The Re: Begin Issue
Editor’s Letter
The Christmas / New Year break is the one time of year when time truly seems to stand still. No one’s emailing you; no one wants to hear from you either. Unlike every other holiday, it feels long - a real pause. Which is why the first day back at my desk in January always feels a bit odd, as though I’ve briefly forgotten how to do my job.
But once the fog lifts, there’s also this familiar rush of optimism - a sense of possibility, of fresh starts, of new beginnings. We’re in this phase right now. So it feels fitting to (re)introduce our newsletter, ‘The Re: View,’ in a new format: here on Substack.
The Re: View has been around for a while; it’s our (Re: Agency) considered take on client news, our chance to spotlight those doing things we admire, and our views on what’s shaping culture, creativity, and the way we live now.
We publish a ‘mother issue’ every two months. From there, the conversation continues throughout the following weeks as we expand on the ideas. Think of it as a slow-burn publication.
So, consider this our invitation to Re: Begin again.
-Emma Harding- Co-Founder, Re: Agency
Re: Begin
As we consider what 2026 means and holds for Re: Agency, we’re going back to what we’re about, our manifesto. Not to change who we are, but to add definition, steer opportunity for growth, and make room for creativity. For us, that meant looking at the words that guide us - what we call our ‘Re: Isms’.
Re: New
If the Year of the Snake (it’s nearly over!) was defined by shedding, recalibration and adaptability (it definitely was!), the Year of the Horse asks a different question entirely: where do we choose to go next?
Moving into 2026 is about Re: Newing (and actioning) what happens after transformation. This is a year of direction. Of energy and action. Watch out!
One of the most interesting Horse paradoxes we’ve heard is: freedom only works when there’s trust, training and alignment. Three principles that feel like the right anchors for the path ahead - and how we choose to Re: New from here.
Re: Connect
If the start of the year brings a sense of possibility, it also brings clarity. Re: Connect is about strengthening what matters - and letting go of what doesn’t. Streamlining, simplifying, and creating space for ideas, relationships and conversations that are worth staying connected to.
In 2026, knowing what to disconnect from feels just as important as knowing what to build. Stronger connections. Less noise. More intention.
We spoke with Alisha Ramos, founder of Downtime, whose perspective has helped sharpen our own mindset for the year ahead: asking what’s worth remaining connected to - and what might finally be ready to fall away.
*Read the full interview soon
Re: Invent
Re: Invent is about accepting that ideas rarely arrive finished. They begin as fragments - loose notes, rough sketches, half-formed thoughts - and gain clarity through experimentation.
The first version doesn’t need to be right. It’s meant to set a direction. Inventing creates the conditions for ideas to develop with intent rather than drift. Without that early framing, even the strongest thinking loses momentum.
*Read the full interview soon
Re: Purpose
Re: Purpose is about intention over excess. Reusing, repairing, and returning to what still works.
Not everything needs replacing or reworking. Don’t fix something that ain’t broke! There’s confidence in what endures - objects maintained rather than discarded, materials with history, rituals that carry through different homes and phases of life.
Meaning doesn’t always come from the new. Often, it comes from recognising what deserves to continue.
Re: Affirm
Re: Affirm is about returning to what we stand for - and reaffirming who we choose to build with.
Each issue, we love to sit down with clients and creatives to reflect. This issue we’re proud to Re: Affirm our 10-years-and-counting partnership (and friendship) with Molly Goddard‑Jeffrey, whose work at Desmond & Dempsey is committed to decorating the downtime, celebrating the quiet joy of Sundays, and making PJs for the busy, not the sleepy. Their belief - that leisure, presence and ritual are as essential as ambition and achievement - resonates deeply with how we think about intentional work and life.
We asked her what she’s reaffirming this year - what traditions, rhythms and values still deserve space in our days - and the answer was a reminder that purpose isn’t always forward motion. Sometimes, you have to luxuriate in doing ‘sweet FA’ in order to allow room for growth.
Here’s a preview of the full conversation coming soon:
