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/stīl/ /kyo͞o/ noun 1. a sequence of people with a distinctive appearance 2. A style column for The Sound whereby sustainable style blogger, Jennifer Moore (a.k.a recovergirl), interviews locals with unique style
This week, we talk with Jules Hatch, a 24-year-old Portsmouth resident, about permaculture, snake rings, and happy pants. This interview has been condensed and edited.
What’s your occupation?
Farmer and beekeeper.
What is your dream job?
If I could do anything, I would travel the world and build permaculture farms.
What is permaculture, exactly?
Permaculture is a lifestyle. It’s a way of looking at nature as part of a large system that is continually interacting with itself. Permaculture is working with, rather than against, nature.
How would you describe your personal style?
I like to mimic nature. I wear lots of flower prints and colors. Some days I just want to blend in, so I wear greens and browns. I like the laid-back style of the West Coast.
Tell me about your sneakers.
When I got them, they were white. White things don’t stay white for very long in my life. I love color and flair and, when given an opportunity to create that, I do.
What are staples in your wardrobe?
I have a green suede vest from Savers that I wear with everything. I really love my snake ring. I named her Esmeralda. I got it at Goodwill the day before I went to South America for a year. I actually ran into an anaconda when I was there. Something about snakes is very intriguing to me. I’m not sure what the significance is yet. Maybe it’s their strength.
Who is your style icon?
Jimi Hendrix.
Which actor would play you in a movie about your life?
I don’t watch enough television or movies to answer that question.
Farmer and beekeeper Jules Hatch’s style often mimics nature. photo by Jennifer Moore
Is there a particular article of clothing or accessory that you would like to add to your wardrobe?
I could use a wide-brimmed straw hat for when I work in the garden. I would probably add flowers and feathers to it over time.
What is something you love about your body?
I love my eyes. I like my arms a lot. I work them hard all day and, at the end of the day, I am grateful to them for allowing me to do the work I do. I think the most important thing a woman can do is love her body. To really love your own body is to love everyone around you.
Who do you think has great style?
Anyone who is truly themselves. Anyone who looks like they genuinely put themselves together in a way that makes them feel beautiful. That, to me, is great style.
What musical artists are you listening to a lot lately?
The Shook Twins and Elephant Revival. It’s like earth-inspired folky funk.
Describe an outfit you wore for a special occasion that you really loved.
I went to a festival and wore pants that looked like disco balls. They made me feel free and happy and able to dance. Pants are everything some days, particularly if you wake up and have no inspiration for the day. Put on happy pants and bam! You’ll know what to do.
What did you wear with your happy pants?
I wore a simple orange tank top, no shoes, and one feather earring that I made from feathers I found in the Amazon.
In what ways do you practice sustainable style?
I don’t buy anything firsthand, only secondhand. I shop at Goodwill and Savers mostly. At stores like that, you can shop the decades, the ’60s and the ’70s. There is no need to buy firsthand. It is such a waste of material and energy, not to mention the unfair working conditions for people overseas. We’ve got enough already.