ONE PIECE: Interviewing Rachel Schwartzmann about her favorite art, clothing, decor, and reads (vol. 4)
We'll also talk about her book, Slowing, and the nuances of a life with the chaos volume turned way down.
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Rachel Schwartzmann is one of the brilliant women I’ve met thanks to Substack, and what softened me to her even more was the ease at which I could share personal stories with her. In recent years, a large focus of her life has been dedicated to the word slowing. First, in intention: to slow down and to examine herself and the world around her more. Next came storytelling. She writes the Substack and authored a book last year titled Slowing.
Alongside all of this writing and thoughtfulness is Rachel’s extremely charming sense of style, both in interiors and in clothing. Her taste is at an aspirational level! Which, of course, makes her a perfect subject for this One Piece series.
Rachel Schwartzmann is the author of Slowing (9/17/2024, Chronicle Books) and the writer of Slow Stories—a multimedia project that explores time, creativity, and pace. She also writes about books, creativity, design, and fashion, and her essays and interviews have appeared in BOMB Magazine, Coveteur, Literary Hub, TOAST Magazine, and elsewhere.︎︎︎ Rachel has been featured in ELLE, Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler, The Creative Independent, and numerous other publications. She currently writes, consults, and creates content for various publications and brands and is working on a novel.
Rachel’s personal links: Website | Instagram | Substack
All photographs in this post are provided by Rachel herself—another admirable layer of her creativity!
Rachel shares with us One Piece…
ONE PIECE of artwork that you wouldn’t mind living alongside:
I’m so lucky to live alongside work by my grandmother, Sharon, and there are so many other incredible artists who I’d love to collect—Leanne Shapton is one of them. Whenever I stop by Picture Room, I always swoon over her works. I’m also a huge fan of her creative practice, both as an illustrator and writer. What a mind!
ONE PIECE of clothing or accessory that you want to wear until it’s tattered:
As another fellow fan of Cawley Studio, their hats immediately come to mind—but also babaa sweaters, which check the boxes in fashion and function. I just adore them.
ONE PIECE of literature that fills your mind/spirit:
I simply can’t choose just one! There are so many incredible novels, memoirs, and poetry collections that have broken me open in the best way. But for Absolument readers, I would say Etel Adnan’s writing always expands the heart and soul. It’s visceral and awake (and so are her paintings—also something I’d love to live alongside).
ONE PIECE of decor that would provide a mood boost to your home:
I’m so lucky to live in a space with incredible natural light, but I often wonder how a pendant or chandelier would look in our dining room.
I’m a longtime fan of Virginia Sin’s work and also love Eny Lee Parker’s pieces.
ONE PIECE of advice for yourself or others:
“The world is full of yes.” Words from my father.
About her debut publication, Slowing!
Rachel published Slowing in September of 2024 and I immediately pre-ordered it because: 1) I always love her writing and point-of-view, and 2) I myself would love to be a slower-paced person. I’ve been working through it in my personal version of a snail’s pace on purpose because it’s truly meant to be savored, and there tons of activities for helping yourself process your thoughts, actions, and creativities in a meaninful way. I’m really enjoying it and feel lucky to be able to ask Rachel more about the book.
What type of person will benefit and be inspired the most by reading your book?
A creative person who values storytelling just as much as slowness.
What is one tangible way your lifestyle has changed before and after writing Slowing?
Probably my writing practice. Slowing really helped me understand the craft. I’ve been working on a new project for the last couple of years and am relishing the process of seeing it not only come to life but mature in unexpected ways.
In your "sensing slow" chapter, you talk about how "life often moves between online and offline—the complicated state where our eyes rest on a screen as our heads simultaneously rest on another's shoulder." Can you give us a hint at how you think we should best balance these two worlds?
Balance, slowness—all of these frameworks are so individual, and I hesitate to share anything uniform or prescriptive. All I can really say is to take things day by day. Sometimes you’ll be more plugged in than others, but having self-awareness of how you feel during those moments helps create a path forward that feels sustainable (and realistic). I’ve also often said that, for me, slowness is synonymous with storytelling. I feel the most calm in the presence of narrative…so when in doubt, put your phone on the charger and pick up a (physical) book!
I’m always curious about what the publication process is like for authors. Are there any behind-the-scenes book creation moments you’d be willing to share with us? Or spots that you had to push through uncomfortably?
Absolutely! I actually wrote a series of diaries leading up to Slowing’s publication. Check out the full archive (which also features some post-pub reflections) here.
Thank you so very much to Rachel for all of her photographs, stories, and beautiful advice here!
Related Notes:
Etel Adnan is completely new to me, so I appreciate Rachel’s introduction wholeheartedly! The Paris Review interviewed Adnan in 2023. Here is Beginning with Color: An Interview with Etel Adnan. Even the opening words have me feeling emotional:
“She would say that driving a big car on a highway crossing the American desert was like doing calligraphy in her notebooks. She said that if you look at a mountain carefully and faithfully each day, you can become its friend. And this is what happened to her. Each thing that existed in the world provoked her curiosity, and often her wonder. She was never weary and always alert, as if to be alive were in itself such a stroke of luck that nothing must be let go of. She loved wild buttercups and blood-red anemones. She was friends with the flowers too.”
I’m in the Cawley Studio club too. This outfit has been in my mind’s eye since I first saw it months ago. I already have many similar elements in my daily rotation, but that darn sunny jacket is the missing (p e r f e c t) piece! Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it matches Rachel’s book!
Previous One Piece Interviews:
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Happy One Piece-ing!
Kelsey Rose
Website | Instagram | Shop Absolument | Book Recs
*cover image: Rachel Schwartzmann portrait collaged with her grandmother’s painting and her book, Slowing. All photographs were taken and are owned by Rachel Schwartzmann.
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Thank you again for having me, Kelsey! (And for reminding me how much I also love that Cawley jacket... 🌼)
Lovely post, thank you 🧚♀️