#PCPIONEERS
We are delighted to announce a new collaboration with PC PIONEER Alexandra Tolstoy, a dear friend of the brand and a designer and adventurer. This collaboration celebrates adventure, exploration and a deep appreciation of Kyrgyzstan and their nomadic designs.
Travel is a constant inspiration for Penelope. Forever infatuated with a sense of wanderlust and exploring different cultures, Penelope collects references, styles, trinkets and local knowledge along the way to put into her collections, as can be seen in the careful details of these pieces.
We spoke to Alexandra about her love of the Kyrgyz landscape, the way of living and the inspiration behind the pieces…
How did your relationship with Penelope Chilvers / the brand first begin? What drew you to the brand initially?
I was invited to stay at the beautiful Kukutana in Andalusia by Penelope and had the most wonderful weekend riding and being introduced to the brand - ever since then I have ridden in Penelope Chilvers boots.
How did the collaboration come about? What made you want to collaborate with Penelope Chilvers?
I suggested a Kyrgyz inspired collaboration as I spend so much of my time in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, where I run riding safaris. I always use the Penelope Chilvers boots so I thought it would be great to have some more personalised items to go with them, using local motifs. I wanted to collaborate with someone who could bring great craftsmanship and interpret the designs exactly as I envisaged them.
Why do you love wearing your Penelope Chilvers boots on adventures like these?
My Tassel boots are perfect for these trips as I need long boots for riding and a grip on the sole for scaling the mountain pass on foot. The Inclement range is ideal for the changing weather - we always have some rain, and these keep my feet completely dry.
Why were these pieces the ones to go for? Did you try other designs?
I wanted to create a bag as it’s something I’ve always felt is missing from my trips - we have beautiful saddlebags but it’s so practical to have something around your waist that is easy to access. We ride through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world and I’m always wanting to grab my phone and take photos so the bag is the perfect size for a phone, sunglasses and a lip balm - all the essentials! The red is very much a Kyrgyz colour. The slippers are very practical for camp - it can get cold in the evenings and mornings. The design is a big nod to Kyrgyz yurts where felt rugs with this motif are always to be found. The embroidery detailing on the Inuit Slipper and bag uses the ubiquitous motif of Kyrgyzstan that represents the leather vessel which is used to ferment Kumiz - mares’ milk - the nomads’ favourite drink. Kumiz is believed to have great healing properties and so the motif is hugely revered and to be found everywhere in Kyrgyzstan.
How important is travel to you? What role has it played over your life? How has that continued/changed over the years?
Travel is as essential to me as breathing! I didn’t start travelling until I was 18 but ever since then I have spent years riding horses all over Central Asia, Siberia, Mongolia and Russia. It has hugely influenced my style and love of folk traditions - all the travel I have done has been very off-beat, staying in remote yurts and villages where I have absorbed all the beauty and individuality of folk art.
What do you look forward to most when returning home?
Seeing my children!
Your appreciation and respect for the nomadic designs of Kyrgyzstan are so clear to see and it's something at the core of our ethos too - What do you love the most about artisanal craftsmanship?
Its individuality and quality - we live in a time of crazy mass consumerism that is destroying our planet, and artisanal craftsmanship is the antithesis to this.
Recently you were appointed as an official tourism Ambassador for Kyrgyzstan - huge congratulations! What are your aspirations within the role? What do you hope people learn the most from the Kyrgyz way of living?
I want to help Kyrgyzstan develop tourism in a sustainable way - not succumbing to mass tourism but retaining the exceptional authenticity of their culture and nomadic traditions. All my clients come away questioning our way of life in the West, so impressed are they by the simplicity of life in the mountain villages and yurts - purposeful and happy lives with an enviable proximity to nature and their surroundings.
How did your relationship with Penelope Chilvers / the brand first begin? What drew you to the brand initially?
I was invited to stay at the beautiful Kukutana in Andalusia by Penelope and had the most wonderful weekend riding and being introduced to the brand - ever since then I have ridden in Penelope Chilvers boots.
How did the collaboration come about? What made you want to collaborate with Penelope Chilvers?
I suggested a Kyrgyz inspired collaboration as I spend so much of my time in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, where I run riding safaris. I always use the Penelope Chilvers boots so I thought it would be great to have some more personalised items to go with them, using local motifs. I wanted to collaborate with someone who could bring great craftsmanship and interpret the designs exactly as I envisaged them.
Why do you love wearing your Penelope Chilvers boots on adventures like these?
My Tassel boots are perfect for these trips as I need long boots for riding and a grip on the sole for scaling the mountain pass on foot. The Inclement range is ideal for the changing weather - we always have some rain, and these keep my feet completely dry.
Why were these pieces the ones to go for? Did you try other designs?
I wanted to create a bag as it’s something I’ve always felt is missing from my trips - we have beautiful saddlebags but it’s so practical to have something around your waist that is easy to access. We ride through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world and I’m always wanting to grab my phone and take photos so the bag is the perfect size for a phone, sunglasses and a lip balm - all the essentials! The red is very much a Kyrgyz colour. The slippers are very practical for camp - it can get cold in the evenings and mornings. The design is a big nod to Kyrgyz yurts where felt rugs with this motif are always to be found. The embroidery detailing on the Inuit Slipper and bag uses the ubiquitous motif of Kyrgyzstan that represents the leather vessel which is used to ferment Kumiz - mares’ milk - the nomads’ favourite drink. Kumiz is believed to have great healing properties and so the motif is hugely revered and to be found everywhere in Kyrgyzstan.
How important is travel to you? What role has it played over your life? How has that continued/changed over the years?
Travel is as essential to me as breathing! I didn’t start travelling until I was 18 but ever since then I have spent years riding horses all over Central Asia, Siberia, Mongolia and Russia. It has hugely influenced my style and love of folk traditions - all the travel I have done has been very off-beat, staying in remote yurts and villages where I have absorbed all the beauty and individuality of folk art.
What do you look forward to most when returning home?
Seeing my children!
Your appreciation and respect for the nomadic designs of Kyrgyzstan are so clear to see and it's something at the core of our ethos too - What do you love the most about artisanal craftsmanship?
Its individuality and quality - we live in a time of crazy mass consumerism that is destroying our planet, and artisanal craftsmanship is the antithesis to this.
Recently you were appointed as an official tourism Ambassador for Kyrgyzstan - huge congratulations! What are your aspirations within the role? What do you hope people learn the most from the Kyrgyz way of living?
I want to help Kyrgyzstan develop tourism in a sustainable way - not succumbing to mass tourism but retaining the exceptional authenticity of their culture and nomadic traditions. All my clients come away questioning our way of life in the West, so impressed are they by the simplicity of life in the mountain villages and yurts - purposeful and happy lives with an enviable proximity to nature and their surroundings.
Penelope added of the collaboration:
Working on these pieces with Alexandra has given me a world of inspiration. Seeing her love and respect for Kyrgyzstan, and combining that with our mutual wanderlust, bringing these beautiful pieces to life has been such a joy. How wonderful to be able to collaborate with people who share such an energetic purpose in celebrating global, cultural heritage in such a beautiful way.
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