An Interview With Kelly and Nikki, Our
free-est Design Directors

To see Kelly and Nikki, two of our free-est Design Directors, is to see literal sunshine, with Nikki’s illuminating eyes and smile, and Kelly’s beach babe aura. It’s no wonder that crafting our “resort-ready” collection feels like second nature to them.

It’s been several years since the beloved FP Beach and Endless Summer collections became one–free-est– but we thought it was due time to revisit how the brand came to be, what sets it apart from the rest of the Free People collection, and to highlight our favorite free-est pieces for traveling from A to B. Enjoy!

FREE PEOPLE: Can you share a brief history on how our FP Beach and Endless Summer lines came to be known as free-est?

KELLY: I started designing FP Beach in California, originally under the guidance of FP Beach’s creator, Kris Chau. Beach was all about shapes, "circles and squares" as she would call it. Easy, effortless pieces, yet very unique in silhouette/shape… what you could find only in FP Beach. Knits definitely take on a much more laidback sensibility and can carry into cooler months or regions, which helped me when designing–when I leave a warm coast, and land in a cold one...what could I wear in both?

While I was working on Beach, traveling back and forth between coasts, Nikki was curating timeless woven pieces still found on our site today. Wovens are more airy and, due to their composition, create more dramatic sweeps and femme touches when paired back with lace. I think both FP Beach and Endless Summer always embraced living and/or visiting a warm climate, but we also were aware that the sun may not always be shining. So, we considered how to capture that mindset and personality, no matter where you are. And also, how we could take you there.

NIKKI: I think the ethos of FP Beach and Endless Summer have always been very similar. The only difference was that Kelly designed cut-and-sew knits and sweaters in Cali, and I designed wovens here at the home office in Philly while enjoying escaping in warm places for inspiration throughout the year. We both wanted to design clothes that evoked a sense of ease while still feeling cool, confident and effortless. Kelly and her team designed more unique shapes that felt very “easy to wear” and my team designed more feminine and ethereal pieces.

Kelly and I traveled together a lot (2-3 times a year), gravitated towards the same inspiration and got excited about the same things. We thought a lot about what we’d want to pack in your suitcase? From the airport, to the beach towns, to grabbing inspiration in a city. We wanted to feel comfortable, but still ourselves. We thought every customer for FP Beach and Endless Summer would want to feel the same. Eventually we toyed around with the idea of combining knits and wovens and then started working closely together when Kelly moved back to the east coast, and eventually the teams simply merged.

FP: Did this merge impact how you design/buy free-est?

N: Bringing FP Beach and Endless Summer together felt completely intentional, as if the two collections were always meant to be paired. If anything, it made our collection stronger, a more cohesive aesthetic that naturally elevated the entire line. The different fabrications, textures, and bright colors created beautiful stories.

K: Nikki and I have been working very closely for years, even before we lived on the same coast. Traveling together multiple times a year, and my frequent visits back to the Home Office, definitely helped. To us, the merge felt very natural, only now it required a bit more attention to detail.

FP: Your personal lifestyles seem to very much mirror the free-est ethos. Can you describe that?

K: Haha! Honestly, I don’t think I realized that until others mentioned it. I feel like both Nikki’s and my personal lifestyles very much mirror free-est but in different ways. I am your typical beach bum–if a bikini is the first thing I am putting on in the morning I am very happy. There’s a part of me who loves the flashy and outrageous, doesn’t match unless I’m "trying"--but mostly I just want comfort, ease, yet cool. Nikki travels all the time and is also a mom. I think we both use the effortlessness and ethos of free-est–in styling up our pieces, showing off bold colors or just simply throwing on and going. We usually pack a lot of our collection in our suitcases when we travel. I also personally low-key think it’s in our soul…
Nikki is Filipino, and I was born in Hawaii. so maybe it was always meant to be like this lol.

FP: Can you share a bit about the materials you utilize for free-est pieces, and how they complement the rest of FP's collection?

N: For free-est wovens, we always try to source fabrications that are breathable and lightweight. Most of our fabrics are cotton or linen blends. We love things with a crinkled or slubby texture but, to balance that, we have simple structured fabrications as well.

K: free-est is defined by fabric and silhouette. Beside our current Swim collection, we don’t use prints on apparel, or embellishments, or many trims. Instead we utilize buttons, elastic and drawcords. We like to craft our pieces using earth-made fibers–cotton and linens. At one time our collection was available only online, so texture played a huge factor, as it was all that we could use to stand out and draw in our customer, to make them want to see or feel that fabric enough to make the purchase! We also like to think we capitalize on color!--using both bold solids and impactful yarn dye stripe combos that sit nicely alongside our more classic stripes. Our free-est Swim fabrics are made with at least 50% or more responsible materials.

FP: free-est is "transient," known for its versatility and ease. How do you employ that when you're designing?

K: For a while we likened our customer to a “nomad”--always traveling, chasing the sun. We consider not only what to wear for your arrival, but also what you’re wearing along the way–something comfortable, yet fashionable, and put together. Could you swap shoes or shed a layer and go right out exploring about your day?

We’ve also been thinking a lot more about packability, and how we can even apply that to our fabrics. Our team is creating and soon launching a "Crushed" fabrication within wovens that is meant to be crinkled, for added texture that feels intentional and not sloppy.

N: We don’t have print, embellishment and we don’t use zippers for closures. We want the ease, silhouette and shape, texture and color of the garment to stand out. We want everyone who wears free-est to look like they threw something on, feel instantly incredible and confident in it.

What is your favorite free-est piece currently on site, and why?


K: Currently the Fallon Boardie from our Swim collection. The Fallon was a labor of love, and I coincidentally have been living in anything boardshort-related. It’s currently in my cart, and I plan to pair them with the Lyssa Bikini Top as well.

N: The Bubble The Fun Top. I think I’ve worn this 5-6x and summer just started this week! I love the hem, and bubble hems are free-est’s favorite detail at the moment! I’ve gotten so many compliments wearing it. It’s easy to pack for your summer holiday or for a weekend getaway. This looks great with column skirts, awkward length shorts, slouchy trousers. So many endless outfit opportunities!

FP: You put the free-est tagline, "every day, any wear," in practice--what does a day in the life of a free-est piece look like?

N: We always think about where and how each free-est piece is worn. We’re always asking ourselves when designing if it can be packed and taken on trips, can it be worn on a plane, can it be dressed up for a night out or dressed down and worn to brunch or exploring a city. Can you wear it multiple ways? The versatility of each piece and how one outfits it is key! We are always thinking about these questions for each piece.

K: One of my much older but always-loved styles, I would say, is a perfect example of this. It was called the "Bicoastal Romper Set"--a full leg, tank top one-piece paired with a long sleeve maxi cardi. I would wear it on the plane from LA to Philly and back–it would be hot in LA, so no cardi. Then cardi on the plane, and when I landed in Philly because it was chilly, I could change up my shoe and add a little accessory and go right out to dinner.

Our pieces are made with the intention that you can put it on first thing, then add to it with another layer or style with some fave accessories so you can be casual during the day, then a little more put-together and ready for the evening or night.

If there's one thing about free-est that you'd like everyone to remember, what is it?

N: This one’s a hard question for me! We want people to feel like they stand out in each piece whether it’s by color, how you dress it up, or silhouette and feel confident in it!

K: Even if you go for comfort and ease, that doesn’t mean you aren’t standing out. I always get compliments when I’m wearing free-est!