What's the story behind Laete?
For me, and for most women I know, sleepwear has always been a bit of an afterthought. An old T-shirt, sweatpants, whatever is comfortable. We put so much thought into what we wear outside, but somehow that stops when we get home. And I do think what you wear affects how you feel, how you sleep and even how you wake up in the morning.
I was looking for pyjamas that reflected my style and just couldn't really find them. I wanted to bring a bit more intention to what we wear at home, without losing the comfort of it. Something you can actually sleep in, but that you also feel good wearing around the house or for those brief moments outside, getting coffee, walking the dog, running to the supermarket. You don't stop having a sense of style when you close your front door. That was really where Laete started, this idea of an off-duty uniform.
What's non-negotiable in how you design and make your pieces?
It always starts with the material. Because these are pieces you sleep in, how a fabric feels against the skin, how it breathes and how it holds up over time really matters. From there, it's always a balance between comfort and design. I want the clothes to feel effortless to wear without the design becoming an afterthought.
Our design language is quite restrained, so a lot of the identity comes through in the form, the proportions, the construction and those smaller details you might only notice once you wear something. I like that kind of subtlety. With Collection One, for example, we took inspiration from bedding and brought that through the lens of tailoring, rather than starting from conventional pyjama silhouettes. That contrast between softness and structure is something I find really interesting.
Producing in Europe is equally important to me. It allows us to stay closer to the people making the clothes and be more involved throughout the process. For me, those things are all connected. It's about being intentional with what we make and how we make it.
What's the one thing you want people to know about Laete?
That it's not really just about pyjamas. We put so much thought into the things we surround ourselves with at home, our furniture, our objects, our sheets, but somehow what we wear there is often still an afterthought. I find that interesting because I don't think how we dress only matters when other people see us. What you wear can change how you feel, even when you're just at home, going to bed or waking up in the morning. For me, Laete is about bringing more intention to that part of life too. Dressing for yourself, not just for the outside world.
What does rest mean to you?
My relationship with rest is actually quite complicated. I'm not naturally very good at switching off, and for a long time I believed rest was something you earned once everything else was done. Of course, everything is never done. I'm learning that rest isn't just about stillness. It can also mean being fully present, slowing down and having moments where there's nothing to prove or perform.
And in practice, what do your mornings and evenings look like? Do you have any rituals?
I'm a big coffee person, so that's probably my favourite moment of the morning. I always make time for coffee and breakfast, even if the rest of my day looks completely different.
At night, I like changing out of my day clothes, washing the day off, doing my skincare and just slowing down a bit. I always have a lot on my mind, so I try to journal because it helps me channel some of those thoughts before bed. Or I'll read, listen to a podcast or put on Ludovico Einaudi. It really depends on my mood.
Which piece in your collection do you always come back to, and why?
Probably the Arc trousers. I wear them all the time. I love the volume and the pleating, and they're incredibly comfortable without really looking like pyjama trousers. I can wear them around the house, put on a pair of shoes and leave without thinking about it. That's really what I wanted from an off-duty uniform in the first place.
