For more than 10 years Deborah Sams and Mary-Lou Ryan have pioneered ethically-made, elevated basics, with organic cotton T-shirts, cosy knits and practical pants with a fashion edge with their brand Bassike, available in New Zealand at Superette. While the rest of the world is catching up with their sustainable, stripped back approach we pulled them aside to unearth their inspirations.
Deborah Sams – co-founder and creative director womenswear
My personal style can be defined as
The way I design Bassike collections. Relaxed and casual with an androgynous feel.
The last thing I bought and loved was
A pair of Nike Air Jordan high tops.
An unforgettable place I visited was
Rome, it is my favourite city in the world.
Next place I’d like to go to
Kauai in Hawaii.
An object I would never part with is
My engagement ring.
My favourite app is
Sadhguru – an Indian mystic that I follow.
An indulgence I would never forgo is
A lavender and Himalayan salt bath at the end of a long day.
If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city it would be
Harajuku, Tokyo.
My style icon is
Cool people in general – I don’t really have one particular style Icon as such.
The best book I’ve read in the past year is
Sadhguru – Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy
I can’t miss an episode of
Seinfeld.
In my fridge you’ll always find
Dark mint chocolate.
My favourite room in my house is
My bedroom.
I recently discovered
The joy of bike riding again.
The one artist whose work I would collect is (if price is not an issue)
Picasso.
The last meal out I had that truly impressed me was
Dinner at The Apollo in Potts Point, NSW.
The podcasts I listen to are
Ted Talks Daily
Ten Percent Happier podcast with Dan Harris
Sadhguru’s podcast
The BoF podcast
BoF Drive
Living Fearlessly with Lisa McDonald
I could keep going….
The best gift I ever received was
My son, Jett Jackie.
The beauty product I can’t live without is
The Travelista body balm
The last music I downloaded was
The Strokes – The New Abnormal
If I wasn’t doing what I am, I would be
A Pomerianian breeder or living on a farm growing blueberries.
My favourite pampering treatment is
Massage followed by hypnotherapy.
Mary Lou Ryan – bassike co-founder and creative director menswear
My personal style can be defined by
A definite menswear influence.
The last thing I bought and loved was
The Birkenstock Bostons.
An unforgettable place I visited was
Tulum, Mexico.
Next place I’d like to go to
I would love to go heli-skiing in New Zealand.
An object I would never part with is
My grandmothers ring.
My favourite app is
The Kelee meditation app.
An indulgence I would never forgo is
Chocolate.
If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city it would be
Shinjuku, Japan.
My style icon is
No one in particular, but I do love skate culture.
The best book I’ve read in the last year is
I have been reading my son The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton.
In my fridge you’ll always find
A chilled Italian red wine.
I recently discovered
Social Distancing works.
The one artist whose work I would collect is (if price is not an issue)
Stanislava Pinchuk. aka MISO.
The last meal out I had that truly impressed me was
I always love Fred’s (in Paddington, NSW). Feels home cooked and authentic.
The podcast I listen to is
Expanded with Lacy Phillips.
The best gift I ever received was
Having my 3 children.
The beauty product I can’t live without is
The Water Cream by Tatcha, from Mecca.
The last music I downloaded was
Listening to The New Abnormal by The Strokes.
If I wasn’t doing what I am, I would be
Be a full-time Mum.
My favourite pampering treatment is
Facial.
I have a collection of
Old Japanese denim, I have collected for many years now.
