Meet the Women Part of Our International Team

From Indonesia to Tennessee, our team at Saint + Sofia is home to women from all across the globe. When they joined the brand, they brought a wealth of cultural diversity that has helped to enrich each of our lives. Learn more about the brilliant women who make up our international team – and find some delicious food recommendations to add to your must-try list…

Tika – Head of Partnerships

What is your first language?
Indonesian

What is your home town?
Jakarta, Indonesia

What is the thing you miss the most about your home country?
Family, street food, and all the exotic fruit!

If you fancy some home cuisine, where would you go in London for the most native food?
My new favourite restaurant: Toba. It’s a tad pricey but serves authentic Indonesian delicacies. I love their gado-gado and their martabak telor.

What is the fashion like in your home country?
In Indonesia, fashion can be influenced by our cultural traditions and Batik is a huge part of that. Batik is a technique where patterns are created on fabric using wax-resistant dyes. These days, Batik is still super popular, with women of all ages rocking it in modern fashion. Batik is often mixed with contemporary styles, giving it a fresh, modern twist while still keeping that rich cultural vibe.

How does it feel to work with such an international team here at Saint + Sofia?
It’s refreshing. It makes me feel less of a minority in a foreign country. I love how I always learn something new from someone from a different cultural background.

Juliette – Customer Care

What is your first language?
French

What is your home town?
La Rochelle, France

What is the thing you miss the most about your home country?
Family, food, and the beach

If you fancy some home cuisine, where would you go in London for the most native food?
I would go to L’escargot or La Brasserie Zedel. They always remind me of home.

What is the fashion like in your home country?
French fashion is typically characterised by a focus on timeless classics, neutral colours, clean lines, and high-quality materials, aiming for an effortless elegance that appears ‘chic’ without looking overly try-hard. Think blazers, cashmere sweaters, tailored trousers, and lots of leather and silk.

How does it feel to work with such an international team here at Saint + Sofia?
It’s the best! Working with people from a variety of social and cultural backgrounds is a great way to learn and think critically.

Mika – Creative Lead

What is your first language?
Slovak

What is your home town?
Zvolen, Slovakia

What is the thing you miss the most about your home country?
I definitely miss the untouched nature of Slovakia like it’s mountains and lakes. And then I will have to say all the sweet main dishes and hugs and kisses from my family.

If you fancy some home cuisine, where would you go in London for the most native food?
I’ve actually never searched to go to a Slovak restaurant in London – I’ve been faithful to my home country for the best Brynzove Halusky (a delicious Slovak national dish)

What is the fashion like in your home country?
Nowadays, people in Slovakia dress very similarly to what we see on the streets of any other European country. But on special occasions, we take out our folk costumes: kro’. Kroj looks different in every region but consists of a white brocade blouse with embroidery, several petticoats, a finely pleated skirt, traditional boots, decorative neck ribbon, and ribbons in the hair. I love embracing some of these details like tying ribbon around the neck in my modern styles.

How does it feel to work with such an international team here at Saint + Sofia?
It can be immensely hard to move abroad and start fresh in a completely different country. Many people often feel like they don’t belong to either place fully. But working in an international team helps me feel like I’m not alone in this. I have so much appreciation for all the strong individuals who share the same path as me and I love how we support each other on our journey.

Julia – Social Media Manager

What is your first language?
English

What is your home town?
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

What is the thing you miss the most about your home country?
Arby’s

If you fancy some home cuisine, where would you go in London for the most native food?
Detroit Pizza in Islington or Wingstop for their ranch dressing

What is the fashion like in your home country?
I think the fashion in the US can be similar to London if you are in a big city. If you’re in Knoxville, Tennessee, expect a lot of cowboy hats and boots. YEE HAW!

How does it feel to work with such an international team here at Saint + Sofia?
I love it! It’s so nice being able to relate to others about missing home or dealing with abroad issues like Visa’s.

Pat – Supply Chain Coordinator

What is your first language?
Polish

What is your home town?
Trzebiatów – Poland

What is the thing you miss the most about your home country?
Wild lakes where you can swim for as long as you wish and have a bonfire after. Of course, family, but this is without a doubt everyone’s missing piece when you move abroad.

