HI, I’M MAYA. LET’S TALK SWENN.
Meet Maya — the new voice behind the SWENN Journal.
Hello and welcome to SWENN!
My name is Maya, and I’m going to introduce you to myself, this brand, and the world of sustainable, slow fashion.
SWENN was started nine years ago, in 2017, by Kristell, a fashion designer originally from Brittany, France, who studied in Rome before eventually making her way to Canada. More on that later. I, on the other hand, have just joined SWENN, so, like you, I’m discovering the brand from a new perspective.
You know my name, but who am I? Thank you for asking!
I’m currently a student studying environmental science, with a passion for writing and fashion. When I’m not doing any of those things, I’m working outdoors, in the woods or by the ocean, all of which somehow connects with SWENN and its casual, modern take on workwear.
For the last two summers, I’ve been out west tree planting in Alberta. Gruelling work that finds you standing in the middle of a thunderstorm and coming home covered in bug bites and bruises, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. In between, I was walking through wintry woods in Nova Scotia, taking samples from trees and learning about East Coast forests and how closely their ecosystems are connected to the ocean.
SWENN started in Montreal and, like me, has taken an adventure across the country, sailing right into Charlottetown where we have docked safely for now in P.E.I. Our routes may have been a little different, mine took me from Ontario to Alberta before bringing me east, but somehow, we both ended up by the ocean. It’s fun to see where the wind takes us next, and I’m so excited to be writing this blog for SWENN.
Even the name SWENN carries a sense of direction: S, W, E and N represent the four cardinal points: South, West, East and North, while the final N is a nod to Kristell’s Breton roots. Brittany is another coastal region, on the shores of France, where fishing and life by the sea are deeply rooted in the culture.
The nautical influences behind SWENN play right into what attracts people like me to P.E.I. I first learned to fish on the Nottawasaga River in Ontario and have always loved following the water and discovering the different creatures that are found seasonally swimming through. Now, I find inspiration walking by the ocean and watching the tides leave behind tidal pools filled with starfish and snails.
Working in the store, I find myself daydreaming about the ocean. Everyone who walks in teaches me something new about where they’re from, while locals teach me about the Island and the history of its fishing industry, especially during lobster season, when I can pick up fresh lobster right at the docks.
The world is connected by the ocean, so why not tie in its history of sailing and workwear through a style that can travel across the globe?
So, welcome! I hope you’ll join me as I discover what goes into the clothes we wear: how SWENN sweaters are made, the stories behind the materials, the history of fashion and fishing, and the role the environment plays in it all.
There’s a lot to uncover.
— Maya
