AETHER Asks: Nandita Khanna
Here at AETHER, we love nothing more than hearing from and learning more about our friends and customers. With that in mind, we are starting a new series in which we shine a spotlight on some of our favorite creatives. For our first-ever AETHER Asks, we turned to New Yorker-turned-Angeleno Nandita Khanna who is the Director of Content & Brand Marketing at Feals, a premium CBD brand working to find “a better way to feel better.” We asked her about her favorite ways to get outdoors, what AETHER pieces she always brings with her, and her biggest lesson of the last year.
Describe your role at Feals.
We’re still a small company—around 22 between Denver and LA— so I’m often juggling several things at once. I head up storytelling for the brand in all its forms, so email, social, and printed materials. And I oversee PR, events, and partnerships—so far we’ve been lucky to team up with brands like Bala, The Big Quiet, and Away. Sometimes I tie-dye T-shirts for the team, but that’s not technically part of my job description as far as I know.
How long have you lived in LA, and why do you like it?
I’ve lived here almost five (!!) years after spending more than a decade in New York. I came for the weather and stayed for the number of ex-New Yorkers I was able to successfully recruit to join me out there. Oh, and beach days in January and the easy access to Colorado and Wyoming for much-needed ski weekends.
What is your favorite way to spend a weekend?
In LA, I’ve been appreciating a slower pace and spending downtime in nature, often on a hike in Malibu or packing a beach picnic and a good book and finding a sandy spot to spend the afternoon. I’ve been skiing since I was three years old, so during the winter months, I’m spending Friday through Monday on the mountain in Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, or in Colorado.
What is the first trip you will take post-pandemic?
Depending on the time of year we finally are green-lit to travel, I’m on the first plane to Mexico City to visit one of my dearest friends who moved there with her family. Or, I'd like to go to Japan—I’ve been dreaming about a trip to Tokyo and then over to Hokkaido.
How did you discover AETHER?
In a lift line in Aspen many years ago. A friend of a friend was wearing an AETHER jacket, and it caught my eye.
Do you have a favorite piece of AETHER? If so, what and why?
The Dolomite Boot. It’s the perfect on-the-go shoe, particularly when you’re headed somewhere where the weather is a consideration. I’ll slip the Dolomite on with my ski pants for the walk over to the lodge and then slip them on again for après and for dinner later that night with a pair of leggings and an oversize sweater. I think the whole “day-to-night” expression is kind of overplayed, and not one I use often, but it certainly applies to this sturdy-but-sleek shoe.
What’s your favorite place you’ve worn the Dolomite Boot?
I broke them in on a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The red laces really pop in a snowstorm.
What’s the most unexpected way you’ve worn the boot?
With a fisherman sweater, slip dress, and marled socks in LA when it was 50 degrees.
How do your AETHER piece(s) fit into your lifestyle/hobbies?
When I’m traveling, I try to balance a little bit of frivolity with sensible, workhorse pieces I’ll actually wear for the duration of my trip. My black Aura Puffer is an MVP. It’s lightweight but deceptively warm, which is honestly what you expect if you know AETHER products well. They really do the job they’re meant to. I love the slightly cropped silhouette and have even layered it under a faux fur coat when I’m headed out to dinner. The hood is a major plus. And the Dolomite Boot does it all in terms of function and style. It’s not too chunky, but it’s sturdy, so I feel confident when I’m running around in them. Honestly, I’ve packed other shoes for trips to the mountains, and none get nearly as much airtime as my Dolomites.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken away from the past year?
Embracing the slow down. I’m usually going 100 mph, so this past year has been a true lesson in the art of doing less, and I have to say, I’m pretty into it.
