Kalimera Sabah People,
Mickey here, writing from the Dodecanese Islands in Greece — specifically, Patmos.
The sun is strong today, but thankfully I'm situated under an olive tree for shade, and there's a crisp, dry breeze coming through. That's one of the nice things about this place — just when the sun starts to feel like too much, the wind picks up and cools things down.
I'm here on my annual "retreat," taking a little time to slow down, recharge and, inevitably, think about Sabah and the Fall ahead. I always seem to leave this trip with a few ideas for what's next — stories to tell, people to collaborate with, places to visit, or something new we ought to make.
In fact, it was here three summers ago that I decided Sabah should start making sandals. I remember thinking how obvious it felt: I wanted a pair of well-made leather sandals for exactly this kind of place. Thankfully we followed through, because these days they're the shoes I turn to most while I'm on the island.
The Mediterranean has found its way into quite a lot of what we make, actually - from color & pattern to function & utility - more on that later.
I'm sharing a few thoughts and a whole lot of images below. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
The Sabah Dealer
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Postcards from Patmos.
Patmos isn't an easy place to reach and that's exactly why I like it. It's an 8-hour ferry from Athens, which means if you're coming from NYC, you've just got off an 8-hour plus flight. But I've always enjoyed journeys, almost as much as the destinations themselves. |
Once here, it doesn't take much time to settle into the pace. Mornings start later, nights go longer. Days are punctuated by dips in the sea and simple lunches at the various tavernas across the island. Of course, we have our favorites.
Like most regulars here, we love the taverna at Psili Ammos — a beach only reachable by a 30-minute hike. At the end of the trail, the most perfect little taverna awaits, famous for its fried zucchini balls, roasted goat & potatoes and, frankly, just about everything else. Feet in the sand and a view of the blue sea certainly don't hurt.
My other favorite is the taverna at Meloi, just a few minutes' walk downhill from our casita. Family-owned for decades, it's completely unpretentious, with the kindest owners and delicious home-cooked meals that rotate daily. It's the kind of place you quickly start to feel like a regular.
And that's what I love most about a trip like this, especially with an extended stay: the luxury of becoming a regular. Morning rituals, familiar faces, daily hikes, favorite tables, and friendships built over years of visiting — picked right back up and rekindled every summer.
Packing for the Island.
Over the last few years, we’ve found ourselves designing more & more things with a Mediterranean getaway in mind. Hats for the sun, peshtemals and pareos for the beach, sandals for just about everything else. Equal parts useful & good looking — exactly the things we packed for Patmos.
SOL HATS. We’ve got Sol Hats from both last year and this year’s collection with us because, if this island has one thing in abundance, it’s sun.
I particularly love our Sol Hats because they’re so packable — throw one in a suitcase, stuff it in a beach bag, or just roll it up and carry it in hand. Unfold it when you get where you’re going and it’s good to go. Mine has been getting a lot of use here.
Porto Sandals. These are truly the ultimate island sandal. I’ll strap ’em on for a long, dusty hike down to the beach, wear them all afternoon, then give them a quick wipe before heading out for dinner in Chora. Rugged enough for the trail, but somehow still just right with a pair of trousers at night.
Peshtemals. Our Turkish towels (aka Peshtemals) are the real workhorses of a trip like this. Always in tow, they become beach blankets, post-dip towels, wraps around the waist, shade from the sun, and whatever else the day calls for. Ours rarely leave the beach bag.
Seneca Green Sabahs. Made from a soft suede, I love how these look after a little sun, sand & sea — comfortable, broken-in, and somehow even better than when they were new. The green feels just right in Patmos, too. And when I put them back on in NYC a few months later, they’re always a little reminder of time spent here.
