Our collection titles never come to us in the beginning. They reveal themselves slowly while we’re photographing, filming, or sometimes days after we’ve finished documenting the looks. When people ask what the collection is called, I often reply, “I don’t know yet, but at some point, it will present itself to us.”

This time, it did through kindness.

We traveled to São Luís do Maranhão, in the northeast of Brazil, to photograph the collection. There, we met Dona Socorro, an 80-year-old woman who welcomed us into her tiny tile store. She let us shoot inside, prayed for us, and gifted us miniature tiles from her shop. A simple, pure act of love for strangers. At first, she was the source of inspiration for the title. But as the days passed, we encountered many more people who extended the same warmth, generosity, and unfiltered joy. Their kindness turned our stay in São Luís into a true blessing.

While working, I also thought about New York—the fabric wholesalers who, over the years, have offered me swatches and samples, expecting nothing in return. Many of the fabrics used in this collection, especially the colorblocked pieces, came from such gifts. Their quiet generosity shaped the heart of this collection.

So, the name became clear: The Kindness of Strangers.

This title honors not just those we met in Brazil, but everyone who has supported us often without knowing us personally. It's also a tribute to my mentor and friend, Koos Van Den Akker, the brilliant Dutch designer whose spirit continues to inspire me, even ten years after his passing.

Interestingly, many of those strangers who showed us kindness have now become friends. That, perhaps, is the greatest gift of all.