i know i've been lazy at updtaing but in the next few days you'll be able to read a bunch of great interviews and get a look at many photos! I promise.
take best care
Laura
03/07/09
16/04/09
interview with: Stina Persson
I'm so proud to announce i had the chance to interview one of my all time favourite artist/illustrator, i'm talking about Stina Persson. She's a swedish artist who's known for her ability in using watercolors, ink and gouache and creating amazing works of art for popular magazines and brands like Absolut Vodka, Godiva Chocolatier, Bloomingdale’s, UNIQLO, American Eagle Outfitters,DKNY, Nylon Magazine, Vogue Nippon, Elle uk, Squint, etc.
I've been lucky to contact her agency CWC International during a period she wasn't very busy, so she's been kind and nice and answered my questions really quickly and i loved how it all turned out! Hope you'll love it too!
1-Have you ever thought about painting large or doing less commercial work so that you can explore other types of art?
I've been lucky to contact her agency CWC International during a period she wasn't very busy, so she's been kind and nice and answered my questions really quickly and i loved how it all turned out! Hope you'll love it too!
1-Have you ever thought about painting large or doing less commercial work so that you can explore other types of art?
I think about it daily. I would love to work really large scale and experiment in styles and techniques. But the last five years I have getting enough of a challenge,giving birth to three children as well as keeping busy within the commercial field of illustration. Once the youngest is a little bit older, something new and challenging is definitely next in line.
2-I know you love Sicilian culture (you like Enzo Sellerio's photos, you did a series of Sicilian girls for Squint magazine, etc..). Can you explain me why are you so attracted to Sicily?
I lived in Umbria and Tuscany for two years and have been to Italy more times than I can keep track of. So there is an interest in italy, the Italian language, the food etc. And living there you realize that Italy consists of these dramatically varied regions, with their own dialects, cultures and food, even their own pasta shapes. The South is the most messed up, but somehow this mix of saints and sinners, beauty and corruption triggers my imagination. I wish I could have visited before the world got streamlined and globalized. The religious ceremonies, la cucina povera, the old ladies all dressed in all black are always almost gone today- but with inks and paper a recreate my own, glamorized, imaginary Sicilian women and get to know them this way.
I had a show in New York gallery Hanahou in 2007 called Immacolata and her Friends where I portrayed the names rather than real human beings. The names of the South, such as Crocefissa, Addolorata and Immacolata simply needed to have their portraits painted.
3-What were you like as a kid? What did you like to do?
I grew up in Sweden in the 70's. Children's clothing were unisex, toys were simple and creative and kids supposed to roam about. This suited me just fine. I was running around in torn jeans, colorful t-shirts and clogs, when not indoors drawing.
My drawings when little were of almost exclusively of girls with intricate hats, big smiles and colorful dresses. Maybe it hasn't changed all that much.
4-Do you have a favourite brand of watercolours and paper you prefer to use?
I use Dr Ph. Martin's transparent dyes. And I have a penchant for expensive watercolor paper like Arches or Fabriano. As I make a whole bunch of paintings until getting it right, I end up spending a fortune on paper each month.
5-What is your all time favourite piece from your closet?
A red dress I bought 7 years ago in Tokyo's hip neighborhood Nakameguro. It's French, from the sixties with a big zipper in the front. As it's wool it's not for every occasion.
All time favorites are thrift store boots. The one good thing about living in a cold country is that you really have a long "boot-season".
6-You've been an ice cream vendor too (at least that's what i've read). Are you a cakes & sweets person or are you more a salty snacks & crunchy spicy food kind of girl?
I like good food. As long as it isn't meat or processed food it can be either sweet or savory.
7-Do you have vices or little pleasures you can't quit?
I like a glass of red wine, Italian coffee, and chocolate- but in moderation. And I feel it healthier embracing these rather innocent vices rather than quitting them.
8-You have a big love towards your country Sweden; is there any special place that you'd like to recommend to visit over there?
It is a love-hate relationship. Sweden is an odd place with an awfully long and dark winter that is impossible to love. But raising a family in the most equal society on the planet has benefits and makes a lot of sense to me.
Sweden is rather low key when it comes to attractions. It's not New Zealand nor do we have a Grand Canyon. I think some of the Scandinavian people's love of simplicity comes from at an early age appreciating the small things. The spring flowers barely visible, the modest red cottages, the sunny but often chilly summer days.
Going to Sweden I think Stockholm is a pretty city. The island of Öland very beautiful and a good place to go on a bike holiday, the archipelagos of Stockholm and Blekinge are beautiful too. To go trekking in the Swedish north is probably an experience as well, and something I'd like to try myself.
9-I bought a really beautiful illustration book called "the age of feminine drawing" and you're among the artists featured on it. Are you a fan of any of the featured illustrators' work?
I love Tina Berning's work. She is a master of turning commercial work into art.
10-What is your point of view about the world of fashion?
It is a strange place, but aren't most places?
I like the beautiful things, the pretty patterns and the creative people. But the sad, anorexic girls, the snobbsim and the conglomerate fashion houses I can do without.
to have a look at Stina's amazing work please visit her website, or contact her agency CWC
all images are courtensy of Stina Persson and Cwc International
italian translation:
1-Hai mai pensato di dipingere grandi tele o comunque di occuparti di meno lavori commerciali in modo da poter esplorare differenti generi artistici?
Ci penso ogni giorno. Vorrei dipingere in larga scala e sperimentare con gli stili e le tecniche. Ma negli ultimi 5 anni non è stato facile, ho avuto 3 figli e sono anche stata occupata con lavori d'illustrazione commerciali. Quando il figlio minore sarà un po' più grande, la prima cosa sulla mia lista sarà di certo occuparmi di qualcosa di nuovo e stimolante.
