Achieving solitary refinement – reporting from their makeshift desks around the world, the MYKITA crew share their tips on mastering the daily tasks and staying sane after three months of working from home.

Sunny and plant-filled desk in Tokyo

QUARANTINE ROUTINE: IVANA

Kept in line by a five-month old taskmaster, our L.A. shop manager balances her working day through cosy-time with Viggo and wild dancing to let off steam. 

Ivana wearing MYKITA + MAISON MARGIELA model MMRAW013 

Where in the world is your home office located and how have you set yourself up?

Los Angeles! I have a sun room in the back of our apartment surrounded by windows and a view of the hills where I love to be, whether working or just enjoying a book and a cool drink.

Any absolute essentials for your working area?

Absolute essential to my workspace is my dog, Viggo! I love him laying by my feet as I work, makes it way more cosy.

What are your top tips for staying productive?

I don’t like to put anything off for later, so starting early in the morning and staying focused until the tasks I’ve set for the day are complete. We now have a little boy [5 months old], and I would say that he keeps me very efficient and productive because I have to finish tasks to completion in order to have a free mind to spend time with him.

How are you keeping your mental cool?

Wild dancing and yelling around my apartment. Freeing my mind and body through movement and sound!

And finally, what's your level of grooming before a video call?

Mascara. It’s the only thing necessary.

 

QUARANTINE ROUTINE: AIKO

From her sunny, plant-filled fourth floor apartment in Tokyo, MYKITA Shop Tokyo Optician counts breakfast and emphasising the eyebrows among her quarantine essentials.

Aiko wearing LITE model CLAAS 

Where in the world is your home office located and how have you set yourself up?

I’m in my fourth floor apartment in Tokyo and work from beside the window of my living room.

Any absolute essentials for your working area?

Coffee, plants, and Bang & Olufsen portable speaker.

What are your top tips for staying productive?

Eat well. Breakfast is an essential thing to work my brain. 

How are you keeping your mental cool?

On a sunny day, I try to take a careful jog. There is a big beautiful park near my place, so I often go there and like to feel the breeze while lying under a tree. 

And finally, what's your level of grooming before a video call?

I fill in my eyebrows to make my face look okay. 

 

QUARANTINE ROUTINE: MARTIN

Not one to let his style and grooming slip, our head of design also cultivates a messy desk, plenty of side projects and keep hydration levels up to stay both sane and productive.  

Martin wearing NO2 archive model GIGI

Where in the world is your home office located and how have you set yourself up?

I live in Berlin Mitte. My home office is my living room. I need a combination of digital and physical tools to bridge the gap from CAD into the tangible. It's never tidy, but neither is my office desk.

Any absolute essentials for your working area?

Laptop, notepad, printouts to scale (yes, actually paper!), prototypes (they need to be brought home from the office once a week), the fridge nearby, peace and quiet.

What are your top tips for staying productive?

Keep a defined area and timeframe exclusively for work, stay in touch with your team, take breaks, stay hydrated.

How are you keeping your mental cool?

Going outside into the garden, having interesting side projects and hope.

And finally, what's your level of grooming before a video call?

I usually dress/groom for work as if I were leaving the house. 

 

QUARANTINE ROUTINE: JOSEPHINE

Switching between a variety of makeshift desks, retail expansion manager Jo stays in close contact with her project teams all over the globe to keep her enthusiasm and spirits up.

Josephine wearing LITE model CLAAS

Where in the world is your home office located and how have you set yourself up?

I’m based in an airy top-floor apartment in Berlin-Kreuzberg. On only 45 square-metres I set up four working areas: a tiny self-constructed desk, the kitchen table, the couch and the most beloved outside table.

Any absolute essentials for your working area?

On my desk you will always find fresh flowers, a bottle of water and tea. I keep it old school with a notebook and a variation of pens. Good lighting and a stable internet connection are an absolute need. 

What are your top tips for staying productive?

Even in times of a lock-down it’s important to stick to routines. The weekly online meetings and calls with my project teams all over the world keep our team spirit and enthusiasm up. I can also recommend to set oneself achievable daily goals as well as exciting long term goals.

How are you keeping your mental cool?

I dance it all away. 

And finally, what's your level of grooming before a video call?

Honestly... when I’m wearing my glasses there is not much more to add but a touch of lipstick once in a while. 

 

QUARANTINE ROUTINE: TIFFANY

Reporting from a happy shared household in Brooklyn, MYKITA’s NYC shop manager keeps the cabin fever in check by keeping her hands busy with ceramics and getting shop-level ready for video calls.

Tiffany wearing STUDIO model STUDIO7.5 (as clear RX)

Where in the world is your home office located and how have you set yourself up?

I’m in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn with two lovely roommates also working from home. The entire apartment is an office now. It’s a good thing we all get along super well! And I do still visit the office once a week to ship consignment orders. 

Any absolute essentials for your working area?

A good cup of coffee and music, namely live-streaming the Lot Radio or archived DJ sets from Nowadays. 

What are your top tips for staying productive?

I structure my day with a self-imposed schedule. I start at the same time I would normally open shop. And leaving the iPhone in the other room helps me stay focused. 

How are you keeping your mental cool?

Long bike rides on sunny days are my saving grace. When it’s gloomy out, it’s gentle yoga in the living room. I also hand-build ceramics at my dining table. Busy hands equal a steady mind.

And finally, what's your level of grooming before a video call?

A full face of makeup and dressed like I’m ready to go into the shop. It’s a bit unnecessary, but it makes me feel more normal. 

 

QUARANTINE ROUTINE: CAROLIN

From the fourth floor in Berlin-Schöneberg, our brand communications coordinator stays sharp and sunny with regular balcony breaks, little daily highlights and quick house clean-ups before video calls.  

Carolin wearing MYKITA MAISON MARGIELA  model MMRAW007

Where in the world is your home office located and how have you set yourself up?

My home office is in my 4th-floor apartment in Berlin-Schöneberg with much light coming into the study. This room didn’t receive so much attention the past months – now I am here every day.

Any absolute essentials for your working area?

A large pot of green tea and my note book to stay organised.

What are your top tips for staying productive?

Writing down my priorities of the day and little breaks on the balcony in between. 

How are you keeping your mental cool?

Positivity and having one highlight every day like baking bread or going for a little tour with the bike – being in nature is always comforting. 

And finally, what's your level of grooming before a video call?

Hide the stuff that is lying around in the apartment ;-)