, or building a business.

Second Sonder is for anyone who can resonate with creating a home slowly and intentionally. For those who value good design and the joy of owning something unique. If you’re here, thank you for reading. I’m happy to have you here and hope you’ll stick around for the next chapter. I’ll be launching the first pieces of art, objects and antiques soon over on Instagram @second_sonder. See you there.