2-So che apprezzi la cultura siciliana (ami le foto di Enzo Sellerio, hai realizzato una serie di ritratti di donne siciliane per il giornale Squint, ecc) . Puoi spiegarmi perchè sei così attratta dalla Sicilia?
Ho vissuto in Umbria e Toscana per 2 anni e sono stata in Italia talmente tante volte che ho perso il conto. Quindi c'è un interesse nell'Italia, nella lingua, nel cibo, ecc. E vivendo là ti rendi conto della netta diversità tra le varie regioni in cui è divisa, ognuna col suo proprio dialetto, cultura e specialità culinarie, perfino la propria forma di pasta. Il sud è il più controverso, ma comunque questo mix di santi e peccatori, bellezza e corruzione stuzzica la mia immaginazione. Avrei voluto visitarlo prima che il mondo si globalizzasse. Le cerimonie religiose, la cucina povera, le vecchie signore vestite di nero so oggi quasi sparite, ma con l'inchiostro io posso ricreare le mie immaginarie donne siciliane glamour, e conoscerle in questo modo. Ho fatto una mostra a New York alla galleria Hanahou nel 20007 e s'intitolava "immacolata e le sue amiche" in cui esponevo i ritratti dei nomi invece che di esseri umani. I nomi del sud come Crocefissa, Addolorata e Immacolata dovevano semplicemente avere i loro ritartti realizzati.
3-Com'eri da ragazzina? Cosa ti piaceva fare?
Sono cresciuta in Svezia negli anni '70. Gli abiti per bambini erano unisex e i giocattoli erano semplici e creativi e i ragazzini dovevano solo scorrazzare in giro. Questo mi si addiceva a perfezione. Correvo in giro in jeans sdruciti, magliette colorate e zoccoli, quando non stavo al chiuso a disegnare. I miei disegni da ragazzina erano quasi esclusivamene di ragazze con cappelli complicati, grandi sorrisi e abiti variopinti. Credo che non sia poi cambiato molto da allora.
4-Hai una marca particolare di acquerelli e carta che preferisci usare?
Uso i coloranti trasparenti della marca Dr Ph.Martin. E ho una debolezza per le carte costose per acquerelli come Archies o Fabriano. Poichè faccio un sacco di prove dipinte prima di azzeccare quella giusta, finisco sempre per spendere una fortuna in carta ogni mese.
5-Qual'è il tuo capo preferito di sempre del tuo armadio?
Un abito rosso che ho comprato 7 anni fa comprato nel quartiere hip di Tokyo chiamato Nakameguro. E' francese, degli anni '60, con una grossa zip sul centro davanti. Poichè è di lana non è per tutte le occasioni.Altro pezzo preferito di sempre sono gli stivali dei negozi dell'usato. La cosa bella del vivere in un paese freddo è che si ha una lunga "stagione per gli stivali".
6-So che sei anche stata una gelataia (almeno è ciò che ho letto). Sei più una persona da dolci e torte o una da snack salati e cibi sfiziosi croccanti?
Mi piace il cibo. Che si tratti di carne o cibo impacchettato sia dolce che salato.
7-Hai dei vizi o dei piccoli piaceri di cui non puoi fare a meno?
Apprezzo un bicchiere di vino rosso, caffè Italiano o cioccolata, ma con moderazione. E trovo sia più salutare soddisfare questi piccoli piaceri piuttosto che farne a meno.
8-Sei molto legata al tuo paese la Svezia. C'è nessun posto speciale che vorresti consigliare da visitare là?
E' un rapporto d'amore e odio. La Svezia è un paese particolare con un lungo e buio inverno che è difficile amare. Ma far crescere una famiglia nella società più equa del pianeta ha dei benefici e per me ha un valore. La Svezia è più modesta per quel che riguarda le attrazioni da visitare. Non siamo la Nuova Zelanda e non abbiamo un Grand Canyon. Credo che l'amore degli Scandinavi per la semplicità derivi dall'abitudine all'apprezzare le piccole cose fin da piccoli. I fiori della primavera appena visibili, le modeste casette dai tetti rossi, gli assolati ma freschi giorni d'estate. Andando in Svezia credo che Stoccolma sia una bella città. L'isola di Oland è molto bella ed è perfettta per una vacanza in bici, anche gli arcipelaghi di Stoccolam e Blekinge sono molto belli. Andare a fare trekking nel nord della Svezia è sicuramente una bella esperienza, e qualcosa che mi piacerebbe provare in prima persona.
9-Ho comprato uno splendido libro d'illustrazione intitolato "the age of feminine drawing" e tu sei tra gli artisti trattati. C'è qualcuno tra gli altri artisti del libro di cui sei ammiratrice? Adoro il lavoro di Tina Berning. E' una maestra del trasformare il lavoro commerciale in arte.
10-Qual'è il tuo punto di vista riguardo il mondo della moda?
E' un posto strano, ma non lo sono la maggior parte dei posti in fondo?! Mi piacciono le cose belle, le stampe carine e le persone creative. Ma le ragazze tristi, anoressiche, lo snobbismo e il conglomerato di case di moda sono cose di cui posso fare benissimo a meno.
2-I know you love Sicilian culture (you like Enzo Sellerio's photos, you did a series of Sicilian girls for Squint magazine, etc..). Can you explain me why are you so attracted to Sicily?
