A Chance Encounter in Zurich

Some of the best things happen when you don't plan them.

During my stay in Zurich, I was having coffee with friends at Monocle Café, one of their favourite spots in the city. Sitting outside was a woman whose style caught my attention. I remember turning to my friends and saying, "I think she'd look great wearing the Region Origins T-Shirt."

Eventually, I decided to introduce myself. Her name was Anne Evard. To my surprise, she was open to the idea of doing a photoshoot. We exchanged details and agreed to meet the following morning by Lake Zurich.

Meeting Anne

The next morning, Anne arrived with an armful of options. Several pairs of shorts. A selection of sunglasses. A summer hat. It turned out she had great timing too. Her parents happened to be visiting Zurich that weekend and were able to look after her seven-year-old daughter while we spent the morning photographing.

Almost immediately, I realised Anne was a natural in front of the camera. She instinctively knew how to move and where to position herself and was constantly suggesting ideas. I eventually asked whether she had modelled before. She laughed and told me she hadn't. Instead, she explained that she was a Pilates instructor and had previously studied fashion design. Suddenly, it all made sense.

By the Lake

Our first location was a grassy bank beneath a beautiful tree overlooking Lake Zurich. Its branches hung low, creating welcome shade on what was already shaping up to be one of the hottest days of the year. Normally the area is full of people, but because we were there early, we had the space almost entirely to ourselves. The photographs immediately started flowing.

From there, we moved to a small wooden jetty stretching into the lake. People relaxed nearby on deckchairs while others prepared for a morning swim. Anne remained completely unfazed. The camera seemed to disappear. Some of my favourite images from the day were captured there.

Stories Between Shots

After filming a few video clips and adjusting my camera settings, we sat down on a nearby bench. What I thought would be a quick technical break became one of the most memorable parts of the morning. Anne told me about her journey into Pilates.

Following the birth of her daughter and a period of significant change in her life, she took a week-long holiday to reflect on what she wanted to do next. On the final night, she had a dream. When she returned home, she decided to follow it. She completed more than 450 hours of professional training and eventually opened her own Pilates studio in Zollikon, just outside Zurich.

Listening to her story, I couldn't help but notice similarities with my own journey. Different industries. Different paths. But the same entrepreneurial spirit. The same desire to build something meaningful.

Finding the Light

Refreshed and inspired, we continued our walk. We photographed around a small water feature with stepping stones crossing the pond. Under the cover of trees, the light softened beautifully. This was where Anne brought out the summer hat she had packed, which unexpectedly became one of the standout styling elements of the entire shoot.

Later, we wandered through Zurich's Chinese Garden. One image in particular remains a favourite: Anne lying in the grass wearing the Region Origins T-Shirt while the brim of her hat covered her face from the sun. Another was captured moments later as she walked through a path lined with trees, tiny pollen particles floating through the air around her. The scene felt almost cinematic.

A Perfect Ending

Our final stop was along the lakeside, where boats rested quietly in the water. The shades of blue from the lake, the sky and the boat covers seemed to perfectly echo the cobalt blue artwork of the Region Origins T-Shirt.

After nearly two hours of shooting, we decided to call it a day. It had been one of the longest and warmest days of the year so far. More importantly, it had been one of those rare creative experiences that reminds you why you love making things in the first place.

What started as a spontaneous conversation over coffee became a memorable collaboration and a collection of beautiful photographs.

A special thank you to Anne Evard for making this spontaneous collaboration such an enjoyable experience. If you’d like to learn more about Anne, her Pilates practice in Zurich, or book a session, visit renew-reform.ch⁠ or follow her on Instagram at @pilatesrenewreform⁠.