TIDBTW Guest: Amy Yalland, paper pulp artist and founder of ROENN
Talking her new homewares brand, 90s minimal chic and the best remixable uniforms
You know what I like most about instagram, dear TIDBTW? That you can connect with total strangers, oceans apart. I don’t remember when it was the first time that we hearted each other stories, but ever since I fell hard for
’s style: relatable yet elevated, she can’t hide her calling as an artist and designer. With a playful eye on both outfits and home interior, everyday duties look effortless through Amy’s touch (we all know they are not):
Here Amy is wearing a relaxed fit wool overshirt by Cos (same shirt here in a different colour), Cos pleated A-line skirt in beige, Georgia Jay FLO bag.
A glimpse into Amy’s home featuring a ROENN paper pulp wall piece. Ramping up to the launch of her homewares brand in July, you’re invited to dive into the aesthetics of the ROENN universe already.
I spy a good amount of humor and minimalist’s genius, also when it comes to reflections on her daughter June’s (they share a birthday!! <3) little looks. And I see so much love in all things surrounding both of them:
Bedding by Dehei in Clae and Sutram in Cinder.
Out with Juniper on Mother's Day.
Unfortunately we can’t just hang, I would love to come over for an evening drink or a pilates class – or a stroll to the Georgia Jay atelier, our joined passion brand. But Amy lives in dreamy New Zealand and I’m in not-so-bad Berlin, so for now all we have is words. And words have been exchanged! I’m really excited about this new TIDBTW Guest feature and a little peek into Amy’s world, style and favourite bag. Please enjoy the following little conversation x
TIDBTW Guest: Amy Yalland, designer, paper pulp artist and founder of ROENN, a new brand of objects
Things I didn’t buy this week: I notice all these lovely design highlights through following you on instagram and I love the shapes and colours you integrated in your home. How is your job in object design influencing your wardrobe?
Amy Yalland: Thank you. I take great joy in selecting pieces for my home, a small and thoughtfully curated apartment near the harbour in Auckland. It’s a multi-purpose restful living space for me and my nearly seven-year-old daughter: a gallery for my paper pulp pieces; a lookout with a garden. In our home, everything is visible, so I own less, choose high quality, and make what is missing—like a poodle-esque paper pulp chair in plaster for us to put our shoes on in the hallway.
I move things around a lot and play with colour in the space with pillows. Sometimes it’s giving tropicalia holiday with layered muted pastels; other times I crave steel, dark forms, and craggy texture. We have a concrete wall and that's always in my OOTD's I post on Tiktok and Instagram sometimes :-)
Since working on objects for ROENN (a homewares brand I have founded that I am getting ready to hard-launch), I feel like my style has consolidated, improved. Basically, I’m a generalist who gets excited about seeing my vision come to life. Generalism is an all-encompassing allowing, rather than one of compartmentalisation. I like simple, reduced forms—for ease and repeatability—like coming back to an outfit in various shades of blue: grabbable, dependable.
In my wardrobe, that translates to high-low dressing: mixing sweats with clogs and wool suiting; with more drama and skin for a wine with the girls. I like a massive minimal coat in natural fibres that hangs well from the shoulders. I like a wool couch with texture to it up close, which has a monastic simplicity from afar.
I like making bowls in just that right shade of butter I’ve been obsessing over, from paper pulp and sawdust, for holding essentials in plain sight.
TIDBTW: Which outfit feels the most you right now?
AY: It's never that cold in New Zealand compared to Europe but the weather's super changeable, so flexible layers are key. I'm a full-time working mum to a school-age child who walks or bikes everywhere; so if I'm working from home not seeing anyone I wear mostly activewear paired with maybe a mushroom beige cashmere knit or black Cos merino base layer, and ASICS Gel Kayano sneakers for supreme foot comfort. But the outfit that feels most me that I've worn on repeat recently is a high-low pairing that feels kind of 90s minimal chic—made of denim and tailored wool:
On the bottom: Ruthe jeans by Studio Nicholson in a light blue wash, a perfectly weighted straight cut jean which I pair with a pinch-waisted black wool collarless blazer from Cos, with awesome exaggerated sleeves, a ribbed white tank from Assembly Label and either my Plasticana hemp clogs for a casual look or my black leather vintage ankle boots by Minnie Cooper for a little more punch. An outfit I can rely on, I just wore it again Mothers day.
