TYW: What inspired you to launch Suzie Kondi, and what was the original vision for the brand?

Suzie: Honestly, it came from a kind of frustration — I couldn’t find clothes that worked for the way I actually live. I travel constantly, I move between places and moods and I wanted pieces that moved with me. The original vision was simple: style that makes you feel at home anywhere in the world. Comfort not as a compromise, but as its own kind of confidence.

TYW: What was the very first piece you designed, and do you remember the moment you realised it had potential?

Suzie: It was a simple velour set — a top and trouser. I put it on and didn’t want to take it off. That was the moment, really. When you stop thinking about what you’re wearing because it just feels right. What I kept coming back to was this idea that comfort could redefine confidence, not undermine it.

TYW: Before starting your own label, what did your career in fashion look like?

Suzie: I have always loved making things. I grew up in Australia, and during a 13-month sailing trip to the US, I started crocheting bikinis and making handbags on the boat. When I arrived, I turned that into an accessories brand called Toast, which I ran for a few years. Suzie Kondi feels like a natural continuation of that path—it all comes from the same place creatively.

TYW: Your pieces have a relaxed, nostalgic feel. Where do you usually find inspiration when designing new collections?

Suzie: It always starts with colour, and colour for me always starts with a place. A particular shade of blue I saw in Greece, the neutral streets of Paris, the warmth of an afternoon in Patmos. I carry those feelings with me and try to translate them into the dye lab. The clothes follow from there. I want my pieces to actually transport you - back to a place, or feeling or version of yourself on holiday.

TYW: Are there any designers, eras, or references that consistently inspire you?

Suzie: The 1970s, endlessly — but it’s a mood more than a literal reference. That effortless glamour, the sense that women were dressing for themselves and their own pleasure even to travel. Unhurried. I’m also very inspired by craft traditions — the way colour is made, the skill behind natural dyeing.

TYW: Who is the Suzie Kondi woman to you, and how do you picture her wearing your pieces in everyday life?

Suzie: She’s someone who moves through the world on her own terms. She’s not dressing for an occasion or a dress code, she just has a very clear sense of what feels right on her body and in her life. She’s not trying too hard, and she looks completely herself. Come as you are - the clothes take you the rest of the way.

TYW: When you’re packing for a weekend trip, which Suzie Kondi pieces do you always reach for?

Suzie: Always a monochrome set— it’s the foundation of everything, you can build any look from it. Then something in a saturated colour, because travel deserves colour. I pack light but I pack with intention. The pieces are designed to work together, so you never feel like you’ve brought the wrong thing.

TYW: How do you balance the creative side of designing with the practical side of running a brand?

Suzie: With difficulty and a lot of humour. The creative part — being in the dye lab, working with colour and fabric — that’s where I feel completely at ease. The business side is something I’ve had to learn to embrace rather than resist. What helps is keeping the two connected: every commercial decision I make, I ask whether it serves the integrity of what we’re making.

TYW: What advice would you give to someone hoping to start their own fashion brand today?

Suzie: Start with something true — a genuine point of view and a need. The brands that last are built on a real perspective, and people can feel the difference. And don’t underestimate the power of craft and story. In so much noise, it’s the why behind what you make that gives people a reason to care.

TYW: What are your go-to beauty rituals, especially during busy periods?

Suzie: I try to keep things pretty simple and consistent, especially when life gets busy. I live a really healthy lifestyle—I don’t drink, I try to get to bed at a good time, and I walk a lot, usually between 10–20k steps a day. I cook most of my meals and get a lot of my food from the farmers market, which makes a big difference. I also love Pilates—I go to Flatiron Pilates with Amy Nelms—and I practice Vedic meditation in the morning and at night, which really keeps me grounded. And when I’m in Paris, I always make time to see Elaine Huntzinger—she’s incredible for acupuncture and Ayurvedic facial rejuvenation.