An Afternoon with Andrea
A conversation about everyday life, natural cotton, and why MahaShe has been part of her wardrobe for over a decade.
We recently spent a beautiful afternoon with Andrea at her home in the Northern Rivers.
She welcomed us with a cup of tea, and we settled in for a long chat about life, family, gardening and the MahaShe pieces that have been part of her wardrobe for more than a decade.
These days, Andrea spends much of her time with her grandbabies. On quieter days at home, she likes to begin slowly—with a cup of tea, some time in the garden, and a little cleaning and pottering around the house. Her husband loves to cook, so they’ll often sit down together for lunch, before Andrea ends the day with a walk around the neighbourhood with her dog, often stopping in at a neighbour’s home for another cuppa along the way.
During our visit, Andrea took us for a walk down to the garden and orchard she shares with her husband. They each have their own garden to tend, with different patches, plants and projects of their own.
Back at the house, she warmed up a delicious potato and white bean soup, which we enjoyed with fresh bread made by her husband and a little Swiss cheese. Andrea and her husband are both Swiss and made Australia home around 40 years ago, so it felt like a small and lovely connection to where their story began.
It was a warm, unhurried afternoon, filled with many of the simple pleasures Andrea loves most: time outdoors, good food, conversation and clothes she can live comfortably in.
And Andrea really does live in her MahaShe.
She told us that during summer, our cotton dresses are among the first things she reaches for. On a hot day, she’ll have a cold shower, pop a cotton dress straight on and head out for a walk.
She loves the way the cotton feels cool and comfortable against her skin, even when she is still a little damp. It doesn’t cling, stick to her body or become see-through, making it easy to wear in the heat.
Andrea has several MahaShe dresses, tops and pants in regular rotation, along with a couple of dresses that are now more than 10 years old.
She brought those older pieces out to show us, and they are still in beautiful condition.
Once the dresses she wore constantly, they have now become prized possessions in her wardrobe. These days, she saves them for special occasions—not because they have worn out, but because they have become so meaningful to her.
Over the years, Andrea's MahaShe wardrobe has grown and evolved alongside her life.
What began with a collection of summer dresses has gradually expanded into cotton tops, pants, soft stretch cotton basics and our fine cotton corduroy pieces, making MahaShe a brand she now reaches for all year round.
Along the way, Andrea has also discovered colours and prints she may never have chosen before.
"They've really expanded my style. I've discovered colours and prints that I never would have thought I'd wear, but now I absolutely love them."
When we asked how she cares for her MahaShe pieces, she laughed and told us:
“I don’t own an iron.”
Her clothes simply go into the washing machine. She sometimes places her most treasured pieces on a delicate cycle, although she has found over the years that it doesn’t seem to make much difference. They all continue to wash and wear beautifully.
For Andrea, the quality is exceptional—but it is also the thoughtful little details that make each piece feel special.
The piping. The pockets. The beautiful finishing touches.
They are the details she notices, appreciates and continues to enjoy over years of wear.
At the end of our conversation, we asked Andrea to describe MahaShe in three words.
She paused, considered it carefully, and answered:
"Comfortable. Stylish. Long-lasting."
After spending the afternoon with her, we couldn’t have put it better ourselves.