I lived in Umbria and Tuscany for two years and have been to Italy more times than I can keep track of. So there is an interest in italy, the Italian language, the food etc. And living there you realize that Italy consists of these dramatically varied regions, with their own dialects, cultures and food, even their own pasta shapes. The South is the most messed up, but somehow this mix of saints and sinners, beauty and corruption triggers my imagination. I wish I could have visited before the world got streamlined and globalized. The religious ceremonies, la cucina povera, the old ladies all dressed in all black are always almost gone today- but with inks and paper a recreate my own, glamorized, imaginary Sicilian women and get to know them this way.
I had a show in New York gallery Hanahou in 2007 called Immacolata and her Friends where I portrayed the names rather than real human beings. The names of the South, such as Crocefissa, Addolorata and Immacolata simply needed to have their portraits painted.
3-What were you like as a kid? What did you like to do?I grew up in Sweden in the 70's. Children's clothing were unisex, toys were simple and creative and kids supposed to roam about. This suited me just fine. I was running around in torn jeans, colorful t-shirts and clogs, when not indoors drawing.
My drawings when little were of almost exclusively of girls with intricate hats, big smiles and colorful dresses. Maybe it hasn't changed all that much.
4-Do you have a favourite brand of watercolours and paper you prefer to use?I use Dr Ph. Martin's transparent dyes. And I have a penchant for expensive watercolor paper like Arches or Fabriano. As I make a whole bunch of paintings until getting it right, I end up spending a fortune on paper each month.
5-What is your all time favourite piece from your closet?A red dress I bought 7 years ago in Tokyo's hip neighborhood Nakameguro. It's French, from the sixties with a big zipper in the front. As it's wool it's not for every occasion.
All time favorites are thrift store boots. The one good thing about living in a cold country is that you really have a long "boot-season".
6-You've been an ice cream vendor too (at least that's what i've read). Are you a cakes & sweets person or are you more a salty snacks & crunchy spicy food kind of girl?
I like good food. As long as it isn't meat or processed food it can be either sweet or savory.
7-Do you have vices or little pleasures you can't quit?I like a glass of red wine, Italian coffee, and chocolate- but in moderation. And I feel it healthier embracing these rather innocent vices rather than quitting them.
8-You have a big love towards your country Sweden; is there any special place that you'd like to recommend to visit over there?
It is a love-hate relationship. Sweden is an odd place with an awfully long and dark winter that is impossible to love. But raising a family in the most equal society on the planet has benefits and makes a lot of sense to me.
Sweden is rather low key when it comes to attractions. It's not New Zealand nor do we have a Grand Canyon. I think some of the Scandinavian people's love of simplicity comes from at an early age appreciating the small things. The spring flowers barely visible, the modest red cottages, the sunny but often chilly summer days.
Going to Sweden I think Stockholm is a pretty city. The island of Öland very beautiful and a good place to go on a bike holiday, the archipelagos of Stockholm and Blekinge are beautiful too. To go trekking in the Swedish north is probably an experience as well, and something I'd like to try myself.
9-I bought a really beautiful illustration book called "the age of feminine drawing" and you're among the artists featured on it. Are you a fan of any of the featured illustrators' work?I love Tina Berning's work. She is a master of turning commercial work into art.
10-What is your point of view about the world of fashion?
It is a strange place, but aren't most places?
I like the beautiful things, the pretty patterns and the creative people. But the sad, anorexic girls, the snobbsim and the conglomerate fashion houses I can do without.
to have a look at Stina's amazing work please visit her website, or contact her agency CWC
all images are courtensy of Stina Persson and Cwc International
italian translation:
1-Hai mai pensato di dipingere grandi tele o comunque di occuparti di meno lavori commerciali in modo da poter esplorare differenti generi artistici?
Ci penso ogni giorno. Vorrei dipingere in larga scala e sperimentare con gli stili e le tecniche. Ma negli ultimi 5 anni non è stato facile, ho avuto 3 figli e sono anche stata occupata con lavori d'illustrazione commerciali. Quando il figlio minore sarà un po' più grande, la prima cosa sulla mia lista sarà di certo occuparmi di qualcosa di nuovo e stimolante.
2-So che apprezzi la cultura siciliana (ami le foto di Enzo Sellerio, hai realizzato una serie di ritratti di donne siciliane per il giornale Squint, ecc) . Puoi spiegarmi perchè sei così attratta dalla Sicilia?
Ho vissuto in Umbria e Toscana per 2 anni e sono stata in Italia talmente tante volte che ho perso il conto. Quindi c'è un interesse nell'Italia, nella lingua, nel cibo, ecc. E vivendo là ti rendi conto della netta diversità tra le varie regioni in cui è divisa, ognuna col suo proprio dialetto, cultura e specialità culinarie, perfino la propria forma di pasta. Il sud è il più controverso, ma comunque questo mix di santi e peccatori, bellezza e corruzione stuzzica la mia immaginazione. Avrei voluto visitarlo prima che il mondo si globalizzasse. Le cerimonie religiose, la cucina povera, le vecchie signore vestite di nero so oggi quasi sparite, ma con l'inchiostro io posso ricreare le mie immaginarie donne siciliane glamour, e conoscerle in questo modo. Ho fatto una mostra a New York alla galleria Hanahou nel 20007 e s'intitolava "immacolata e le sue amiche" in cui esponevo i ritratti dei nomi invece che di esseri umani. I nomi del sud come Crocefissa, Addolorata e Immacolata dovevano semplicemente avere i loro ritartti realizzati.
3-Com'eri da ragazzina? Cosa ti piaceva fare?
