Seatmates: Jessie Randall
On the hotel that reminds her of falling in love, the surprisingly affordable suitcase she swears by, and how travel has shaped both her brand and her family
This interview is part of Seatmates, a Window Seat series where tastemakers, travelers, and creatives share how they move through the world—what they pack, where they stay, and the travel rituals that shape their lives.
As the founder and Chief Creative Officer of Loeffler Randall, Jessie Randall has spent the last two decades bringing thoughtful, handcrafted design into wardrobes around the world. She’s also a curious, deeply creative traveler, drawn to beautiful hotels, handmade details, and quiet moments with her family. Whether she’s in Marrakech, Mexico, or her kitchen in Park Slope, Jessie moves through the world with a collector’s eye and a maker’s heart.
Read on to learn about the once-in-a-lifetime hotel that stole her heart, the reason she always sets a boarding alarm, and which travel product she designed herself when she couldn’t find one she loved.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m the Chief Creative Officer of @loefflerrandall, a company I founded with my husband twenty years ago this year! We started the company out of a tiny garden apartment in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and LR has grown to include a beautiful showroom, office, and studio in Soho, as well as four stores by year's end. Time flies. We make shoes, clothing, and bags that are a balance of the wow pieces that make an outfit and the tried-and-true, core items you wear every day (like the comfiest ballet flats).
I live in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and have three children, including twins headed off to college this year. My personal Instagram is where I share my passion for interiors, fashion, and living a creative life. In my spare time, I am most often traveling, decorating my home, making things with my hands (all kinds of crafts), playing tennis, or working on my Substack Jessie Loves.
Loeffler Randall is all about timeless craftsmanship and thoughtful design. Is there a place you’ve visited that perfectly captures those same values, and if so, what made it so memorable?
Such a great question! I think so many of the places I’ve visited capture the values of our brand: the small factory outside of Florence, Italy where we produced our first collection; Venice where I visited this summer and saw a Luigi Bevilacqua, a velvet factory that’s been making velvet on looms since the early 1500s; the Cotswolds where there is so much history and attention to detail; Marrakech and Oaxaca where handmade craft traditions are so strong.
As someone who loves discovering beautiful textiles and materials, have you ever stumbled upon an unforgettable fabric or craft tradition during your travels that influenced a Loeffler Randall collection?
I’m always looking, getting inspired, and taking in the world around me. My favorite thing to do when I travel for inspiration is to meet with local artisans and learn about their art and craft traditions. I’m not sure it translates directly to a specific item we design, but it inspires me and informs my process; it creates a spark of excitement in me that is very important to my process.
A few of those special moments include: watching Viviana create beautiful flower candles by hand in Teotitlan de Valle, Mexico, visiting the incredible studio of Mestiz in San Miguel (ceramics, straw weaving, sculpture), going to Svenskt Tenn in Stockholm and choosing a lovely linen to make a curtain for my kitchen, seeing the artisans at Marrakshi Life in Morocco weaving striped fabric, the list goes on and on.
With kids now in their teens, how has your approach to family travel evolved over the years? Are there any destinations that have become unique touchstones for your family?
I think our approach to travel is definitely changing. It used to be that I wanted to find places that were safe for toddlers (outlet plugs and baby gates and wade-in pools) and had a nice beach. Now, I’m looking for places where they can’t get into too much trouble! We were so lucky to go to Round Hill in Jamaica for ten years every Christmas. My kids had a very special group of friends they ran around with, and those memories are some of the most special of our family life. I work a lot during the year, so being able to just lie on a beach around the holidays is my dream come true. Sadly, the hotel has gotten so expensive that we stopped going. But it’s led to other adventures.
Also, as my kids get older, they are craving trips that are more adventurous. I just went to Europe with my sons. I was in Paris with them for a few days, and then they went off with my husband on more of a backpacking-type trip to other cities in Europe. Two years ago, they went to Japan together. I think my younger son visited every animal cafe in Tokyo. It was such a special trip for them.
I feel very blessed that my kids have had the opportunity to travel internationally—something I didn’t get to do much as a kid.
What’s been your most memorable trip or hotel stay?
When I first started dating my husband, he surprised me with tickets to St. Barths. I was a 22-year-old from Worcester, Massachusetts, and I’d never even heard of St. Barths at that point. It was such a special trip. We were able to go back when I was first pregnant with the twins, and we’ve since been back several times, staying at a rental apartment there that we love. It’s a place that reminds me of falling in love with Brian. I love everything about St. Barths, especially ridiculous nights at Le Ti, watching the tiny planes nearly graze our heads as they land at the airport, the natural beauty of the island, and driving up all those steep hills, the most beautiful beaches.
In terms of a memorable hotel, I would say El Fenn in Marrakech was incredible because of the beautiful colors and decor, the rooftop restaurant, the tea and elegant cake each afternoon, and the resident turtles! (Ed note: I wrote about El Fenn recently as a hotel on my radar—what a dream!)
Another once-in-a-lifetime experience was staying at Et Hem in Stockholm. Every single detail there was so thoughtful and special. I got to go with some of my favorite friends. (Hotel Sanders in Denmark was also wonderful).
Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?
I’d really love to visit India because I know how inspiring it would be for me. At the top of my list would be to stay at Villa Palladio in Jaipur. I’ve been dreaming of going there and seeing all that beautiful wallpaper and decor in person.
What are your must-haves when it comes to luggage and items you travel with?
Pls see all my favs linked here. (Ed. note: This is required travel reading!)
What is your go-to airport outfit?
Our Dina travel tote with my tennis racquet poking out, Cooper sneakers, jeans, a nice looking coat, a cashmere sweater, and pointelle top.
Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?
I try not to eat on the plane because someone told me it’s better for your stomach, and I feel much better when I don’t eat anything in-flight.
Setting an alarm on my phone for boarding time because I tend to get distracted chatting and have almost missed my flight before.
Downloading a bunch of really dumb TV shows since they’re mindless.
Having a craft project with me, like a knitting project, because it’s meditative and I can get a lot done on a flight.
Last question: aisle or window seat?
Window! So I can attempt to sleep smooshed onto the wall of the plane. I do feel bad, though, as I have a small bladder and am constantly getting up.
To explore more of Jessie’s colorful world, subscribe to her newsletter, Jessie Loves, follow her personal or brand’s Instagram, and treat yourself to something nice from Loeffler Randall. Interested in being featured in Seatmates or know someone who should be? Drop me a line here.
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Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.
So grateful to be included. Thank you so much 💙
Love the travel rituals! I've found a nice needlepoint project + an audiobook to be game-changing.