Enigmatically cool and multitasking as only a mother can, Pearl Lowe is an artist, interiors designer and, now, a children’s fashion designer as well. Based in Frome in Somerset with her husband, Supergrass drummer Danny Goffey, and three children, she launched the Petite Pearl Lowe collection in October 2015 with an exclusive capsule collection in Harrods. Designed for girls aged 2 – 10 years of age, the collection is defined by its dress-up feel of colourful harlequin print leotards, dazzling metallic capes and extraordinary vintage-inspired costumes made using silk, colour, tulle and sequins. All of the pieces are handmade by a team of seamstresses here in England and the latest collection is modelled by her daughter Betty, who recently shot her first Marc Jacobs campaign. Pearl chats to kodomo.com about travels with her children and juggling it all.
Q: What is your first childhood memory of travel?
I remember going to Barbados with my family. I think my most poignant memory of it is riding along the beach at sunset, then having bananas and cereal on the beach. I must have been 6 years old.
Q: Where have you had your best holiday to date?
My favourite holiday I have ever been on was when my husband and I went to Mustique when we first met. It was simply heaven.
Q: Where was the first place you went with a little one in tow? How did it go?
I actually took my daughter Daisy to Key West in Florida when she was 6 weeks old. I remember taking her everywhere in her pram. We watched the sunset, ate in restaurants and I even remember taking her to a bar one night. I was so young – I definitely wouldn’t do that now!
Q: How do you find the experience of travelling with children generally? A wonderful, bonding experience or traumatic and stressful? Or a bit of both?
I would say it’s a bit of both. Often, I’d have a romantic view of us all walking along the beach, watching a beautiful sunset together. But in reality, one child would be crying because the sand was too scratchy in their shoes; another would be upset because they were burnt and wanted to go home! Now I have slightly older children, so we have an absolutely magical time away together. We plan at least two or three trips a year as my eldest daughter Daisy lives in London and my son Alfie is studying music in Bristol, so we don’t get to be together as a family as much as we’d like to. Being away together is a wonderful bonding experience for us all. It’s about building fantastic memories.
Do you ever travel with your children for work?
I used to, which was always a bit of a disaster as work trips are often quite gruelling without much free time. I have learnt my lesson and now I go solo.
Q: Where was your best holiday with your child?
We once went to Grenada and stayed in a wonderful resort called La Luna. It’s actually down as a honeymoon destination but we went in a February half term so there weren’t many people there. I did yoga every morning, the food was absolutely delicious and my kids loved it.
Q: And your worst?
We travelled to Barbados when our eldest son Alfie was 18 months old. As soon as we landed into Barbados, he started to get a very high temperature. He ended up in hospital and didn’t get better until the day we flew home. It was such a worry that I developed shingles and had massive blisters all the way up my back. It was so painful that I had to stand for most of the flight home. Then, to top it all, my daughter Daisy (who was 8 years old at the time), threw up during the whole plane ride. I have to say, that was by far the worst holiday we have ever had. The only upside was that we were so happy to arrive back in the UK.
Q: What is your must-have travel accessory when away with children?
My globe trotter luggage. It’s not only extremely stylish, but it fits a huge amount of clothes inside.
Q: And top tips for travel with kids?
I always travel in the afternoon or evening, even when we fly out of the uk. I have found that my children turn into monsters if they have to be woken up at 4am to get a flight, so I always chose the afternoon or evening flight and they are happy from the word ‘go’. Same goes for the return journey.
Q. Can you tell us about the experience of designing? What exactly does it mean to you?
From as early as I can remember, I have always loved creating. As a child, I would customise my own clothing for the thrill of knowing that I was wearing a one-off creation. By the age of 10, I had already designed my first collection, which was sold in my mother’s boutique in Covent Garden. I have never forgotten the amazing feeling I felt, seeing the clothes I had designed, hanging there on the rails.
Pearl’s collection can be viewed here.