Sono cresciuta in Svezia negli anni '70. Gli abiti per bambini erano unisex e i giocattoli erano semplici e creativi e i ragazzini dovevano solo scorrazzare in giro. Questo mi si addiceva a perfezione. Correvo in giro in jeans sdruciti, magliette colorate e zoccoli, quando non stavo al chiuso a disegnare. I miei disegni da ragazzina erano quasi esclusivamene di ragazze con cappelli complicati, grandi sorrisi e abiti variopinti. Credo che non sia poi cambiato molto da allora.
4-Hai una marca particolare di acquerelli e carta che preferisci usare?
Uso i coloranti trasparenti della marca Dr Ph.Martin. E ho una debolezza per le carte costose per acquerelli come Archies o Fabriano. Poichè faccio un sacco di prove dipinte prima di azzeccare quella giusta, finisco sempre per spendere una fortuna in carta ogni mese.
5-Qual'è il tuo capo preferito di sempre del tuo armadio?
Un abito rosso che ho comprato 7 anni fa comprato nel quartiere hip di Tokyo chiamato Nakameguro. E' francese, degli anni '60, con una grossa zip sul centro davanti. Poichè è di lana non è per tutte le occasioni.Altro pezzo preferito di sempre sono gli stivali dei negozi dell'usato. La cosa bella del vivere in un paese freddo è che si ha una lunga "stagione per gli stivali".
6-So che sei anche stata una gelataia (almeno è ciò che ho letto). Sei più una persona da dolci e torte o una da snack salati e cibi sfiziosi croccanti?
Mi piace il cibo. Che si tratti di carne o cibo impacchettato sia dolce che salato.
7-Hai dei vizi o dei piccoli piaceri di cui non puoi fare a meno?
Apprezzo un bicchiere di vino rosso, caffè Italiano o cioccolata, ma con moderazione. E trovo sia più salutare soddisfare questi piccoli piaceri piuttosto che farne a meno.
8-Sei molto legata al tuo paese la Svezia. C'è nessun posto speciale che vorresti consigliare da visitare là?
E' un rapporto d'amore e odio. La Svezia è un paese particolare con un lungo e buio inverno che è difficile amare. Ma far crescere una famiglia nella società più equa del pianeta ha dei benefici e per me ha un valore. La Svezia è più modesta per quel che riguarda le attrazioni da visitare. Non siamo la Nuova Zelanda e non abbiamo un Grand Canyon. Credo che l'amore degli Scandinavi per la semplicità derivi dall'abitudine all'apprezzare le piccole cose fin da piccoli. I fiori della primavera appena visibili, le modeste casette dai tetti rossi, gli assolati ma freschi giorni d'estate. Andando in Svezia credo che Stoccolma sia una bella città. L'isola di Oland è molto bella ed è perfettta per una vacanza in bici, anche gli arcipelaghi di Stoccolam e Blekinge sono molto belli. Andare a fare trekking nel nord della Svezia è sicuramente una bella esperienza, e qualcosa che mi piacerebbe provare in prima persona.
9-Ho comprato uno splendido libro d'illustrazione intitolato "the age of feminine drawing" e tu sei tra gli artisti trattati. C'è qualcuno tra gli altri artisti del libro di cui sei ammiratrice? Adoro il lavoro di Tina Berning. E' una maestra del trasformare il lavoro commerciale in arte.
10-Qual'è il tuo punto di vista riguardo il mondo della moda?
E' un posto strano, ma non lo sono la maggior parte dei posti in fondo?! Mi piacciono le cose belle, le stampe carine e le persone creative. Ma le ragazze tristi, anoressiche, lo snobbismo e il conglomerato di case di moda sono cose di cui posso fare benissimo a meno.
07/04/09
Interview with: La Zia Epi
Here's an example of a young fashion designer who's been brave enough to start her own project by herself and is now getting positive reviews and earning always new costumers, just by showing her works on th einternet. Her name is Giulia, she's 30 and she creates beautiful girly and funny pieces perfect for extra-ordinary girls under the brand named La Zia Epi. We had a talk about her project and her life and here's the result:
1-First of all, what kind of studies did you do to become a fashion designer?And why have you decided to approach to creating clothes?
I've studied at the art school P.Toschi in Parma, after i got the diploma i moved to Milan where i studied how to create Tiffany glass art and i got another degree....my dream still was the same....fashion! So i enrolled at the IED institute, obviously following the fashion design classes. After that i worked for certain companies (like Blumarine, where i was in charge of drawing the young line Blugirl)...anyway, after a little bit of experience and getting close to go nuts (if you're not a little mean and bitchy that kind of environment can suck away everything from you) i decided that what i really wanted to do was creating something that was only mine!
Absolutely!!!I really like alll the art forms in general....especially photography! I could name Tim Walker as favourite photographer, Yoshitomo Nara as favourite artista, Sofia Coppola as favourite director and Bjork as favourite singer.
3-Do you have any piece you're more attached to among those in your closet?And why?
As a shoemaker that always has holes in his shoes, whenever i open my closet i always think i have nothing to wear! I don't have a particular piece i love....i have too many! I'd say the things i love the most and that i wear the most are the dresses....you can mix them with other pieces and they're comfortable and very cute!
4-Do you have any interesting website/blog or even artists you'd like to recommend?
I often have a look at The Sartorialist, Garance Dorè, ecc. I like interior design blogs and websites very much! Talking about artists i must say i love japanese ones!Besides Yoshitomo Nara, who i already mentioned above, i admire Aya takano too.
5-Was it hard to convince shops to sell your clothes?
Actually it wasn't very hard, some of them contacted me first....thanks to my stuff they saw on the internet (what a great invention!!).
