began in early 2024 while I was finishing my master’s degree at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. It started from my  simple frustration with overpacking. When traveling, my friends and I would constantly end up with overweight suitcases and outfits we never wore. On one flight from Los Angeles to New York, things got so bad that we had to completely reorganize our luggage at the check-in counter only to watch shampoo spill over our dresses as we tried to reduce the weight.

To make it through the flight, I layered a sweater under a thick puffer jacket, then topped it with a winter coat. I carried a bag of sneakers in my right hand and a pair of 10 inch boots in my left while sitting in coach for six hours. That day, I swore: never again.

I began reaching out to 30 women from 27 countries who travel up to 15 times a year, asking them about their travel habits and realized it was nearly a universal story among all of us. Eighty percent said packing was the most stressful part of every trip, and almost all admitted to overpacking because well, “just in case.” After all, who doesn’t want options while being away from home?

But to me, both having options and packing light play a huge role in shaping our travel experiences so I refused to choose one over the other.

And that’s where #OnlyTheEssential came in, because I believe that you shouldn’t have to choose, either.

With Love,

Nidya,