I think we’re often too quick to leave things behind in the pursuit of something new. Whether it’s an idea, a way of doing things, or something we’ve created, we’re constantly encouraged to move forward, to improve, and to find the next thing. But I wonder how much we overlook in that process.
Sometimes, returning to something familiar allows us to see it differently. With time, experience, and a different perspective, the things we once knew can take on a new meaning. Ideas we thought we’d exhausted can reveal possibilities we hadn’t considered before.
The Pleated Shorts were the first garment I ever released under MACRAE, back in 2024. Looking back, they represent a very different point in my journey, both as a designer and in building the brand. At the time, I was working from my home studio, learning as I went, and figuring out what I wanted MACRAE to become. A lot has changed since then, but the original ideas and the reasons I started making clothes have remained relatively consistent.
Since that first release, I’ve continued to experiment with different silhouettes, fabrics, and ideas, learning more with every garment I’ve made. It’s been interesting to see how certain designs have developed over time, while others have been left behind as I’ve moved on to something different.
The new Shortie Shorts began with that original design. Rather than starting somewhere entirely new, I wanted to revisit something familiar and explore what else it could become. Taking the original School Shorts as a starting point, we’ve experimented with different proportions and an elongated silhouette, creating something that feels familiar but has its own identity.
I think there’s something worth remembering in that. Not everything needs to be left behind for us to move forward. Sometimes, the things we’ve already created, experienced, or discovered can become the starting point for something we never would have imagined at the time.
Perhaps creating something new doesn’t always mean starting over. Sometimes, it simply means looking at what we already have a little differently.
sincerely,
R
♥️♥️♥️♥️