6-In which shops can we find your clothing line?
You can find my clothes at "Monetina" in Piacenza, "Independent Room" in Rome, "Juna" in Catania and obviously at my studio in Fiorenzuola, nearby Piacenza.
7-How do you consider your hometown Piacenza from a creative point of view?
No comment....i'm joking, but honestly i don't know how to answer. There's a lot of willpower among us young people to make something new, to create; there's no doubt there is...it's probably my town that is not ready yet ...
8-Which ones are the places (in Italy or even abroad) that make you feel better than ever?
Paris and my laboratory.
9-What is it that you like the most about creating clothes?Drawing, sewing, pattern making, looking for the right fabrics.....?
One of the things i like the most is embroidery, to make the dress richer and cuter...also looking for fabrics is nice ...i guess at the end i like almost doing everything!
If you're interested in contacting her to know more about her collections please visit her myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/laziaepi
or email her at ziaepi@yahoo.it
all photos courtesy of Marco Bottelli
Italian translation:
1-Innanzitutto dimmi che formazione scolastica hai e come mai ti sei accostata alla creazione di capi.
1-First of all, what kind of studies did you do to become a fashion designer?And why have you decided to approach to creating clothes?I've studied at the art school P.Toschi in Parma, after i got the diploma i moved to Milan where i studied how to create Tiffany glass art and i got another degree....my dream still was the same....fashion! So i enrolled at the IED institute, obviously following the fashion design classes. After that i worked for certain companies (like Blumarine, where i was in charge of drawing the young line Blugirl)...anyway, after a little bit of experience and getting close to go nuts (if you're not a little mean and bitchy that kind of environment can suck away everything from you) i decided that what i really wanted to do was creating something that was only mine!
And that is when La Zia Epi project started (the name was given to me by my best friend as a nickname. One day she just started calling me Zia Epi all of a sudden....from that moment everyone started to call me like that).
2-Are there any other art forms that you're into besides fashion?Absolutely!!!I really like alll the art forms in general....especially photography! I could name Tim Walker as favourite photographer, Yoshitomo Nara as favourite artista, Sofia Coppola as favourite director and Bjork as favourite singer.
3-Do you have any piece you're more attached to among those in your closet?And why?
As a shoemaker that always has holes in his shoes, whenever i open my closet i always think i have nothing to wear! I don't have a particular piece i love....i have too many! I'd say the things i love the most and that i wear the most are the dresses....you can mix them with other pieces and they're comfortable and very cute!
4-Do you have any interesting website/blog or even artists you'd like to recommend?
I often have a look at The Sartorialist, Garance Dorè, ecc. I like interior design blogs and websites very much! Talking about artists i must say i love japanese ones!Besides Yoshitomo Nara, who i already mentioned above, i admire Aya takano too.
5-Was it hard to convince shops to sell your clothes?
Actually it wasn't very hard, some of them contacted me first....thanks to my stuff they saw on the internet (what a great invention!!).
6-In which shops can we find your clothing line?
You can find my clothes at "Monetina" in Piacenza, "Independent Room" in Rome, "Juna" in Catania and obviously at my studio in Fiorenzuola, nearby Piacenza.
7-How do you consider your hometown Piacenza from a creative point of view?
No comment....i'm joking, but honestly i don't know how to answer. There's a lot of willpower among us young people to make something new, to create; there's no doubt there is...it's probably my town that is not ready yet ...
8-Which ones are the places (in Italy or even abroad) that make you feel better than ever?
Paris and my laboratory.
9-What is it that you like the most about creating clothes?Drawing, sewing, pattern making, looking for the right fabrics.....?
One of the things i like the most is embroidery, to make the dress richer and cuter...also looking for fabrics is nice ...i guess at the end i like almost doing everything!
If you're interested in contacting her to know more about her collections please visit her myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/laziaepi
or email her at ziaepi@yahoo.it
all photos courtesy of Marco Bottelli
Italian translation:
1-Innanzitutto dimmi che formazione scolastica hai e come mai ti sei accostata alla creazione di capi.
Ho studiato a Parma alla scuola d'arte P.Toschi, dopo il diploma mi sono spostata a Milano dove per un anno ho studiato "invetriatura tiffany"..(e mi sono diplomata).. il mio sogno rimaneva comunque sempre il solito.. la moda!
Così mi sono iscritta allo IED di Milano,ovviamente dipartimento moda.
Dopo la scuola ho lavorato presso alcune aziende (tra la quali Blumarine,dove mi occupavo della linea giovane Blugirl)..insomma dopo un po'di esperienza (e detto tra noi) essere vicina alla "pazzia"(se non sei un po'cattiva e stronza quell'ambiente ti succhia tutto!)...ho deciso che veramente quello che m'interessava fare..era qualcosa che fosse solo mio!
Da qui nasce l'idea "La Zia Epi"...(il nome è un nome di "affetto"..allo IED la mia migliore amica così dal nulla un giorno ha iniziato a chiamarmi Zia Epi...da lì tutti hanno iniziato a chiamarmi Zia..)
2-Ci sono altre forme d'arte che ti appassionano a parte la moda?
Assolutamente si!!! Mi piacciono molto in generale tutte le espressioni artistiche...in particolare la fotografia!! Potrei dirti come fotografo Tim Walker, come artista Yoshitomo Nara, come regista Sofia Coppola e come cantante Bjork.
Assolutamente si!!! Mi piacciono molto in generale tutte le espressioni artistiche...in particolare la fotografia!! Potrei dirti come fotografo Tim Walker, come artista Yoshitomo Nara, come regista Sofia Coppola e come cantante Bjork.
