Stella Ray



A Day in the Life of Kristen Sousa

Kristen Sousa studied art, photography and fashion at F.I.T: in NYC. She has worked in professional photography most of her life but, after her third baby was born, she chose to stay home. When he reached school age, Kristen began working as an assistant teacher in her local elementary school. Now that her children are homeschooling, she will be leaving the school (where she works half the year) to work on her own fashion brand, Stella Ray, full time.

Photography by Pedro Sousa

 
 

Please tell us a bit about your weekday morning routines at home: do you have any personal rituals?

My morning ritual al- most always begins with a fresh, green juice. Usually celery juice. I always try to take a moment, in the midst of the hustle and bus- tle of our household, to pause and breathe and set an intention for the day. Each day’s intention changes with the energy of what’s happening at that moment in time. My green, clean skincare rit- ual is such a priority to me on my personal care list, so I always take care of my skin and finish my ritual with a spray of rose wa- ter, for positive vibrations for the day.

How do you like to spend time when you’re at home?
I love to spend time at home cooking nourishing, vegan meals for my fam- ily, while listening to music. I practice yoga/pilates six days a week in the evening. I also love to hang out with the kids, my husband and the dogs for at least an hour by the fireplace, or catching up on Netflix! I end each day with a cup of herbal tea and, of course, my evening skin care routine.


How do you like to spend your weekends?
I usually spend my weekends out on Saturdays at farmer’s markets (when in season) or checking out different towns throughout the Hudson Valley. We take a lot of day trips up to Woodstock, since we really enjoy the whole energy and. feeling the town has to offer. We are al- ways on the hunt for the best vegan cafes and local coffee spots! On Sundays, we usually stay back and tend to our home. There is always plenty to do and we try to get the house chores and yard work done, in order to prepare for the week of work and school ahead.

 
 

Is there a philosophy behind your company, Stella Ray?

What kind of impact does it have on your daily design process? The phi- losophy behind Stella Ray is very much about slowing down. It’s about loving and using what we have, and learning to appreciate that less really is more. Our slow fashion concept is that we re- lease only 12-14 pieces per year. As a consumer, I found myself constantly bombarded and overwhelmed with huge collections and lots of choices. I find that, by releasing only one dress per month, it could actually quiet the mind, in a sense, for the customer (and for myself )! Not only does this have a benefit for the customer, but this is also how we stay green for the planet and limit our pro- duction and waste. My design process is impacted by this whole concept of slowing down in such a way that you can see our de- signs are meant to be worn when you are embracing that space in your life and taking the time to relax a bit and enjoy yourself.



What do you consider the most important elements when it comes to creating a great design?
The most important element when creating a design, for me, is: will the woman wearing this feel beautiful and chic, even while she is at home cooking with a baby on her hip, while folding laundry or while celebrating a friend’s birthday? Will she be comfortable? The print and design have to fall in love completely for me.

Please describe your neighborhood and tell us what drew you there.

Our neighborhood is a historic town in the lower Hudson Valley, NY. It’s a quiet town with lots of homes that were built in the early 1900s. I always dreamt of owning an old, charming home and restoring it room by room, which is exactly what we are doing! We chose this town, since it is only 30 miles up the Hudson River from NYC. My husband and I both work in the city on occasion, and my family has a long-time love for Broadway!

 
 
 
 

Please tell us a bit about your home.

Our home was built in 1934. It’s a four bedroom, center hall colonial, with lots of original char- acteristics, which are still alive and well! We have chosen to do mostly restoration rather than remodelling, in order to keep the original charm and character. We have a beautiful little garden area and a mini orchard of fruit trees in our backyard. There is a swing on a large, old maple tree, where my children have spent most of their summer days!

 

What was the process of starting your company, StellaRay?

The process of starting StellaRay came from a completely creative and intuitive space within me. I believe in my heart that we all have that spark within us that lights up our soul! My love and passion for dresses, natural living and mothering all came together for me within the concept of my brand.

How did you choose the name Stella?
The name Stella is after my 15-year-old daughter, Emera Stella Frances, and Ray came from my youngest son, Iraya (meaning ray of light).

Please tell us a bit more about your brand’s values. The values of StellaRay are truly about slowing down, loving what you have and having something that was made in a way which respects and values not only the hands that made it, but the earth and our environment as well. Ethical, slow fashion. One dress at a time.

How would you describe your style? I would describe my per- sonal style as feminine, bohemian and comfortable. I think it em- bodies my love for nature, travel, art, music and mothering! I’m forever inspired by the 1960s and 70s!

How do you remain spontaneous in your everyday life? I remain spontaneous in my daily life by always visualizing and dreaming of what I want to create! When I’m in that space, I find freedom and room to change my mind at the last minute, or take a week- end road trip at the spur of the moment. I find so much inspira- tion in spontaneity. It’s that feeling of letting go and letting the path unfold as I walk it. That always brings the most magic!

What do you usually cook at home? I have been vegetarian for over 28 years and on a complete plant-based diet for the past four years. Although dietary preferences vary throughout my family, we all eat mostly plant-based, since I am the one cooking! We avoid processed foods and eat mostly organic lentils, beans, grains and lots of vegetables, of course! My favorite recipe is a vegan tofu pot pie! It seems to take hours, but it is SO worth it!

How do you balance your personal and professional lives? My number one rule of thumb to balancing my personal and profes- sional life is not over-booking myself ! I stay very conscious of the fact that both myself and my children really need that downtime at home, to decompress from our busy schedules. Sometimes, we have to say no to invitations out to see music and socialize with friends, and I’ve learned to be okay with that!

Who do you admire creatively? There are so many, many artists, writers, musicians and designers that I admire! Right now, with the climate of the world in which we are living, I find myself ex- tremely inspired by the music and writing of musicians like Bob Marley and Joni Mitchel. It’s those little reminders within the music that help get me through the day sometimes, in a more pos- itive way, and help me tap into my creative self.


This special appeared in the print issue of Meaning Vol I.