above (left to right): Honey Comb Jooshi Crewneck Sweater + Tosk Harem Pants in Kitrino; Tosk Harem Pants in Sapphire Velour; Corfu Elbow Sleeve + Megalo Palazzo Pants in Black Velour
Q&A with… Suzie Kondi
1. Suzie, when you first came to the U.S. from Australia your first stop was actually Westport, of all places! Tell us a bit about that.
I arrived from Australia via sailboat! I met a sailor in Australia who wound up becoming my husband. He had ripped a sail in the Solomon Islands and stopped in Australia to repair it. The week he was waiting for the sail to be repaired, he met my brother-in-law, who is also a sailor. We met and he changed his plans. He stayed with me in Australia for a year, and then we sailed halfway around the world together, finally arriving in New York.
He was from Greenwich, and we decided to live in Westport. For my first few years in America, I would commute from Connecticut into the city as I started the brand I had at the time, a line of handbags called Toast. I love Westport!
2. You’ve truly become known for the start of athleisure: the chic tracksuit, if you will. How did you focus on that?
I found myself as a new mom wanting to make something that I could wear to drop off, to workout, to go to the office and to go to dinner. I think of myself as a lazy Australian, in the sense that I want to put something on in the morning and know I can do all of these things in the same “fit” (as the kids say). So I did that. I designed one tracksuit and Sofia Coppola and Sienna Miller, and some other moms at the school all wanted one and then I focused and made a whole collection. It’s really just about feeling comfortable everywhere you go.
3. The brand has truly moved into the direct- to-consumer space, as you have grown but you have a few stunning retail stores of your own and a cherry-picked group of specialty retailers. Penfield Collective here in Westport is one. How did you choose the location?
When I started I didn’t really want to do any wholesale. I wanted it to be just DTC, but after Net-a-Porter sought us out and me being extremely flattered, I hand-picked my favorite locations and my favorite stores in those locations.
I find that the synergy between the stores and myself is so important. Vannessa from Penfield kept reaching out to us. Once I met her — she’s truly the nicest person in the world — I said yes and it’s been fantastic to have a place in Westport and somewhere as lovely as Penfield, where people can come and try on the collection in person.
4. As we approach fall, tell us what we should expect to see from you and the brand.
What’s always exciting is our color palette. We always have our core palette and then introduce new shades each season. Our fall palette is beautiful: earthy camel and ochre hues, dusty blues and a vivid red.
Something else I am excited about is the launch of my first denim designs. I am a huge collector of vintage denim: I only wear vintage denim, and I thought I needed to make my own favorite pair of jeans. These are based on a vintage pair in my collection — a classic straight leg, five-pocket silhouette — with a few other vintage elements thrown in from other favorite pairs over the years. In addition to the jeans, there are a few different styles that we are launching, some which are chambray, softer weight denim. The whole collection has been on my mind for something like 20 years. It’s very much a part of me to wear denim, so it’s nice to have some under my own brand.
We also will be launching our first holiday collection. We are getting into leather. I wanted something I could wear to a party. I like the sets but I also like the idea of mixing denim and cashmere with leather.
5. If you could pick three essential signature pieces from your own line, what would they be?
The Jooshi cashmere sweater is essential; everybody needs a Jooshi, at least one.
I also would pick a terry or velour set. My favorite right now is the Megalo Pallazzo. We currently have them in terry and are introducing a velour variation for fall; they are the most beautiful silhouette. I would do a Corfu Elbow Sleeve Tee. It is a 3/4-length, somewhat fitted T-shirt made of terry or velour, and I think the three of those is just a beautiful set altogether.
If you were stuck on an island with those three pieces you’d be feeling good every single day. On a cold island. If you were on a hot island, I’d be in some linen or terry bloomers and I’d wear it with a simple tee shirt or bathing suit or as a full set, it’s fantastic with the Saria Top. Depends what island you’re stuck on really!
Photography by Ursula McNamara