-3 Ci sono dei capi in particolare ai quali sei più legata tra quelli nel tuo armadio? per quali motivi?
come il calzolaio che ha le scarpe bucate..io quando apro l'armadio.. (o gli armadi!!) penso sempre che non ho niente da mettermi! Non ho un capo in particolare..ne ho troppi! Direi che la cosa che preferisco e che indosso spesso sono gli abitini..li puoi abbinare con tutto,sono comodi e soprattutto molto carini!
come il calzolaio che ha le scarpe bucate..io quando apro l'armadio.. (o gli armadi!!) penso sempre che non ho niente da mettermi! Non ho un capo in particolare..ne ho troppi! Direi che la cosa che preferisco e che indosso spesso sono gli abitini..li puoi abbinare con tutto,sono comodi e soprattutto molto carini!
-4 Hai dei blog/siti interessanti che ci vorresti segnalare o qualche artista da consigliarci?
Guardo spesso the Sartorialist,Garance dore'ecc. Mi piacciono tantissimo quelli di interior design! Come artisti devo dire che i miei prefereriti sono quelli giapponesi! Oltre al sopracitato Yoshitomo Nara anche Aya Takano...
Guardo spesso the Sartorialist,Garance dore'ecc. Mi piacciono tantissimo quelli di interior design! Come artisti devo dire che i miei prefereriti sono quelli giapponesi! Oltre al sopracitato Yoshitomo Nara anche Aya Takano...
-5 E' stato facile convincere i vari negozianti a vendere i tuoi capi nei loro negozi?
In effetti non e'stato molto difficile,alcuni addirittura mi hanno contattata loro..grazie alla visibilita'su internet (che grande invenzione!!)
In effetti non e'stato molto difficile,alcuni addirittura mi hanno contattata loro..grazie alla visibilita'su internet (che grande invenzione!!)
-6 In quali negozi è possibile trovare la tua collezione?
Da Monetina a Piacenza, da Independent Room a Roma, da Juna a Catania e naturalmente nel mio laboratorio a Fiorenzuola (PC).
-7 Come vedi la tua città, Piacenza, dal punto di vista creativo?
N.P. (non pervenuto).. ih ih scherzo, però sinceramente non saprei cosa risponderti..la voglia di noi "giovani"(passami questo termine!) di fare qualcosa di nuovo,di creare..indubbiamente c'è..è la città forse che ancora non è pronta..
Da Monetina a Piacenza, da Independent Room a Roma, da Juna a Catania e naturalmente nel mio laboratorio a Fiorenzuola (PC).
-7 Come vedi la tua città, Piacenza, dal punto di vista creativo?
N.P. (non pervenuto).. ih ih scherzo, però sinceramente non saprei cosa risponderti..la voglia di noi "giovani"(passami questo termine!) di fare qualcosa di nuovo,di creare..indubbiamente c'è..è la città forse che ancora non è pronta..
-8 Quali sono i luoghi (sia in Italia che all'estero) che in assoluto ti fanno stare meglio? PARIGI. (e il mio laboratorio!) -9 Cos'è che ami di più fare per quel che riguarda il creare abiti? Disegnare, cucire, fare cartamodelli, cercare i tessuti giusti..? Una delle cose che mi piacciono di più è sicuramente ricamare, impreziosire l'abito...anche ricercare i tessuti...alla fine mi piace quasi tutto.
19/03/09
interview with: Mia Vilardo
Oh, this is one of those rare post about a real good friend of mine. We've been knowing for 6 years now and were in the same class at Fashion school and gradually became super good friends. Now she's an intern at Marc Jacobs in New York and i thought it'd be a good idea asking her a few things about this experience and about her and her passions too. She's tiny, lovely and really generous. Please welcome Miss Mia Vilardo!!!
1- When did you first decided to study fashion design and why?
I became sure about taking this road almost in the middle of the last year of fashion school, because I was very undecided about what artistic field i wanted to be part of, to be exact I was very undecided between being a stylist and advertising illustrator, then I realized that perhaps this training would have been the best one
2- Which designer do you love the most and why?
That seem so trivial as i am currently working for him, but among my favorites there is with no doubt Marc Jacobs for his being always one step beyond, his ability to mix the perfect fabrics, unique prints and cuts, then Marni for the simple palette of colors and prints but very well detailed shapes and cuts .... not to mention the accessories and jewelry, unique and dreamy! Marras for having never abbandoned the traditions and culture of his land, without ever being trivial and repetitive , that is a goal I try to set in my collections too, maybe because i was born on an island as well, but of course fashion is wide and changing and there are designers of the past that for me are unforgettable like Coco Chanel and other present ones that equally have been able to leave their mark in history, like Vivienne Westwood.
3- Besides fashion, which i know you love so much, do you have other interests and passions?
Needless to say the music, which for me is a great source of inspiration in every moment and also a refuge in times of relaxation ... in short, my companion for life. Also over the past two years, thanks to friends photographers, I'm always more interested in the world of photography, looking, studying and participating actively as a stylist and as a model.
4-Which blogs or website do you like to check while surfing on internet?
Mmmm .... photo-sites like deviant art and flickr, but also many sites of various designers mainly young and unknown ones, but the thing I love the most is browsing through the various blogs, I think bloggers are very interesting and a great source of inspiration ...
5- I know you're particularly good at making hats, can you tell how you started doing it?
