The Joy of Joining In

On an autumn evening on the Lower East Side, guests gathered at Nine Orchard, once the Jarmulowsky Bank, built in 1912 and carefully restored for travellers and locals alike. The occasion was The Joy of Joining In: The Gentlewoman and TOAST on Participation with Purpose, a panel discussion devoted to community, creativity and the act of taking part.

Hosted by The Gentlewoman and TOAST, the conversation was led by Editor in Chief Penny Martin, who has held the role since the magazine’s first issue in 2010. Penny guided a conversation with three remarkable women whose work captures the spirit of intentional community-building: Suzie de Rohan Willner, CEO of TOAST; pastry chef and writer Natasha Pickowicz; and Lucy Yu, founder of Yu & Me Books.

The discussion explored participation and purpose through each panellist’s work. Suzie reflected on a decade of leading TOAST, having built a loyal and engaged community through her commitment to longevity, repair, circularity and supporting emerging makers. From TOAST Repair to TOAST Reworn, Suzie emphasised the importance of designing for durability and offering free repairs as a way to honour both the craft and the customer.

Speaking on the purpose that underpins TOAST, Suzie reflected, “I think the world’s changing very quickly. We have a responsibility to the community to help people understand how to enable their garments to last longer. So we design for longevity.” She added, “The colours are muted. You can look at products that were designed 20 years ago that will sit very happily with products designed in the latest collection. After we’ve designed them, we will ask you to come back and repair them in our store. We take great pride in sharing the art of repair with customers.”

Natasha spoke about Never Ending Taste, her community-focused pop-up, recounting the grassroots origins of her fundraising bake sales - initiated in response to political and industry gaps. Her story illustrated how adversity and underrepresentation can spark powerful movements, with thousands of micro-donations and chef collaborations forming a vibrant, values-driven network.

Lucy described the journey of Yu & Me Books: the first bookshop in New York owned by an Asian-American woman, spoke candidly about resilience, grief and healing. Her bookstore, a haven for marginalised voices, became a symbol of community strength, especially after a devastating fire. Lucy’s reflections on vulnerability and slow rebuilding underscored the emotional depth of true connection.

Each speaker brought an object that represented the joy of participation for them. Lucy’s sketchbook embodied personal healing and raw expression. Suzie’s ceramic piece by Viv Lee represented the TOAST New Makers Programme, which uplifts emerging artisans through mentorship and visibility. Natasha’s digital baking scale was all about being precise, feeling confident and making creative cooking more accessible to everyone. Penny’s Adele Tshirt and blanket from previous Gentlewoman events focussed on the value of real-world social interactions and creative collaboration.

Slowness as resistance emerged as a theme throughout the conversation. In a world of accelerating digital demands, the panelists championed slowness, not just in craft, but in thought, care and connection. Whether through baking, reading, or repairing garments, slowness was framed as a radical act of presence and sustainability. Trust and transparency were also central to the discussion. Suzie emphasised the moral responsibility of brands to act with integrity. Natasha and Lucy echoed this, highlighting how transparency and shared values foster trust and loyalty. A recurring insight was how efforts to support others often result in unexpected personal growth. As audience member Jae Choi, founder of The Collective Shift, shared with the audience, “You start with others and end up with yourself.”

The warmly lit room, filled with an audience of 100 guests, drew from The Gentlewoman Club and friends of TOAST including creative professionals and long-time collaborators. From readers and creatives, and cultural leaders, among those in attendance were writer Andrew Gardner, filmmaker Jeannie Sui Wonders, fashion historian Valerie Steele and floral designer Molly Ford.

The evening concluded with audience questions that deepened the conversation around slowness, ethics, and intentional living. One attendee described the experience as “the ultimate luxury” - a rare moment of real-world sociability in an increasingly virtual age.

As Penny Martin noted in closing, the magazine’s events are spaces where readers become collaborators, critics and contributors. This panel was a testament to that ethos: a celebration of thoughtful leadership, creative resilience and the joy of joining in.

Photography by Noa Griffel.