After the much needed sun over the Easter weekend, we can’t wait until we’re able to travel a little further afield for day trips away and weekend staycations here in the UK. Nestled on the south coast of the UK, the cobbled-street laden town of Rye is a quaint travel destination. RAE, an Independent vintage homeware and lifestyle store owned by former Hackney resident Alexa, now based in Rye, boasts a beautiful collection of vintage lifestyle goods (and is a much loved Yonder stockist!). We spoke to Alexa about her move from London to opening RAE in the sleepy town of Rye, and she lets slip a few of her favourite places to visit and eat in the town.
When did you start RAE?
We opened Rae last August, after moving to Rye in July. Weirdly we had this big move planned for over a year in advance and still managed to make it happen during the pandemic.
After living in London, working in Fashion, what drew you to upping sticks and moving to Rye to start RAE?
Rae had been in the back of our minds for a few years, discussing and plotting the various parts we wanted to include. We really craved a move to be near the sea and run our own business. We wanted to combine our backgrounds in art & design and our loves for independent brands, as well as delicious coffee! So a lifestyle store concept seemed the perfect mix. Rye was a place we visited often and loved its creative community and location, mixing countryside with the sea and not too far from London.
Have you always had a passion for vintage homewares and textiles?
I just love textiles! I've grown up with my parents in the antiques trade and my mum is passionate about interiors. I've always loved fabrics, even just a scrap of beautiful fabric can make my heart jump. I studied Textiles, and then Knitwear & Fashion Design at University that then led onto a career in fashion, working closely with mills to create yarns and fabrics through to accessories and womenswear. I also ran a vintage homeware business as a side hustle to my main job. I love the slowness of interiors compared to the endless relentlessness of the fashion cycle.
I love vintage and antique homewares, as they instantly add personality to a home. Bringing a story and warmth to a space. I love imagining where they have lived previously and who owned them before us. I love that they are not perfect, and come with their own personalities that new pieces cannot replicate.
What are your top interiors tips?
I don't have strict rules for interiors, and as I have always moved a lot, everything has to come with me! So my main tips are to only buy what you love, not what's on trend. Build up collections over time, from your travels or finds, not buying for a room all in one go. This adds much more personality to a space than just buying a look. My favourite pieces are from day trips out somewhere and collecting pieces along the way. Finally, cushions are a great way to add pattern and colour to a room without big investments compared to wallpaper, curtains or a sofa. My cushions move about the house depending on my current tastes, from living room to bedrooms, you can never have too many cushions! Oh, and I always think it's best to be in a space first before making big interior decisions. I feel you need to live in it to really understand its light and its purpose to what the space needs from colour to functionality.
Top spots to eat/ visit/ shop in Rye?
Tillinghams vineyard has the best restaurant for a special meal or delicious outdoor pizzas in the summer. Dungeness Fish Shack is the best lunch spot, fresh lobster rolls on the beach! The Fig is our favourite dinner spot in town for a local dinner we can walk to.
Puckhabour is my favourite shop in Rye, with amazing decorative antiques. The walk from Rye to Camber Sands is really lovely, just follow the river out of Rye all the way to the beach! I love to swim at Pett Level, a great picnic spot & coastal walk area that's very different to sandy Camber, with dramatic cliffs and great views.
Once lockdown ends, what are you most excited for?
Opening Rae! We have now been closed longer than we have been open, so it will be really nice to have the doors open again and meet customers in real life. I'm also looking forward to the longer summer evenings, taking advantage of beach walks and alfresco picnics after a day in the shop here.
We have several new brands coming to Rae this Spring that I am really excited about, from Wax Atelier candles & Wilder Botanics to Bygga Bo Swedish buns for our cafe counter. I am of course really excited to have a new selection of rugs and cushions from Yonder in store soon too.