Well thanks .... it's very simple, I love seeing women as something unique ... nowadays, unfortunately, women have forgotten how fortunate they are to be able to change their clothes often and always look beautiful (like the photographs of the 30s and 40s, that leave us speachless) and so they tend to always dress in jeans and sneakers, instead always having the right accessory makes you feel special and always beautiful anywhere you are ... so, which accessory is never going to be put under something else because it is up on our heads ?!... It's really exciting for me to create these items, when I start creating one i can't stop and i feel the need of working on another one straight away. :P
6- You're now doing an internship for Marc Jacobs in New York, can you tell me which are the positive and the negative things about working for such a big brand?
When I arrived here I was a little afraid of the idea of the huge company where the interns are considered less than nothing, but the environment that I found was really different instead .This company is very well organized, and the atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly, so that everyone has his own responsabilities but there is always a helping hand from others ... of course working for such an important name has a certain weight on your resume, you have the chance to live unique experiences such as the Fashion show, or see the shooting and fittings, the various tests and many other stuff ... the only negative note is that usually in companies as big as this one it is difficult to get the "creative space" you need because there's already a consolidated and solid team, and being hired, especially at a time like this, it is almost a mirage.
7- Which big future plans do you have?
I don't usually am the kind of person who plans too much and now I only think about growing my personal experience, maybe for a couple of years; move, change and travel in order to be able to better assess the various styles that i can choose among ... I hope one day I'll be able to stop and why not .... be able to have my creations displayed on a catwalk ...
Mia runs her own italian blog on the internet and she tells us about her life in the Big Apple as a young italian designer/intern as long as talking about the shops and bars she likes, you can have a look at it by going here. She'll be back in Italy in april and i can't wait to meet her 'cause i'm curious to hear everything she's experienced while in ny. In one of my next posts i'll post many more pictures of Mia's hats so that you can know better how talented she is.
1- When did you first decided to study fashion design and why?I became sure about taking this road almost in the middle of the last year of fashion school, because I was very undecided about what artistic field i wanted to be part of, to be exact I was very undecided between being a stylist and advertising illustrator, then I realized that perhaps this training would have been the best one
2- Which designer do you love the most and why?
That seem so trivial as i am currently working for him, but among my favorites there is with no doubt Marc Jacobs for his being always one step beyond, his ability to mix the perfect fabrics, unique prints and cuts, then Marni for the simple palette of colors and prints but very well detailed shapes and cuts .... not to mention the accessories and jewelry, unique and dreamy! Marras for having never abbandoned the traditions and culture of his land, without ever being trivial and repetitive , that is a goal I try to set in my collections too, maybe because i was born on an island as well, but of course fashion is wide and changing and there are designers of the past that for me are unforgettable like Coco Chanel and other present ones that equally have been able to leave their mark in history, like Vivienne Westwood.
3- Besides fashion, which i know you love so much, do you have other interests and passions?
Needless to say the music, which for me is a great source of inspiration in every moment and also a refuge in times of relaxation ... in short, my companion for life. Also over the past two years, thanks to friends photographers, I'm always more interested in the world of photography, looking, studying and participating actively as a stylist and as a model.
4-Which blogs or website do you like to check while surfing on internet?
Mmmm .... photo-sites like deviant art and flickr, but also many sites of various designers mainly young and unknown ones, but the thing I love the most is browsing through the various blogs, I think bloggers are very interesting and a great source of inspiration ...
5- I know you're particularly good at making hats, can you tell how you started doing it?
Well thanks .... it's very simple, I love seeing women as something unique ... nowadays, unfortunately, women have forgotten how fortunate they are to be able to change their clothes often and always look beautiful (like the photographs of the 30s and 40s, that leave us speachless) and so they tend to always dress in jeans and sneakers, instead always having the right accessory makes you feel special and always beautiful anywhere you are ... so, which accessory is never going to be put under something else because it is up on our heads ?!... It's really exciting for me to create these items, when I start creating one i can't stop and i feel the need of working on another one straight away. :P
6- You're now doing an internship for Marc Jacobs in New York, can you tell me which are the positive and the negative things about working for such a big brand?
When I arrived here I was a little afraid of the idea of the huge company where the interns are considered less than nothing, but the environment that I found was really different instead .This company is very well organized, and the atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly, so that everyone has his own responsabilities but there is always a helping hand from others ... of course working for such an important name has a certain weight on your resume, you have the chance to live unique experiences such as the Fashion show, or see the shooting and fittings, the various tests and many other stuff ... the only negative note is that usually in companies as big as this one it is difficult to get the "creative space" you need because there's already a consolidated and solid team, and being hired, especially at a time like this, it is almost a mirage.
7- Which big future plans do you have?
I don't usually am the kind of person who plans too much and now I only think about growing my personal experience, maybe for a couple of years; move, change and travel in order to be able to better assess the various styles that i can choose among ... I hope one day I'll be able to stop and why not .... be able to have my creations displayed on a catwalk ...
Mia runs her own italian blog on the internet and she tells us about her life in the Big Apple as a young italian designer/intern as long as talking about the shops and bars she likes, you can have a look at it by going here. She'll be back in Italy in april and i can't wait to meet her 'cause i'm curious to hear everything she's experienced while in ny. In one of my next posts i'll post many more pictures of Mia's hats so that you can know better how talented she is.
