The Books We Read, The People We Stay With

At the start of 2025 I became quite obsessed with playing tennis. Lucky for me I have excellent coaches and keep making amazing friends/opponents at the tennis club I joined. What I absolutely love beyond the sport & the community is the mindset we share. From highlighting ideas gathered from the books we are reading, or underlining the incredible resilience, concentration, and motivation it takes to be a champion athlete such as Jannick Sinner or Carlo Alcaraz,, the conversations are always inspiring and enriching. This beautiful reality that I am fortunate to live reminds me of one of my favourite quotes which I often share with my students at Polimoda in Florence, Italy; “ The person you become is a combination of the books you read and the people you stay with.”. I wish I remembered who shared these wise words in order to properly credit the sage. In any case, the straightforward, proverb is incredibly powerful. It’s easy to remember, easy to apply, and 100% reliable. I share this with my students, but anyone and everyone can benefit from this message. Whether a student at a fashion academy or a director in the studio, being mindful of our surroundings and influences is a game changer, a simple move, and a champion decision.