5 things i really like...
Inspirations to go.
Hello dear (internet) friends,
I just got back from a few days in the countryside with a very close friend and something in me feels different. Like something finally settled.
Something happens when you just take yourself out of your normal life for a bit. Zooming out of your everyday life, even just for a little while. The noise fades and suddenly you can hear yourself think again. Hear what you actually want. What matters. What doesn’t.
I came home with a few quiet realisations - about who I am, what I’m moving toward, and what I want this life to feel like. Nothing really dramatic. Just finding my way back, a little.
I’ll probably write more about this soon, because I think a lot of us are navigating similar questions. But for now, I just wanted to share a few things that have been touching me lately: inspirations, discoveries, small sparks that found their way to me and felt worth passing on.
I hope something here lands for you too.
And please! Reach out. This little community means so much to me and I genuinely believe that when we share what we’re thinking and feeling and wondering about, something shifts. For all of us. So if something’s on your heart, I’d love to hear it.
With love, Ranya
Alaire is a project rooted in Barcelona, born from experimenting with materials and shapes that carry something of the mediterranean spirit. Found this on Instagram (yes, I'm back) and something about it just clicked. Maybe because I've never quite let go of the idea of living by the sea.
I’ve been spending time with PRESENT lately and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s a platform for makers (stories, tools, a magazine, podcasts, workshops ) but the thing that really gets me is what it stands for.
So many of us have ideas we never act on. Not because we don’t care, but because the fear of getting it wrong is louder than everything else. PRESENT feels like a direct answer to that. A reminder that the most courageous thing you can do is just start and keep going.
Founded by Hugo Hoppmann and Sarah Discours (she is a woman I find incredibly inspiring, by the way, and someone I’d love to have as a guest in a future newsletter).
Thich Nhat Hanh has a way of making the most complex things feel simple. In this book, he looks at love through a Buddhist lens: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, freedom and gently guides you toward experiencing all of it in your daily life. His core message is something I keep coming back to: that to truly love others, you first have to learn how to be present. I gifted this little book to my partner so that, every now and then, we can sit down together and read a few lines aloud to one another. Like a small ritual of reflection, connection and love.
If you know me at all, you know that naturopathy and holistic health take up a lot of space in my life so much so that I’m currently training to become a naturopathic practitioner. Skincare is very much part of that world for me. I like to go beyond the pretty packaging and look at what’s actually inside.
A little while ago I was gifted a set from Retterspitz, and it made me genuinely happy. They’ve just launched a facial skincare line and I have to say I’m impressed. Carefully formulated, effective, and exactly the kind of product I love to recommend.
Gentag is a Danish brand that makes some of the most beautiful shirts I’ve come across in a long time. The quality is exceptional (even after multiple washes) and the fabrics feel wonderful against the skin.
I’ve received countless compliments whenever I wear them, which is always a nice bonus.
I also own the Ingrid Pants and the matching vest, and together they’ve become something of a uniform for me lately. They’re the kind of pieces that make getting dressed feel effortless: I feel good in them, they feel good to wear, and they strike that perfect balance between cool and chic. a combination I’m always drawn to.
All Gentag pieces are made from deadstock and surplus textiles.
Existing materials - primarily sourced from Italy - are selected for their quality and character.
Production takes place in Europe, in close collaboration with small manufacturers and skilled makers in Italy and Bulgaria. Smaller runs and one-off pieces are developed in Denmark.
Thank me later :)
I know this ended up being one more than just five things. But here’s one final thought to take with you. It touched something in me. Perhaps it will do the same for you.
A little Interview with Ezra Klein and Pema Chödrön