Travelling with: Stube
The Stube founders Jessie and Henrike on Italian islands, jellyfish stings, and why they overpack snacks
Hi everyone,
Welcome to the second edition of Travelling With, where I talk to people whose approach to travel genuinely inspires me. I know inspiring is an overused word, but in this case, it truly fits—every conversation I have with Henrike and Jessie leaves me full of ideas, appreciation, and a sense of calm. To me, they’re true makers, something I both envy and deeply admire. They can do almost anything with their hands—from sewing and knitting to crocheting and dyeing silk.
Earlier this year, these longtime friends launched Stube, a children's clothing label rooted in their shared values and aesthetics. Their lives have been intertwined for years: their children, Willi and Luca, are both four, they live just a few doors apart, and more recently, they took their first family trip together.
Henrike and Jessie speak about travel, especially with kids, as something layered and deeply meaningful. It felt only natural to have this conversation with them. All images are from that trip to Isola del Giglio, with their kids wearing Stube throughout.
FTJ: Where did you travel to most recently?
H.B.: We most recently travelled to a small island near Rome with our partners and kids. It was quite the journey (plane, train, bus, ferry, and finally a small boat), but completely worth it. We stayed in a tiny, family-run hotel right by the sea, very secluded and peaceful. Our days fell into a gentle rhythm: breakfast, then off to the beach by boat, ice cream stops, and lots of swimming. In the afternoons we’d return to rest, and dinner was always at the hotel – simple, homemade meals, mostly fresh fish and seafood, eaten together as the sun went down. The pace of the trip really stayed with us. It reminded us how much children respond to simple routines and soft, natural surroundings. That’s also something that continues to shape our ideas at Stube, both in how we design and how we imagine the clothes being lived in.
FTJ: What was the first trip you remember that really stayed with you?
H.B.: A camping holiday to a small fishing village in Croatia called Valun. It was the kind of trip that felt like a full adventure—sleeping in tents, spending whole days outside, and running around barefoot with new friends from the campsite, which was set right by the beach. We’d snorkel for hours, explore little coves, and feel completely free. That feeling of independence and simple joy—of being close to nature and a little wild.
J.M.: One of my most cherished travel memories is a trip I took with my father and brother to La Digue in the Seychelles when I was just seven years old. What made it so unforgettable was the combination of magical and intense experiences that have stayed with me ever since. I remember no shoes (!), running along deserted beaches that made me feel like I was part of the TV series Ocean Girl. I went snorkelling off Coconut Island and saw a stingray glide beneath me. Each day, we cycled to visit 169-year-old giant tortoises living on land, tasted all kinds of exotic fruits, and spent hours learning to do somersaults into the pool with my brother. But it wasn’t just the beauty and adventure that made the trip so memorable. Some of the more dramatic moments left a lasting impression, too: we got caught in a storm while out on a boat far from the mainland, I was stung by a jellyfish across one entire side of my body, and my brother, while perfecting his flip tricks, hit his head on the edge of the pool and needed stitches at a local hospital that was just little more than a small hut.
FTJ: How has becoming a parent changed the way you travel?
J.M.: Honestly, becoming a parent has completely changed the way I travel. Before kids, travelling meant sleeping in, reading at least three books, going on long hikes, wandering through nature, and basically having zero structure. I did whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like it. Usually staying up late and pretending time didn’t exist. Now? Well… let’s just say the only hiking I do is carrying my daughter up hotel stairs because she decided elevators are 'scary' and I wake up at 7 am because someone’s sitting on my face asking if it’s breakfast time. Still beautiful, but different and way more luggage.
FTJ: City break, countryside, or coast—what’s your default and why?
H.B.: We lean towards the coast but also love the countryside… calm places where the pace feels natural and gentle. There’s something grounding about wide-open spaces, fresh air, and the chance for kids to run around freely. We’ve noticed that cities tend to be really stressful for our son and honestly, for us as parents too. So when we travel, we seek out quieter spots where everyone can breathe, unwind, and just be present.
J.M.: Definitely coast, I’m a total ocean person. I don’t just need a vacation, I need a vacocean.
