Women Making Waves
Design, Style + Radical Compassion with Kelli de la Torre of Haven x Campise Farms
The last 6 months have been interesting. If you close your computer and put down your phone, the world is beautifully nuanced, real and raw. Increasingly the other “world” feels fake, divisive and out of tune with our true nature. I think we all feel it- some days more than others. I’ve been particularly affected in the last month by the pervasive cold and sterile iniquity playing out online. In times like these I’m compelled to find the bright side. After the election I wrote a piece about our power and responsibility and I’m trying hard to channel this power regularly. I wanted to expand on that here by highlighting women who are living by a purpose that resonates above the dismal picture we seem so drawn to, be it manufactured or real. If Nikola Tesla was right when he said “if you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration”, focusing on our ability to manipulate and raise our vibration could be our secret power to create the world we know is possible.
With that being said, I’d like to introduce you to Kelli de la Torre of Haven x Campise Farms.
1. Tell us about how you got into doing what you do and the story behind Haven x Campise Farms.
I grew up in an agricultural family in Texas, and I remember being a little girl and wondering who was caring for the livestock as they aged, or those who were no longer able to work for humans. It was always my dream to have a sanctuary for them, similar to what we see more often for domestic pets. A few years ago, as my brother and I took over our family’s farming and ranching operation, I had the opportunity to bring home my first rescue horses to our shared property. Around the same time, he and I made it our mission to transition to regenerative, organic practices… a huge task, as our father and uncle owned an ag chemical business in the 1970s-80s! In 2023, I purchased a property west of Austin exclusively for haven and built a design-forward barn with amenities for special needs and senior horses. I’ve married the sanctuary with my passion for regenerative agriculture, and the haven property is a now a beautiful, work-in-progress blend of both.
2. You’re obviously into design. What inspires you? What does design mean to you in your everyday life?
I’m my most happy, calm and creative self when I’m surrounded by nature, minimalism and quality, and I’m most inspired by the beauty of nature- how wild and “imperfect" it is. I feel fulfilled when I’m more connected to the living world, and I'm embracing this perception of genuine beauty both in design and with myself as well, particularly as I age. I love how it’s possible to connect more deeply with nature through design. I incorporate natural elements into my home as much as possible including ample natural light, landscaping that is true to the space and furnishing with woods, stones and natural textiles. Wearing beautiful, natural fabrics on my body has the same effect.
3. What appeals to you about Vincent James pieces? Which do you have and how do you wear them?
Oh my, I think I have them all! For my daily life, I love to make the pieces work from the barn to mom life. I live in the tanks, tees and linen button downs (in both colors!) with vintage Levi’s and vintage Carhartt outerwear. I’ll swap the Carhartt for the cardigan or duster (I have both in grey), and I can easily transition to school pick up, performances, etc. I wear the Slip dress and the Jane dress in the barn with my muck boots sometimes too because they're so comfortable! The pant suit and Sweater dress in black are my go-to’s for special occasions… I’m taking my son to New York for his first Broadway show and cannot wait to wear the suit in the City! Over the past few years, I’ve slowly transitioned to a Vincent James capsule wardrobe and could not be happier or feel more at peace and complete with my closet. It may sound nuts, but I feel the difference and can no longer tolerate synthetic fabrics.
4. If you had to pick 3 words that describe your personal style both in terms of fashion and architectural/interior design, what would they be?
elevated, cool, minimal.
5. What impact are you making/would you like to make in this world as a female founder?
As a mother of an eight year old son, I hope for him to grow up bathed in nature and this organization based on radical compassion for all beings and our earth. I hope it impacts him and shapes him deeply. From there, any ripples of compassion we make out into the world, I’ll be so proud of. I feel that now is the moment to give what we each have on our hearts to offer, however we can.
Thank you so much, Kelli for sharing your beautiful story!
If you’d like to learn more or follow along on her journey, check out Haven x Campise Farms Instagram where you can see more of the impact (and beautiful architecture + interiors) and their website to learn about volunteering and donation opportunities. Also, her barn was recently featured on Dwell where she has a vacation rental on the property in the works.
Thank you for being here and for your shared values + style!
Heather
This was a nice interview to read. However, I do not feel the same regarding the past 6 months. What you describe is what I have felt for the past 4 years. I now have incredible optimism that things are getting so much better. Prices have gone down, jobs are opening up for hard working Americans, and there is more to come with companies moving their manufacturing to the US! Then we have the focus on reducing government spending with the goal of cutting over a trillion dollars of waste so we might actually have the first balanced budget in 24 years! This will help so many who are barely able to afford groceries. We have much to be optimistic for!
Love this!