Brookes
Portland
Photography by Lauren Martin
Where are you from/where did you grow up?
Des Moines, Iowa.
Where were you photographed for this story?
Inside of Shop Boswell.
Please describe who you are/what you do.
I am a designer and maker of hats, the line is named after myself, Brookes Boswell. I also run a clothing boutique called Shop Boswell.
What are you working on/interested in/preoccupied with at the moment?
I’ve been putting a lot of energy into the store in recent years. I love working with other designers to curate a selection of products, and communicating to customers why each product is special. 
What does community mean to you and where do you find it?
My community is centered around both the online and physical store. I love sharing new products and helping folks find products that they love. The relationships that I’ve made with designers are also very meaningful. My community revolves around these two, sometimes overlapping, circles.
What are some of your self care rituals/routines?
I try to spend at least one day a week outside, in the mountains, either hiking, running or skiing. And hot baths. Exercise, nature and relaxation melts the stress away.
Has your work and/or the way you work changed in the past year? If so, how? If so, how?
Yes! The change was dramatic. In the Spring of 2020, all work ceased. The store closed, we stopped making hats and I had to slow down. Over the course of the summer, work slowly came back to life, but I realized how necessary it is to maintain personal time. Recently, we’ve been busier than ever, but I try to remember what it was like when I was working less, and try to build it into my schedule.
pick a current favourite...
a song -
strangely, I don’t have one!
a book -
I love adventure books about ultramarathoners and mountaineers.
The perseverance is very inspiring!
a scent -
Gold Leaves by Regime Des Fleurs. The scent had to grow on me, but now it’s intoxicating.I don’t even own it yet, but I think about it all the time
an item of clothing -
Anything cozy. I have a rule that all of my daywear should theoretically double as pyjamas
plant/flower -
whatever is currently blooming! I love when the 7 cherry trees in front my apartment bloom, it explodes into pink blossoms right in front of my windows. I also love the little wildflowers I see throughout the summer in the mountains. Less ostentatious than cutting flowers, you have to look closely. They’re delicate
a recipe -
Alice and Fanny Waters Superfoods Granola recipe. I eat granola and fruit every morning for breakfast, and if I have the time to make homemade granola, I’m thrilled. This recipe is great because you can swap any nuts and grains for whatever you have on hand. It’s more a recipe of proportions than ingredients
artist/maker -
I’ve always loved the photographer Uta Barth. She’s a highly conceptual artist who creates stunningly beautiful work
