An Ode to Lavender
Lan wears the Typewriter Wrap Skirt in Amethyst and Maison N.H. Paris Noa hat.
Bundles of lavender suspend from the porch beams of our Sonoma home, drying in the warmth of the sun. From there, stems and seeds will be dispersed to fragrance wardrobes, infuse baths, and rest between the pages of a book, to be rediscovered when next read. Since planting our lavender beds a few years ago, this sublime botanical has become a sensual presence in so many aspects of home.
The origin of the word "lavender" is Latin, lavare, meaning "to wash," reflecting its cleansing and soothing effect on both body and mind. We all know the sensation that follows breathing deeply from a bouquet of lavender: a feeling of release, of opening of heart and mind, of calm.
Watching your garden grow from seed into abundance is grounding and rewarding. Lavender has a hardy soul, and can grow almost anywhere there is sun, from garden to windowsill. Cultivating it with friends and family is a beautiful summer activity—imagine being immersed in that herbaceous fragrance, close to the warm earth, then carrying armfuls inside. That, to me, is simply heaven.
Tending the garden with friends is such a joyful experience. Lan wears the Typewriter Wrap Skirt in Amethyst; our friend wears Citrine.
Lavender has long been integral to my collection: a natural repellant to moths, it casts its protective spell on our cashmere while its calming and comforting fragrance infuses our spaces. Lavender seeds from our garden rest in antique scales at Maison and Atelier, waiting to be scooped into the hand-made muslin sachets that accompany each garment. I love that our house sachets add another sensorial dimension to your wardrobe, inspiring a moment of pause each day when you dress.
The Hand Pleated Column Dress in Gold adorned with lavender. Seeds from our garden await bundling into our house sachet.
In Sonoma, we grow Grosso (Lavandula x intermedia) a variety with a sublime fragrance that is widely used for oils and skin care. Each summer, we get to work with pruning shears to harvest our small batches.
After gathering the stems, we parse them for their myriad uses: bouquets, aromatherapy, gifting to friends. And, of course, for our house sachets. It takes the work of many hands, from garden to atelier, to create each one. To release the seeds, we place the stems in linen bags and roll them gently back and forth by hand. It's a beautiful communal ritual. We then pour the seeds into petite muslin drawstring pouches, and they take their places nestled next to a cashmere coat, or hung like a talisman at the neckline of a dress.
"It takes the work of many hands, from garden to atelier, to create each sachet. It is a beautiful communal ritual."
When you visit Maison and Atelier this month, you'll find our freshly harvested lavender hanging from the rafters, its immaterial fragrance intermingling with the material forms of our collection. Aromatic, tranquil and cool, Atelier and Maison are meant to provide you with sanctuary, and perhaps even a moment of transport from city to field.
Please come in, and breathe deeply.