TIDBTW: Can you name 3 (most loved) things you bought in recent years?
AY: A favourite accessory is my Boat Bag in Butter by local brand Georgia Jay, made in Auckland, which I got in their yearly online sample sale. The exterior pocket are so user friendly, the leather is soft, the puce/butter colour goes with everything.
My second piece has to be my Babaa No 16 jumper in Cantaloupe, an oversized heavy knitted cotton jumper in a shade of melon that continues to delight and surprise me. It's a bright shade that gets away with being considered a neutral, so it gets worn a lot. I wear it draped over my shoulders with another thinner knit or worn with suit pants for some contrast. It feels quite 'land-girl' with the style of knit but the hue makes it more modern.
The third piece is an unassuming dirt-brown mens brushed wool overshirt from Cos that I found last year. I love its flexibility and must have worn it over 100 times since purchasing it. I like to wear it over a workout top for a chic layer on brisk morning walk to school (dressed down) or dressed up with accidentally matching brown wool pleated suit pants from Assembly label (pic below). The collar looks great with a slick back bun, the sharp tailoring of it always pulls an outfit together, and the cosiness of it makes me crave it.
TIDBTW: Is there a piece of clothing (or many) you didn't buy and still think about?
AY: I use Carted to organise the MANY pieces of clothing and shoes and pieces for my home that I haven't bought—yet. (Editor’s note: I’ve seen this app a couple of times now and thought it could be helpful for me… but then again, I have this newsletter!) I know it's not going to be long before I can bring some pieces into my orbit. I sleep on things sometimes for months before pulling the trigger. I recommend it. I'm going to start with something practical but elevated—a full rainproof outfit from Rains, with wide Suva Hardshell Pants in butter or black, and matching minimally-finished Suva Hardshell Jacket in black which softly whispers The Row. The Rains tote bag Mini in Drift I actually stopped a woman on the street for, she confirmed it was ideal for cycling with, worn cross-body—something that would make my winter commute with my daughter on our bikes much more easeful and dry.
Editor’s note: I spotted this one on Vestiaire for all colour-aficionados in a cool Yves Blue:
Then there are these timeless Slipper Mules by Rebe in black leather, such a wearable shoe to dress up or down, with a chic/comfy low block wood heel, just the perfect slip-on with elevated proportions. I have to give a shout-out to my girl Ana Kras here too while we're dipping into the high-end of my aspirational saves here; the Teget x Unspun Static Noise Pant in TV from her brand TEGET. The thick, slubby, woven texture of the jeans references static snow, something I remember from my own childhood. The variety up close and loose cut of them, I know they would stand the test of time. (Editor’s note: Yes!!! I love it too)
Another piece that I just can't delete off my Carted list is the pricey but perfect ROHE Embroidered wool jacket in off-white, a structured layering piece with warmth to it that would hit at just the right point on my hip to make it go with literally everything in my closet. A flexible yet elevated piece in a neutral colour? I would THRASH it.
TIDBTW: Do you have a go-to bag and can you tell + show me what's inside? (I'm obsessed with your Georgia Jay ones...)
AY: I have two extremes—a clutch in baby blue croc from Yu Mei, and a huge black milled nappa leather carry-all shoulder bag from Georgia Jay. The clutch is for dates and mum pickups. It holds my phone, lipstick, keys and cards.
The black is for when I need everything. It holds so much: snacks, water bottles x2, wallet, phone, lip gloss, lip liner, hand cream, plasters, floss; and still has room inside for more.
Me and my daughter spend our weekends together at hockey practice, seeing grandparents and getting groceries; this bag not only holds everything capaciously, but makes me feel like a boss while doing so. I love that.
TIDBTW: One sentence that sums up, what fashion as a mom means to you:
AY: An endlessly remixable and supportive uniform.
TIDBTW: Thank you so much, dear Amy <3
If you enjoyed this article, I appreciate it if you share it and TIDBTW with those who might like it too. Thank you so much <3
Love this
Thank you for having me! Wish we could get coffee IRL but for now, this and voice notes will have to do