Walks in RED (team edition!): Sarah
In this months Walks in RED, we introduce you to Sarah, the person who up until recently, was behind the camera lens and our social channels…
Sarah, in her trusty pair of Shandals, is jumping feet-first into running her floral business full-time, so she’s handing over the marketing reins. But before we say goodbye, we couldn’t let her go without turning the camera around. So, here’s your chance to catch up with the wonderful Sarah as she shares a little about her story, her vision, and the things that matter most to her.
Hey Sarah! It's time for you to feature in Walks in RED. We’ve got lots to catch up on, since you’re usually much happier behind the lens! We’ve touched on your floral business but your journey didn’t start there… tell us more about the path that led you to (back to) Eryri…
I grew up not a million miles from Machynlleth, on a remote farm outside a little village called Meifod. I couldn't wait to leave rural life to study Fine Art at university, and lived in various cities after graduating. The older I got the more it dawned on me that urban life was not really for me.
My partner Tim and I ran a bike shop in London for the best part of a decade, and eventually we reached a time in our lives when we wanted a slower pace, to be able to grow our own food and just take it down a gear.
We found our chocolate box money pit in 2018... damp, cold and in desperate need of some love, but absolutely brimming with character. It came with half an acre of overgrown gardens, and that’s where my journey to becoming a gardener, and then a florist, really started.
How does life in Mid Wales compare to the hustle and bustle of London? Has moving here changed the way you see or experience your surroundings?
Being back in the landscapes I grew up in, with so much nature right on my doorstep and the mountains and sea so close by, has totally reset my nervous system in a way that no amount of yoga or meditation ever could when I lived in London. We’re all built differently, but I’m definitely a country girl, happiest when I’m outside in nature. It just took me a while to come back to myself!
Can you tell us a little about your role at RED, and how you came to work here?
I was actually working in the garden behind the shop last summer when Ruth approached me and asked if I wanted to work at RED. I had some experience with photography from bike shop days and my own floral business, and it kind of went from there. Along with photographing the shoes, I also ran Ruth's social media accounts and newsletter, including Walks in RED, which I've absolutely loved! Feels fitting to be featured as I hand the reins over to you, Jas!
What do you wish more people knew about the beauty of bespoke, barefoot shoes?
I think people often underestimate the importance of a good pair of shoes, in the same way they might underestimate investing in a good mattress. We spend SO long on our feet over the course of our lives, just as we spend so long asleep! It makes sense to invest in quality in those areas, I think.
Having seen the making, the people and the shoes up close. What’s something that surprised you, or that you think people might not realise about RED?
Well, it didn’t surprise me as such, but it was wonderful to see the close relationship between the people who make RED what it is. They’re all really lovely and work so well together, so anyone who owns a pair of REDs, or is thinking about investing in some, can know they’ve been made with love and care... and lots of good vibes!
When you chose your Shandals, what did you want them to bring to your everyday life? And since wearing them, what difference have you noticed?
A few years ago I started wearing zero-drop, wide toe-box shoes, and as anyone knows once your toes have room to wiggle and breathe you don't want to go back to narrow restrictive shoes. I really loved the look of the Shandals, especially the slip-on ones with the little point, and the fact they could be resoled over and over. I also love that they so perfectly combine style and foot health. I think they'll be with me for a very long time indeed.
As you swap social media for flowers, what are you most looking forward to in this next chapter, and tell us where we can follow along!?
One thing is definitely less screen time! I’m happiest when I’m in my garden sowing, growing and harvesting flowers, or in my studio making up orders. I’m really looking forward to immersing myself in that world fully. It’s four years of doing other work alongside my own business, and I’m just really happy it’s at a point now where I can give it all of my energy.
You can find me on Instagram @sarahbreesedesign or at sarahbreesedesign.co.uk.
And, of course… we’re all eyeing up the RED boots for the winter. Which would be your top pick?
Ah, a pair of the Chelsea boots every time! In green diesel leather, lined in mustard suede. Yum x
