“Runways at night and trash dumps during the daytime” is how Justine Pringle Laird ‘91 describes her University of Sunderland days studying Environmental Management and Technology in North East England. The program was ahead of its time and satisfied her need to do something “logical.” That’s the word she uses to describe making choices that are good for the environment. There’s no point in wasting space or energy. And if you’re built for a fashion runway, then you might as well earn your tuition that way.

Talking to Justine is a treat. Her mischievous, infectious giggle makes a speedy appearance and only increases when she describes meeting former classmate Robin Rueffler in Times Square or the new Christmas tradition she’s started with her family. On 23 December, they cover a door with wrapping paper, line the family up from smallest to tallest, turn on Elton John’s Step into Christmas and dance their way through the paper to welcome the holidays.

Danish-South African by birth, Pringle’s parents traveled a lot. When she was ready for high school, her mother was a social worker in rural South Africa, her father was working in Japan, and her older brother was back in Denmark for school. Boarding school offered stability, and LAS was her top choice. It was the late 80s, and unlike the other schools she visited, LAS had a smoking room, a later curfew, pocket money, and no uniforms. 

She recalls her four years in Leysin as beautiful and surreal, like the time she looked out a classroom window and saw an F-16 flying by or the time a cow licked her sandwich on a hiking trip, and she ate it anyway.  Then she and teacher Rita Caver joined a boys-only trip up the Dents du Midi, proving that the climb was not “too tough for ladies.” They kept up until the weather stopped the whole group at the first peak. Her strongest memories from the trip are the particular stink of a room full of sleeping boys.

It’s not surprising Justine’s memories are sensory. She’s a founder of Nunu Chocolate, a New York City chocolate shop included on top-ten lists in the likes of New York magazine and a Bon Appetit 'best of chocolates' list. At Nunu, making delicious-at-first-bite low-mileage chocolates with minimal ingredients is logical.

A lifelong flavor seeker, Justine recalls being 8 or 9 years old and trying all the plants in the garden. When she’d tasted all the plants, she moved on to bugs. As for how that experiment went, you’ll find salted caramel, toasted almond sea salt bark, and even chocolate-covered “hokey pokey” sponge candy at Nunu, but no bugs. 

These days, Brooklyn is the only place Justine can imagine living. It’s where she runs her business, intensely supports South African rugby, watches Danish race car drivers, and reminisces about her time on the Magic Mountain.
 

Written by Christine Taylor '94