Chevere Means Cool

Welcome to our Spring Sobremesa. Take a sit and get comfortable as you join this dinner party between new and old friends. Chevere means cool is all about meaningful conversations, and I grew up having the most amazing conversations at the sobremesa—that time after a meal where you're just enjoying the company of others at the table, chatting, drinking an espresso or aperitif, and just having moving conversations. So this dinner series is inspired by that, and serves as a way for our community to connect in a more intimate way! Hope you enjoy this little bonus episode.

Gracias to everyone who had a hand in making this night possible:

ETI, for the most amazing meal.

Alexa, for the decadent desserts to end the night on the best note.

Maren, for the incredible graphics.

Deb Leal, for capturing the night in the most beautiful way.

ApartmentX, for hosting us.

And our wonderful guests, who each inspire me different ways—Gilly, Ricardo, Arjan, Tessa, Michelle, Mona, Lauren, Koa, Laura, Camila, Valentina, Alexa, and Benjamin.

We’re back with another episode and this week we have one of my favorite Latina-owned brands, Santos by Monica. The brand has been on my radar for a while because of their sleek designs, but especially for their innovative materials and mindful approach to production, resulting in really beautifully crafted bags and ready to wear. Everything is made-to-order and produced locally in the US, Monica doesn’t believe in seasons and instead wants to challenge the fashion industry by producing timeless designs at a slower pace. Santos also plants a tree for every item sold, and you’ll hear more from Monica in this episode, but the mission of the brand spans across everything they do—from production, packaging, how they handle waste, labor, and their giving partners.

We chat about her leaving her full time job to launch her own brand, the alternative materials she uses, her commitment to slow production, and more. Enjoy!

Follow Santos @santosbymonica. 

Today’s guest is Marcelo Gaia, founder of Mirror Palais—a sustainable pre-order brand that celebrates women who inspire him. Since starting out in 2019, Mirror Palais quickly became an internet favorite and has been spotted on Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, and Emily Ratajkowski, to name a few! But Marcelo is just getting started.

I’ve been eager to have Marcelo on CMC because his story is one that I really admire. His ability to dream big and stay true to his vision is a true testament to the success that surrounds the brand. And what I love the most is the community that he’s built and the loyal support that this community continues to show. In this episode, we chat about how he dreamed and built Mirror Palais, why it has always been important to produce in NYC and support the local garment district, where his inspiration comes from, and all about his New York Fashion Week debut. We also get into the brand’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, as well as what’s in store for Mirror Palais this year.

This was a fun one, hope you enjoy it!

@mirrorpalais

@marcelogaia

Today’s guest is Karina Trofimova, founder of Haus Agency and Haus Label. On the agency side, she works with emerging brands of all shapes and sizes, to help them reach their fullest potential—whether that’s through brand development, as a consultant, or as an in-house wholesale representative, her goal is to be that trusted partner to help elevate brands she believes in. And with all these learnings from years with the agency, she decided to take the leap and launch her own brand: Haus Label. A brand made up of timeless pieces for an active, outfit-repeating individual. each product is ethically produced in Latvia using fabrics created from recycled ocean materials. We talk about this and much more in todays episode, including her advice to others who might be thinking of venturing into this space.

Karina is an incredible, fearless woman who I'm lucky to call a friend, so it was really special to sit down at her beautiful studio and record this episode, hope you love it!

Follow Karina and Haus:

@karina__trofimova

Happy 2023 and welcome back to more CMC! I’m so excited to share todays episode with Genoveva Pedrero, co-founder and Head of Design at de María—an accessories line that is rooted in tradition and collaboration with artisans in Mexico, where Geno is from. de María is a celebration of years of craftsmanship and techniques passed on from generation to generation. On this episode we chat about her journey starting the brand, and why it was so important to create something that celebrates her culture. 

Thank you for listening and for your support—hope you love this episode! 

x

Follow Geno and de María :)

(VIDEO PODCAST) We're back! During our NYC Pop Up we were joined by Laura Reilly, Mona Esser Pennock, and Anna Gray for a conversation around responsible consumption. We chat about what this means to them, how they've integrated it into their brands (and lifestyles), and how they continuously find inspiration in vintage, in NY's vibrant community and in not choosing the easy way out when it comes to navigating personal style—because that would be, you know, boring... In this episode we also take some audience questions from what advice they would give to other women looking to start their own businesses, to their secret tool to finding the best vintage (hint: an app you'll want to download ASAP). Enjoy!

Follow Club Vintage, Gemsun, and Magasin to keep up with our star guests :)

Today's episode is all about art, heritage, culture, and fashion. Ana joins us to talk about her brand, Gala Octuvre—known for its unique interpretation of the traditional linen Guayabera. This made-to-order concept is the result of viewing Cuban roots through the eyes of our modern world. Ana celebrates everyone involved in the process of making these happen and shares her story and how Gala came to be.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe and share :) You can also follow us @cheveremeanscool. And to keep up with Ana you can find her @galaoctuvre or visit their site https://www.galaoctuvre.com/. 

On today's episode we have Claudia Frolova, a ceramicist with an eye for colorful, unique designs that have made us fall in love with her work. From olive bowls to checkered jars, and even a flower-shaped crudités platter, she creates playful objects that are sure to lighten up our homes. She's quickly grown a loyal community in NYC, where she's based, so we wanted to sit down and learn all about how this journey started, what inspired her, and where it's going next. 

You can check out Claudia's ceramics at @claudiafrolova.studio, enjoy!

We have Houman Farahmand, founder of Ending Soon, on today's episode of CMC. Houman curates the most beautiful collections with pieces from all over the world, whether that's Paris, Milan, or the wonderful world of eBay, he's bound to have something you'll love. His ability to anticipate trends really makes Ending Soon stand out and gives us yet another reason to support independent brands like his when it comes to shopping for contemporary classics. 

You can check out his online collection here, and follow them at @endingsoon.world for updates on pop-ups and more!