Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1255943
recycled packaging, shipping nonessential goods requires transportation which thus requires gasoline and, as a result, has a big carbon footprint), I wanted to try to develop a brand with as little environmental impact as personally possible. Selling antiques and goods made from recycled or biodegradable materials is really what inspires me. I'm so over mass consumption and thoughtless spending on nonessential items. I don't care if my brand stays small and limited- edition forever. Every Sarah Bray Bermuda piece is made with antique, vintage, recycled, or biodegradable materials. Anything that requires additional stitching and assembly is done by local artisans within my home state of Texas and new home in Bermuda. Who do you most admire in fashion and design? In the fashion world, I adore Carolina Herrera, Erdem, Tory Burch, and Emilia Wickstead. In the decor world, Carolina Irving, de Gournay, Miles Redd, Amanda Lindroth, Lorenzo Castillo, Soane Britain, Jeffrey Bilhuber, and Kate Rheinstein Brodsky. I've had the honor of covering all these iconic aesthetes and innovating brands many times throughout my career, and their style is a true inspiration. Have you met many friends in Bermuda? Bermudians are uniquely well- traveled; they are extremely educated and accomplished. My fiancé was a professional golfer before graduating from Harvard and getting two post- grad degrees from Columbia. But that's surprisingly not abnormal in Bermuda. All of our friends on the island are very cultured and interesting. Bermuda attracts a fascinating expat mix and has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world because of its offshore finance and insurance industries. Even though we are truly trapped in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, it really doesn't feel like that because of the worldly people here. On Houston roots I'm a proud fifth-generation Houstonian. I was raised in Southeast Houston (Clear Lake/Bay Area) until I was 14, then we moved to East Texas for my mom's job as a corporate attorney for oil and gas corporations. I graduated from high school in Tyler, Texas, and went off to SMU in Dallas. My dad lives in Montrose, and my mom lives in The Woodlands. My sister lived in Memorial for years but moved to Germany in the fall. My entire family has worked in the oil and gas industry for generations. I'm the first family member to be a journalist or work in fashion. I adore everything Houston and get back as often as I can. What did you do when you worked for PaperCity? My time as a PaperCity intern majorly impacted my life. Everyone I worked with at PC took such time editing my writing and explaining their corrections — which led to tremendous growth as a writer. The mentorship forever shaped me. Because of the clips I acquired at PC, I built a solid portfolio of writing samples that landed internships at Vogue and The New York Times. These positions all led to my first job out of SMU at Neiman Marcus as a writer, then I moved to New York and worked as an editor at Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Veranda, and Town & Country. Quarantine aside, what do you do when you came home to visit? Eat, art, shop! We love going to El Tiempo, The Original Ninfa's, Brennan's, Perry's Steakhouse & Grille, and all Goode Company restaurants. I adore Paloma Contreras and Devon Liedtke's shop Paloma & Co., Biscuit Home, Hibiscus Linens, Cheeky Vintage, James Showroom, Wells Abbott Showroom, and I especially love thrifting at all the charity shops around the city. My absolute favorite thing to do in Houston though is The Menil Collection. I visit each trip to recharge my eyes. Were your friends in NY surprised by your move? They definitely thought I was crazy for giving up a glamorous magazine job (and all the perks) to move to an island. As you know, the magazine and fashion world in New York City is highly addictive, really social, and hard to break away from. But, honestly, most magazine editors pivot in their 30s; very few make it beyond that because the career is so demanding that it's impossible to balance a family and being editor in chief. I don't regret my decision to move on at all. Sarah Bray Bermuda X Hibiscus Linens Antique ribbons are interchangeable. 80