Out with the old and in with the Neu Nomads. Founder and designer Karen Wood shares what inspired her to create her brand and challenge the industry she dedicated years to.
What inspired you to launch Neu Nomads?
After decades in the fashion industry, we asked ourselves how we might do things differently. That question inspires everything we do from fabrics, to dyes, to manufacturing. From a sustainability perspective, the philosophy of living a life of minimalism is an overarching theme for our brand – timeless essentials that are easy on the environment. This mindset is more relevant now than ever as society moves into a sustainable and circular economy. We always consider how to create something beautiful with the lowest possible impact on the world.
From a design perspective, I am greatly inspired by the idea of a modern traveller – a modern nomad – a woman who lives her life outside the bounds. Someone who is connected to her community but is free to explore the world around her while leaving the planet in better condition than how how she found it. This woman counts down the days until her next journey – she has a plan in mind but always leaves some things left to chance. She carries with her the essentials – feminine pieces that can be layered, easily packed and worn to explore new destinations. With the considerations of this modern muse in mind, our silhouettes are versatile and effortless and offer a counterpoint to the embellished and extravagant. We often say the collection is easy to wear and hard to take off. We’ve created an evergreen collection that strikes a balance between minimalism and sensual femininity.