Joanie X Sophia Rosemary Part 3: Interview with Sophia
To celebrate the launch of our third collaboration with style maven Sophia Rosemary, Brand Director Lucy sat down for a virtual chinwag with Sophia.
This week sees us launch the third instalment of our partnership with former Joanie staffer and Manchester-based style blogger, Sophia Rosemary.
The new Joanie X Sophia Rosemary collection boasts nine cool graphic and slogan T-shirts created with environmentally friendly BCI Cotton. This time, we’ve also added three retro-inspired sweatshirts too!
Like our previous collaborations, the collection has been created alongside Sophia and takes inspiration from her sparkling personality and nostalgic taste in design, music and film.
Read our interview below for more insight into the process of creating our latest Joanie X Sophia Rosemary range. Our Brand Director, Lucy asks everything you’d like to know in a virtual chat with Sophia. Here’s what she had to say…
Hi Sophia, so nice to speak to you! I’ve spent so long looking at pictures of you recently, I’d almost forgotten what you looked like in 3D!
I can only apologise, you must be so sick of my face by now!
Tell us a little about yourself - where are you today? Set the scene for our readers who don’t already know you!
My name is Sophia and I’m a style blogger from not-so-sunny Manchester, although right now I’m sitting in my living room admiring the very rare sunshine outside.
Your place looks great. I’m loving the ‘at home with Sophia Rosemary’ shoot for this collaboration. I know I’ll speak for a lot of our readers who love an interior account too, is that something you’d ever do?
Thank you! To be honest it was never something I considered when I bought my first home because there’s a lot of trial and error! No one ever tells you before you start to do it firsthand how much of a skill interiors is and how all-consuming it can be. I still don’t really feel like I’ve fully got the hang of it, however we are actually moving soon and next time around I might consider a home account.
How different is working from home for you, what’s changed? How has it changed your life/style? Have you given in to an elasticated waistband like the rest of us?
I always work from home so in that sense the last year or so hasn't been too drastically different for me! I usually travel quite a bit with work especially down to London and it feels strange to have not been there in a year. The real learning curve for me has been sharing the house in the day with my boyfriend who normally also travels a lot with work. Haha, no elasticated waistband but why do you think I always wear dungarees!
As a fully paid up member of the Avid Readers Club, what’s been on your reading list? What have you enjoyed - any recommendations?
My GoodReads ‘want to read’ list is getting out of hand, there’s too many on there and I’m currently in a bit of a reading lull. One of my favourite books so far this year is City Of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert. I guarantee you’ll read it and wish you lived in 1940s New York.
You’ve started a true vintage clothing business, as well as running your successful blog. How do you balance things, what are your secrets? Where are you digging up all these nuggets of gold?
I feel like I went into it really naively thinking I could balance blogging and the shop easily as vintage was something I already talk about quite frequently, but it’s definitely been a learning curve for me. I try to go easy on myself and never set unrealistic goals, the collections are very limited and usually spaced out by around 4 to 6 weeks. It just means I’m never rushing or sacrificing quality over quantity when I can't find the time! Right now, I’m finding it super difficult to hunt for items because I can’t go out and look, but luckily I’m a massive hoarder and I have enough stock to keep ticking over until fairs/shops reopen.
Why vintage, what’s the draw for you?
I’ve just always been inspired by vintage style, particularly the ‘60s and ‘70s. I love the sustainable element to vintage, the fact it’s unique - there’s history and a story behind every piece. You have to use your imagination and creativity when hunting and the feeling you get when you find an absolute gem at an absolute steal! I recently purchased a velvet Bus Stop by Lee Bender dress for barely anything, the lady who owned it had bought it from their Carnaby Street store in the late ‘60s and although it needs a little TLC, I just adore it.
Is there a dream vintage piece (or list of) in your mind? I know when I vintage shop, there are things I always seek out first! My first stop in any charity shop is the silk scarf basket, followed by glassware, then coats, then knitwear…
Absolutely! I always have a list of labels I look out for and the dream one day is to own something by Mary Quant. I also have pictures of my mum in the ‘70s wearing a cornflower blue Ossie Clark. She sadly gave it away in the late ‘80s because they’d fallen out of fashion (a huge sting for me) and I’d love to be able to find the exact same style she owned. 1970s florals are generally always the thing to catch my eye in charity shops.
What is your favourite decade? Can you pinpoint a date, a time, a place?
In terms of style, it’s hard to chose between the ‘60s and the ‘70s, I’ve also got a lot of admiration for the more androgynous style of the late ‘40s. Sadly I wasn’t alive for any of this so it's hard to pinpoint specifics but if I had a time machine, my first stop would be Carnaby Street or Chelsea in the mid-1960s for a shopping spree.
It’s been a breeze (as always) working with you, but this time we had to do things a little differently, via Whatsapp, or on my night owl’s schedule. We spent time delving through your back catalogue and favorite looks to create the collection - did you enjoy the process? We’ve done this all online this time so did lockdown change the process for you?
Working with the Joanie team always feels very organic and flows so easily- in that sense I didn’t notice any challenges and it was quite nice discussing ideas more conversationally at night when I’m not distracted. I feel like we’re often on the same page and there’s a lot of honesty when we work together which is a winning recipe especially when you’re communicating via Whatsapp. The past year has definitely come with it’s challenges overall and I’ve found my motivation/moods can sometimes be all over the show, having the third collection design process there through lockdown really helped kick me into gear.
Why Joanie, what was it about our brand that appeals to you?
Joanie Clothing very much sings from the same hymn sheet as me. As a brand, Joanie shares a lot of the same values and inspirations as myself. Having known the brand from the early stages, I think I will always have a real affinity to it. I’m a pisces so I’m very sentimental like that!
What is your favourite piece from the collection?
‘All of them’ is a boring answer isn't it? I love Jimmy for its simplicity and the message behind it. I love Emerson for how shamelessly ‘70s inspired it is. I love the fresh kinda ‘80s spin on Joe and I love the vibrancy of Vincent.
If you could pick someone past or present to wear a piece from the collection, who would it be?
George Harrison, but you already knew that.
Thanks Sophia, hopefully someday soon we can raise a glass IRL to toast your latest collection.
Until then old friend,
L x
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