Last week, I was driving into Santa Fe and as I reached the top of La Bajada, I was greeted by a familiar sunny scene, beautiful wild sunflowers filling the space between the road and the train tracks. It reminded me of a conversation I had a few months ago when I brought the subject of sunflowers up and how they were one of my favorite flowers. This person’s opinion was that sunflowers were like weeds spreading across the landscape. That might be true. However when I see a sunflower, I instantly smile because of their sunny disposition. I love how they reach to the sky and how the hardier versions feed insects and birds while providing shade to the earth beneath them. While on road trips I enjoy the seeing the sage green and brown earth of New Mexico highlighted with pops of vibrant yellow.
Down the road at the I-25 road stop you will also find another beauty filling the landscape in colors of white, fuschia, magenta and red. This is the first glimpse before arriving to the city different where they fill the spaces with vertical color throughout the summer. I was recently reminded by my friend, Norma, about the history of the Hollyhock or La vara de San Jose. Translation to St. Joseph’s staff, the story connects old world catholic folklore to southwestern gardening. “According to Hispanic folklore, God turned the staff of St. Joseph into hollyhocks, signaling the approval of his marriage to Mary. ” (https://historyinsantafe.com/hollyhocks/). These beauties grow exceptionally tall on a single upright stalk. The large blooms are stacked tightly all the way up the stalk and burst in vibrant colors. While they are a short-lived perennial, they are a hardy plant that easily reseeds and thrive in the southwestern sun.
In this journey, I head North to my family ranch, there is another wildflower that intrigued me throughout my childhood. I remember going on hikes with my mother and seeing small white daisies sprinkled throughout the path but every once and awhile there was a fiery red plant…it literally looks like fire flames…that would pop up on the hillside. My mom explained it was an Indian Paintbrush. I thought that’s a wonderful name for the vibrant spikey shaped plant. I read the legend behind the name came from an Indian boy who used brushes filled with sunset colors to paint a masterpiece leaving his brushes hillside. If you’ve ever walked a mountain path in Northern New Mexico and looked across the hillside you could envision this story come to life.
So what do these stories have to do with my show in Tokyo. I really pondered how I could bring New Mexico to Tokyo, a city so fashion forward with a big heaping serving of street. Then I thought there is simple elegance in the beauty of wildflowers, in their resilience and in their strength. And just like that, I was returned to the land. If you’ve paid attention to what the current administration is doing, or hopes to do, to our public lands and the life that depends on it…cutting down or building walls through the national parks and rescinding protections to sacred spaces and endangered species…I thought this would be a powerful story to tell. Plus, the attributes of the stories I shared are deeply rooted in me: faith, history, connect to nature, resiliency and willingness to stand for what I believe. What’s more street than that?!?
I’ve scoured fabric from east to west and had custom prints (including a few designs from my talented friend, Meri Fox-Szauter). The hues from sage to magenta to scarlet to sunny yellow and as always with unexpected elements.
I’ve chosen the date for the hometown preview. Hopeless + Cause Atelier Wildflowers will be revealed on Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 1pm. I am still searching for the venue that will match this vibe…so if you have ideas, please share. The event ticket page is open HERE. and if you know anyone that would like to sponsor the event, I’d love the connection. I hope you will join me on this next adventure to Tokyo Fashion Week.
With light & love,
Dara Sophia
Never miss a Ms. Adventure, sign up for all the things related to Hopeless + Cause Atelier
Im so excited for you Dara!!!
Thank you Kristen!
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🥰