Discussing slow living with artist Freja Edholm Borchies

STILBAAR CHATTED WITH MODEL, ACTRESS AND ACTIVIST FREJA EDHOLM BORCHIES. WHILE PRACTICING ALL OF THESE JOBS, FREYA TRIES TO LEAD A SUSTAINABLE AND VEGAN LIFESTYLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SHE TOLD US ABOUT MINIMAL CONSUMPTION, RAISING KIDS CLOSE TO NATURE AND HOW SLOW LIVING IMPACTS HER ART.

Can you share what sustainability means to you and how you apply it to your daily life?
To me, sustainability centers a lot around taking care of what you have. Trying to not throw food, clothes, furniture or any other things that you can reuse, or giving them to someone else for a new life. I sell or give away what I don’t need any more and buy second hand as much as I can. I believe in not owning more than you need. I always look at the second hand market before buying something new. I love that, it always feels like you made such a good catch rather when you get something from the store and I like the "hunt". I also think it's fun to be creative in you daily life with all different kind of things and not only with your work.

During COVID, you choose to live closer to nature with no electricity or running water, can you tell us about your experience and how it worked for you and your family?
Yes, we moved out to our summer house where we usually move out to around midsummer, and during COVID we moved there in the beginning of April. We started to go there every day when everything got closed down in Sweden. After a month of going back and forth every day we were sick of it, so we moved there. All of us loved it, the kids loved to be in such small space and we loved being so close to nature. It’s a very old place, so the amount of things that needs to be done is just tremendous, so we never had a problem with being bored. It’s also so lovely to work with your body when you go back to how we lived like 100 years ago, keep the fire on all the time and heat water for dishes etc. Also Wim Hof had really became popular so our cold baths every day felt even better. Our youngest had just learned how to walk and you could tell it was a bit rough for her to rumble around in the woods. At the same time, it was lovely for her older sister to be home with us and not at her kindergarten, feeling perhaps a bit far from us being home with her little sister. Sometimes we felt exhausted, but when I look back at it now I only have good memories. During this time, I also started to meditate everyday to keep my self balanced. It really helped not loosing my temper while being around the kids so much.

Does this link to slow living influence your work as a painter, actress and model?
Yes I think I kind of chose that, fast living doesn’t really cooperate with artistic work since everything is a process. But I really love that, sometimes it is fun with a bit of speed too, but most of the time I’m very happy to live like that and don’t want too much more than I actually need.

What is one wish you have for the future?
I want to show my art at Liljevalchs and work as an actress on the big stage on Dramaten. ( Liljevalchs is an art gallery in Stockholm, and Dramaten is the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden)

Could you tell us what are your favorite products from Stilbaar?
I’m really in love with Aiayu cashmere madigan sweater, it’s the softest thing I ever felt and I just wanna live in it. I also use all the product range from Skin Regimen which I really like, their eye creme is wow !