If you fancy some home cuisine, where would you go in London for the most native food?
I love London for many reasons, but one of my biggest weaknesses, and what makes the city special, are the food markets! They are unique and full of the best food and variations. The Southbank Food Market has a stand named ‘The Polish Deli’ where you can eat delicious BIGOS and BBQ potatoes with sausage, of course sipping Polish draft beer – LOOOOVE.

What is the fashion like in your home country?
Folk costumes are one of the crucial elements of Polish traditional clothing – rich in colour, details, and complicated handmade embroidery. Elements of these traditional Polish styles have found their way into modern fashion. Contemporary Polish designers often draw inspiration from traditional designs, incorporating elements like embroidery or colourful prints into modern styles. This blend of old and new is a testament to the enduring influence of Poland’s rich cultural heritage.

How does it feel to work with such an international team here at Saint + Sofia?
It feels like you’re an important part of something, which is special. Working with multiple cultures is a truly enriching experience, allowing everyone to learn about other perspectives and become more conscious and open minded. we can all learn from each other and open our eyes to other ways of life, and listen to one another.

Amber – Production and Styling Manager

What is your first language?
English

What is your home town?
Wokingham, England

If you were move abroad, what would be the thing you miss the most about the UK?
Queuing. No, in all seriousness, it would be English country gardens, or cottage garden flowers, something twee like that.

If you fancy some home cuisine, where would you go in London for the most native food?
The Black Heart Pub in Camden for a bloody good roast dinner!

What is the fashion like in your home country?
British fashion is influenced by heritage brands such as Burberry, Dr. Martens, Barbour. I would say we are known for well-made garments and high-quality leather goods such as a good Mulberry handbag!

How does it feel to work with such an international team here at Saint + Sofia?
I LOVE it. Particularly how people share their favourite international eats; namely Juliette and her garlic snails.

Maartje – Senior Designer

What is your first language?
Dutch

What is your home town?
Sleeuwijk, Netherlands

What is the thing you miss the most about your home country?
Besides the obvious (family and friends – and dangerously direct conversations), I definitely miss Dutch food. Good bread, stroop waffles, proper cheese, and the simple joy of a fresh ‘broodje’ that somehow just tastes better back home.

If you fancy some home cuisine, where would you go in London for the most native food?
Dutch food in London? Yeah, not exactly a booming industry. But honestly, British cuisine has some similarities; hearty, no-nonsense, and occasionally beige. I would go for a lovely Sunday roast when I need a taste of home, and spots like The Duke of Richmond in Dalston have great food.

Back in the Netherlands, we have a lot of influences of other cultures like Surinamese, Indian, and Indonesian food (because let’s be real, our own cuisine isn’t winning any awards). If I’m craving that, Toba or Dishoom is a solid choice.

What is the fashion like in your home country?
Ah, Dutch fashion, very practical! We love our bikes (not the cool leather-jacket kind but the “I’ll cycle through a hurricane to get my groceries” kind). So the national uniform tends to be sneakers, boots, jeans, and a trusty raincoat.

City people dress better. Think German efficiency meets British style, but with fewer tweed blazers and more weatherproof gear. Fashionable? Sometimes. Functional? Always.

How does it feel to work with such an international team here at Saint + Sofia?
Working in an international team has taught me that different ways of communicating aren’t wrong, just different. As long as you communicate clearly and respect each other’s differences, you don’t just learn about others – you learn a lot about yourself too.

Kassandra – Fashion Consultant at our Covent Garden store

What is your first language?
Mandarin

What is your home town?
Chiayi, Taiwan

What is the thing you miss the most about your home country?
My family and Chiayi food

If you fancy some home cuisine, where would you go in London for the most native food?
Nothing tastes more like home than. my own cooking with cooking ingredients my mum ships to me from Taiwan! But on a bad day, I will splurge on a 12 pack of Yakult from the supermarket.

What is the fashion like in your home country?
Fashion in Taiwan centres around a lot of black, loose, light clothing, mainly due to the extreme humidity. We accessorise to the max, a lot of A-line silhouettes and body coverage from the sun.

How does it feel to work with such an international team here at Saint + Sofia?
It feels very inclusive and very welcoming. Diversity is and always will be one of my favourite parts about living in London. I think there’s only a few places in the world where you could find absolutely every kind of representation in some form – and to be able to work within a company that encompasses this inclusivity is truly a privilege.

Want to get to know everyone?