BEHIND THE DESIGN: OUR COLLABORATION WITH WARM
It’s no secret that our head designer, Joyce, has a knack for unearthing the best hidden gems, from savory French toast to hand-blown glass vases. She had been frequenting a low-key downtown boutique called Warm for years before asking owner Winnie Beattie out to brunch. Turns out they had a lot of friends as well as interests in common. Joyce was all about Warm’s vacay-any-day vibes while Winnie appreciated the easy essential-ness of Madewell. And so over mutual admiration and breakfast bowls at Jack’s Wife Freda, our latest collab idea was born. We got comfortable with Winnie at her home to talk about everything from dream destinations to design inspiration.
Hey Winnie, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how Warm got started?
Warm was born from my family’s love of all things beach, surf, skate and travel while living an extremely urban existence. I spent my childhood on the Big Island of Hawaii, met my husband surfing on the East Coast and am now raising three boys and two dogs in Manhattan. We opened the store in 2012 carrying small brands and beautifully crafted trinkets which reflected this love of wander. Five years ago we launched our own line that conveys the same lifestyle.
Speaking of wandering, favorite warm place to visit, go.
Costa Rica, Hawaii, California, Barbados…pretty much anywhere with waves, nice people, good food and lots of space to explore.
We’re so excited about our collab. How would you describe the vibe of it?
Laid-back, comfy, cool pieces you can throw on easily and often.
That sounds about right. So what was the design process like?
Spring and summer are always favorite seasons to design for because it’s when I’m happiest. You can usually find me relaxing on a beach or running around the city in a comfortable dress and Vans. I wanted the collection to have that easy feeling so I looked for fabrics and colors that would be great for everything we enjoy this time of year, from traveling to hanging out with pals.
If you had to choose one piece to be your favorite…
Well I’m a sucker for pretty much any high-waisted denim, so the High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans are a very close tie with the Tie-Dye Midi Dress. Both are great on land in “real life” or over a bathing suit at dinner with an ocean view.
Thanks to Winnie for chatting. Now about that dinner-with-an-ocean-view look, shop the entire Madewell x Warm collection here.