There are episodes that feel like a deep exhale—an invitation to slow down, soften, and remember that magic is real. In this conversation, Mickelle sits with Andrea Jansen, Amsterdam-based designer and the creative force behind Kama by Andrea: handcrafted modern sacred garments designed for “coming home to yourself.”

Andrea’s work lives at the intersection of utility and meaning—birth blankets and hooded capes that warm the body, yes, but also honour the unseen layers of transition: arrival, belonging, protection, devotion. Together, Mickelle and Andrea explore what happens when we stop treating milestone moments as logistics to “get through,” and start treating them as ceremonies to be held.

Andrea shares the origin of the name Kama, inspired by Kamadeva (India’s “Cupid”), and reflects on her own path—from years in fashion design, product work, styling, and technical problem-solving—into a calling that feels less like a business decision and more like a deep internal knowing. What emerges is a portrait of artistry that isn’t trying to impress. It’s trying to connect.

One of the most moving threads is the symbolism in Andrea’s designs: a holy bird—a protector, a bridge between heaven and earth—wings spread around the baby’s name and birth details. It’s not religion. It’s reverence. And it’s a reminder that what we bring into our homes during transition can become more than an object—it can become a keepsake, a story, an anchor.

The episode also expands the conversation around sustainability. Not as a buzzword—but as an ethic. Andrea speaks candidly about small-batch production, choosing ethical partners, avoiding overproduction, and the reality that “sustainable labels” can triple costs at micro scale. Mickelle adds a wider lens: sustainability is also emotional, relational, communal—how we support people through big change so they arrive less depleted, more resourced, more intact.

In this episode

• Why Kama (from Kamadeva) and Andrea’s lasting connection to India
• Birth blankets and capes as ceremony: naming, protection, and transition
• The symbolism of the holy bird and designing from “deep knowing”
• A richer definition of sustainability: sacred objects are kept, not discarded
• Small-batch ethics, pricing realities, and questioning the system with honesty
• The heroine’s journey: slowness, trust, and stepping into creative purpose

Where to find Andrea

• Kama by Andrea: https://kamabyandrea.com
• On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamabyandrea/

Special offer for House of Peregrine Members

House of Peregrine Members receive 25% off all items on sale at kamabyandrea.com.

If this episode sparked something—if you felt the pull toward more meaning in the everyday—share this episode with someone it will resonate with, then go explore Andrea’s shop and choose one object as a ritual: for a birth, a move, a new season, a return to self. Don’t forget that if you’re a House of Peregrine member, you get 25% off.

Feeling inspired? Share this episode with someone you know navigating life between cultures - and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review. Every story shared is a thread that weaves us closer together.