The frenzy settles, the days stretch, and suddenly everything feels warmer, slower and a little softer around the edges. After the year we’ve all had, I’ve leaned right into this feeling. Lazy afternoons, “messy-ish” hair, that blissful feeling when you’ve completely lost track of what day it is… these are the summer holidays.
Maybe it’s the heat, or maybe it’s sheer survival after December, but I’ve come to realise that summer has its own kind of rhythm. The sort that appears while you’re watching the tide roll in, wondering whether you should swim now or after your nap. It’s a clarity that whispers: You made it!
And this year, for me at least, it whispers something else too. New beginnings.
If you’ve been following along, you’ll know we stepped into our new business name, Haus of Alma, not too long ago. I still catch myself smiling as I walk past the shopfront. A new name is a big thing. Exciting, energising and emotional. And stepping into a new year with our new identity feels a little like sunrise at the beach with the tide touching your toes, it’s full of promise and movement.
Changing a business name right before the busiest time of year probably isn’t in any “how to stay calm” handbook, but after all… when have I ever taken the easy road? December was its usual crazy fun chaos. Parties, last-minute gift buyers, our VIP night and the whirl of helping women find something that made them feel amazing. But as January approached, that sense of newness began to land.
Somewhere between the Boxing Day pavlova and the first beach day where the sand scorched our feet, I felt it. A shift. The quiet hum of a business and a person turning a corner.
January in retail has its own personality. While everyone else floats for the beach to the BBQ, we’re knee-deep in one of my favourite rituals: our Summer Sale. There’s something satisfying about it. A little like giving the store a deep cleanse. Shelves begin to clear, those last warm-weather pieces find their forever homes, and you can almost feel the energy change as space opens for what’s coming next.
This year the sale feels especially meaningful. Maybe it’s the rebrand, or simply the mindset shift that comes with a new year, but as we mark down the final pieces of our summer collections, I can already sense the next chapter gathering pace. Autumn and Winter are on their way, and after months of planning, curating and counting down, knowing our new collections are close brings a lovely hint of anticipation.
Speaking of beginnings, I can’t tell you how many people have asked about the story behind the name Haus of Alma. There’s something quite special about people caring enough to ask about a change that means so much to us. It’s quite the story, so I’ve shared the whole journey over on our socials. It felt like the right place to tell it properly, and I loved being able to invite you into that part of the story.
But back to summer… because if any season knows how to welcome a fresh start, it’s this one.
There’s a gentle rhythm to the early days of January. For me, it’s also the moment I look around the store, sunlight spilling in, space opening up on the racks, a new year waiting at the door, and think, yes… we’re ready.
Ready for a year of growth, collections, community and connection. Ready to keep evolving. Ready to welcome everything 2026 has waiting just beyond the horizon.
So as you settle into your own summer rituals, I hope this season brings you the same sense of renewal it brings me. That warm reminder that change can be hopeful, energising and exactly what you didn’t know you needed.
Here’s to long days, fabulous fashion, a fresh chapter… and all of us stepping into the new year with a little more grace.
Cheers to summer. And cheers to new beginnings.