FTJ: When you're planning a trip, how do you go about finding accommodation—and where do you usually look for inspiration?
H.B.: We mostly rely on recommendations from friends—people we trust and whose travel tastes we respect. The best recommendations come from you, Franka.
Beyond that, we often look for small, family-run places that feel authentic and relaxed, rather than big hotels. We also find inspiration from slow travel blogs, Instagram accounts of other families, and sometimes just following a hunch based on a place’s vibe. We also always look at Urlaubsarchitektur and 84 rooms.
FTJ: Hotel or apartment—what do you look for in a place to stay when you travel?
H.B.: We tend to prefer small, family-run hotels because they offer a sense of community and often lead to unexpected, inspiring encounters with other guests. There’s something special about meeting new people, sharing stories, and feeling part of a place beyond just staying there. While apartments can be cozy and private, hotels give us a chance to connect—that’s something we really value, especially when travelling with a single child who really likes to make new friends. One thing we don’t want to do when we’re on holiday is food shopping or cooking.
J.M.: Hotels always give me the feeling of being in a “non-place”. It often feels like I haven’t truly arrived or that I’m expected to leave at any moment. The room is reset every day, erasing any trace that I was ever there. In contrast, staying in an apartment or a house lets me experience a destination more fully. I can go to the local market, cook my own meals, and settle into a rhythm that feels more connected to everyday life. Instead of just observing a place from the outside, I get to participate in it. Even if only for a short time. That shift from visitor to temporary local makes all the difference in how I experience a journey, especially with kids, I need to have more of a ‘home’ feeling.
FTJ: Can you name a place that felt like it matched your aesthetic sensibility completely?
H.B.: Villa Capo Zafferano
J.M.: Not really. But I think it could be something similar to anything Cesar Manrique and Lina Bo Bardi could have built (with an ocean view of course).
FTJ: How do you pack—light and loose or prepared for everything?
H.B.: Prepared for everything!
J.M.: Anticipating every weather, the tomato sauce dilemma, and potential tuxedo dinner.
FTJ: Do you try to keep your usual rhythms and routines when you travel, or is travel your time to loosen up?
H.B.: We definitely loosen up when we travel—bedtimes get pushed later, and ice cream becomes an everyday treat.
J.M.: We do our best to keep our usual rhythm, even if it doesn’t always work out. But sticking to familiar routines usually saves us from any energy-draining meltdowns. But that’s only when travelling as a family.
FTJ: What’s one lesson you only learned the hard way while travelling with kids?
H.B.: Always overpack snacks and then overpack snacks again. Kids get hungry at the most unpredictable moments, and running out of food (or the “right” food) can quickly turn a smooth day into a meltdown moment.
J.M.: Keep your cool, no matter what. And, I can only support what Natalia Schwarz said in her interview: Whenever you can, try to schedule long-distance flights for your usual sleeping hours.
FTJ: Finally, where are you dreaming of going next—and why?
H.B.: Japanese countryside – we’ve only visited Japan’s big cities so far, but now we’re really dreaming of getting to know the countryside… the kind of Ghibli-inspired nature you see in the movies, with forests, mountains, and quiet villages. We love that Japan feels so welcoming and kids are genuinely part of the culture. Honestly, we’ve lost interest in travelling to places where kids don’t seem to belong. It’s all about finding spots where kids are not just tolerated, but truly embraced. Plus, we’re secretly hoping for plenty of rice balls and peaceful moments (and maybe a Totoro sighting or two).
J.M.: Chile. We have good friends that come from Chile and my husband has lived and worked there for over a year. I am desperate to see the country and its supposedly beautiful nature. I don’t really have any specific images in mind when thinking about Chile, but it has to be a lovely and inspiring place due to the many wonderful people I know from there.
If this conversation resonated with you, go follow Stube on Instagram—or better yet, pick up a pair of their cool kids’ trousers (or a T-shirt) for your upcoming summer holiday.
Both of my boys wear them, and I honestly can’t recommend them enough. I’m still gently (but relentlessly) campaigning for Jessie and Henrike to make things in my size!
Until next time — save travels,
Franka