The Calabria Collection

On Italy's toe, the rest of the country feels far, far away. Here, the coastline is nicknamed "The Coast of the Gods", and rightfully so. The waters reach blue and turquoise hues that don't even seem possible, every sunset is a symphony, and the old villages seem to be carved out of the very rock they are perched upon. But perhaps what is most dizzying of all is facing the Tyrrhenian Sea and watching the Calabrian coastline taper off in the horizon while Sicily suddenly comes into view. Calabria's Tyrrhenian coastline offers a front-row view of Sicily's three active volcanoes: Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano. They make their presence known throughout the day, spewing and smoking like clockwork, reminding us of the fragility of everything. 

My stay in Calabria bombarded my senses, including my taste buds. The humble yet fiery cuisine is a grateful tribute to the gifts of the land and the sea. While throngs of youth leave the south every year in pursuit of opportunity in the north or abroad, the future of the region is left in the hands of passionate families who find ways to honor ancient traditions while embracing innovation. In the agricultural heart of the region, the plateau of the Monte Poro, I am in awe of the lush vegetation and abundance of olives, figs, bergamot, liquorice, lemon, almond and figs. And cheese. I should have led with that! The Poro is renowned for its pecorino cheese, a strong (even pungent) variety that, like all ingredients here, doesn't go unnoticed on the palette. 

When I think of Calabria, I am instantly pulled back to its colors, flavors and rhythms. The collection is simple, balanced, and dreamy. The photographs are vibrant yet serene. I hope that the pieces in this collection evoke what Calabria stirred in me - a longing to become more mindful and to deeply cherish the resilient yet fragile lands that surround us.

Below are the images from Calabria and Sicily's Aeolian islands that make up the collection. 

This Must Be Paradise

My heart expands with awe of this impossible blue (Tropea, Calabria, Italy)
Mon coeur éclate devant ce bleu impossible (Tropée, Calabre, Italie)

Soar

Trust your wings, trust in timing (Tropea, Calabria, Italy)
Fais confiance à tes ailes, fais confiance au destin. (Tropée, Calabre, Italie)

Coast of the Gods

Nothing better to do today but stay (Tropea, Calabria)
Rien de mieux à faire aujourd'hui que de rester (Tropea, Calabre)

Sanctuary

In this place in full bloom, I bloom too (Tropea, Calabria, Italy)
Dans cet endroit en pleine floraison, je fleuris aussi (Tropée, Calabre, Italie)

Miss Your Train

An ode to the places that unexpectedly beg us to stay (Zambrone, Calabria, Italy)
Une ode aux lieux qui nous attardent (Zambrone, Calabre, Italie)

Stomboli

Resilient, fragile and grateful (Stromboli, Sicily)
Résiliente, fragile, reconnaissante (Stromboli, Sicile)

Extraordinary

When daily life is poetry and a sunny afternoon is a song (Pizzo, Calabria, Italy)
Quand le quotidien est poésie et qu'un après-midi ensoleillé est une chanson (Pizzo, Calabre)

Early Riser

A beach at dawn is a secret whispered in your ear (Tropea, Calabria, Italy)
Une plage à l'aube est un secret murmuré à l'oreille (Tropée, Calabre, Italie)

The Day Is Long

The tide doesn’t hurry, why should we? (Tropea, Calabria, Italy)
Savoure la journée à ton rythme, comme le fait la marée (Tropée, Calabre, Italie)

You, Me and the Sea

That may be all I need in life (Lipari, Sicily, Italy)
C'est peut-être tout ce dont j'ai besoin dans la vie (Lipari, Sicile, Italie)

Lipari

It is a gift to lose track of time for one afternoon (Lipari, Sicily)
C'est un cadeau de perdre la notion du temps pour un après-midi (Lipari, Sicile)

Your Future Awaits

Breathe and believe. Good things lie on the other side (Stromboli, Sicily, Italy)
Respire et sois-en assurée : de nouvelles portes promettent le bonheur (Stromboli, Sicile, Italie)

After the Fire, the Blooms

In this volcanic village, lush vegetation has bloomed from ash. Here, resilience and fragility are woven into one. (Stromboli, Sicily)
Dans ce village volcanique, les cendres ont fait place à des fleurs luxuriantes. Ici, résilience et fragilité se côtoient au quotidien. (Stromboli, Sicile)

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