People

We know that the best travel tips come from lived experience (and that SUITCASE readers have the most impeccable taste), so we’re checking in with you, our community of go-getting globetrotters. In this month’s column, we spotlight Alexandra “Lex” Hearth, an editor, DJ and host of the Hot Girls podcast.

We catch up with Mel McDermott, Musto ambassador and founder of Galz Gone Wild, a hiking group for women of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. She opens up about her mental health struggles and fills us in on the hero items that enable her to keep on exploring, come rain or shine.

In Postcode Pioneers, we celebrate independent shop owners from across the world as they share their neighbourhood haunts. This week, we seek out Margate’s lesser-visited spots and date-night venues with the latte-art champion behind Forts coffee shop.

The whimsical wardrobe of Danish designer Emilie Helmstedt is where art meets fashion. Talking us through her creative process, she lets us in on subverting trends, building the HELMSTEDT universe and creating connection in the age of distance.

Combining its founder’s African heritage with organic, botanical ingredients from around the world, KYALLI creates natural skincare products that really perform. We chat with Charis Udeh about luminosity, life as an entrepreneur and why the beauty industry needs diversity.

In Postcode Pioneers, we celebrate independent shop owners from across the world as they share their neighbourhood haunts. This week, we seek out Brighton’s lesser-visited spots and discover where to find a stellar portion of fish and chips with the design darling behind Tidy Street General Store.

California dreaming and lasting style: meet Anine Bing – a Danish designer with serious influence. We talk about fashion memories, supermodel collaborations and her favourite places to eat, drink and shop in LA.

Human rights activist Jaz O’Hara founded The Worldwide Tribe in a bid to highlight the humanity behind world issues and inspire positive social change. We chat to her about uplifting refugee voices, celebrating differences and how we, as travellers, can help fight the good fight.

We rummage through the suitcase of Kalita Al Swaidi, founder of resort-wear label KALITA. She lets us in on holiday-dressing rationale, travel-inspired designs and where to stay and play in her favourite destination: Sardinia.

Waste-free and planet positive, fashion rental app By Rotation has created a community of label-savvy, conscious consumers. We chat with founder Eshita Kabra-Davies about borrowing Manolo Blahnik, streamlining your inbox and Mykonos’ most sought-after souvenirs.

In Postcode Pioneers, we celebrate independent shop owners from across the world as they share their neighbourhood haunts. This week, we chat about sustainably grown flowers and hidden corners of Hampstead Heath with the green-fingered doyenne behind north London’s The Allotment Florist.

The author of Outraged and Lead Cultural Curator, Black Music, UK at Apple Music talks about hitting the high notes and not having to choose. We discuss musical memories, career highlights, plus, the holiday destination that inspired her book, Outraged.

We talk all things balance, Bali and working out with the founders of leisure label Live The Process, Robyn Berkley and Jared Vere. They let us in on their favourite books, the brand story and the West Village’s best green juice.

We caught up with Matthew Woolsey, avid explorer and Global President of 66 ̊North to talk about how the rugged beauty of Iceland inspires the brand's designs and the sense of freedom afforded by adventure.

In conversation with Nora Nilsson of Projektityyny, the Nordic brand behind the cushions and patchwork quilts we’re lusting after. The Finland-born founder talks country piles, pillow projects and wabi-sabi, and lets us in on her favourite places to eat and shop in Dorset.