15/03/09
polyvore suggestion
As every fashion interested person, during lazy sundays, i like to play around with polyvore...wondering about owning every single piece i use in my sets...i know it's just fantasy but it cheers me up sometimes. So here's a Polyvore suggestion for a super chic stroll around Le Marais in Paris, waiting to meet up with a couple of friends for a glass of white wine.
sunday afternoon chic - by Loopie on Polyvore.com
sunday afternoon chic - by Loopie on Polyvore.com
14/03/09
crazy/beautiful things from the fw2009 collections
During these last fashion shows i've seen amazing stuff, from shoes to crazy hats, from unbelievable bags to tricky jackets. Now it's time to show you some of my favourite ones, most of them are really unusual, crazy and absolutely great!!!
louis vuitton
chanel
comme des garcons
marc jacobs
louis vuitton
chanel
comme des garcons
14/02/09
Interview with: Polly Balitro
Today i'm going to have a chat with a young and lovely photographer who's already well known among the Flickr members: Polly Balitro. She creates magical and wonderful photos experimenting with polaroids and films in her darkroom. I've always thought she has a certain scandinavian taste when it comes to aesthetics mixed with a love for fairytales and cold colours. Anyway, here's what she told me and i must admit this has been one of the most interesting interviews i've done so far!Enjoy!
1-So, first of all i'd like to know who are you, where are you from and how you started being interested in photography.
8-i'm a big fan of snail mail too, i used to have lots of penpals a few years ago, now i just have 3 really good one...how did you start being into penpalling?
I wrote my first letters to a friend from Rome that i met when i was 14 or so. But i started enjoying writing a few years later, when a friend of a friend, from Canada, started to contact me, first through the web, the, out of nowhere, through a letter, which made me very happy. I still write to Frances: she's an extraordinary girl and when i get her letters i am always on top of the world; I haven't met her in person yet, but when i will i am sure it's going to be awesome: I just have to find the way to go to Canada or so.
9-Do you have any blogs or website you'd like to recommend?
I usually surf the web quite a lot and there's always something new i discover, especially through myspace and Flickr. Lately i've fallen in love with the work of Clara Kindle, it inspires me quite much: http://honeystomach.com
if you're interested in contacting her or even only getting a look at her amazing photos please pay a visit to her Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_for_arts_sake/
or her website: http://www.pollybalitro.com
1-So, first of all i'd like to know who are you, where are you from and how you started being interested in photography.When somebody asks me who am I, I always find it quite hard to answer in just a few lines. Let's stick to the fact that everybody knows me as Polly, 21-year-old girl going for 22 (already!), a bit of a weirdo, but in a nice way. I come from a very small town, between the italian alps, called Piussogno (you wouldn't even find it on a map): there's nothing funny about it, but the name. One good thing about living in small places is that, as soon as you feel grown up enough, you have a choice to make: you can either keep on living with your parents, get a diploma or so, get a job and live the same life with the same people you've been knowing since you were a kid; OR you can decide to move on - in other words, to travel ( and I mean travel with an open mind!). I've always been a lucky girl: my parents have always challenged me enough to go further, not to stick to the place where I was born. I've been traveling around europe since I was 16: that's how I met some of the people who helped me to shape myself the way I am now. I've always been interested in art of any form: everything that was created by someone, with a deep personal purpose, has always caught my attention. I started been interested in photography itself when I was 18 or so: I was mainly inspired by a kind of art photography I bumped into through a person that meant very much to me, E. P. (she keeps on inspiring me nowadays too, and she probably doesn't even know it). After attending 2 years of the IED photography course in Milano - I am currently attending the last year of the course now - I must say that some of my friends and course mates were and are still the best teachers of both technical and theorical matters of photography, art and life.
2-How many cameras do you own and what's your favourite one and why?
Hmm. I own lots of cameras and right now I don't really want to count nor name them all. Let's say that my favourites are my old analogic NIKON FM, which I started with and I still work with when I use 35mm; my little AGFA CLACK camera, which was a present from my boyfriend and which is perfect to carry around when I want to work on 120mm; and my MAMIYA RB67, which I just bought last year from a dear friend of mine. she's defenetly my best camera ever: I love using her both with the her film back and her polaroid back. I also have a couple of old polaroid cameras, a couple of Lomography's cameras, and a few vintage, medium format and non, that I got from relatives or in second hand shops ( I don't despise toy cameras or cheap ones - I think they can be great fun and used in a very creative way!). I got a digital nikon d80 to use just in case somebody requires it for a job, but I work mainly analogic. My dream of all time is to buy a classic hasselblad, but I can't afford it right now.
3-I know you built your own dark room at home. Could you tell me something about it? How did you start?
I've always worked in my school darkroom until a few months ago: when I've realised that even the school was starting to get rid of the film materials and stuff to concentrate on digital equipments, I've decided to get my own enlarger and everything I needed to develope and print my black and white's at home. My parents got me the best early christmas-and-birthday present ever: I am so happy about my darkroom! right now I have to oscuarte my appartment bathroom windows and move some forniture out to print, and sometimes my housemates are not that pleased with the smell of chemicals; but I'm sure someday I am going to have a proper whole black room where to print peacefully. I am going to bring my darkroom equipment whenever I move after the summer.
4-Have you already had the chance to do exhibitions or to see your works published on magazines?
I've only had one exposition all together with some of my course mates, last July, called "ParlamidiMe", hosted in Studio Morin in Milano. Just one work of mine was there, but it was still a very important experience for me. recently lots of people are saying good things about my works and they are making me feel more confident in a way: I hope this will lead to something more concrete, because I would like to have more and more expositions: I need to get known.
5-Which subjects you love to photograph the most?
I wouldn't really know how to answer to this question. You know there's not really one favourite subject in the works I do, at least not something that can be described clearly. My photographs usually combine people and places, nature and humans trying to explaing something deeper than the photo itself.
6-and do you prefer to photograph indoor or outdoor? Moving subjects or still ones?
It really depends on the location itself: I adore nature and usually I find it more inspiring to work around trees; but i am also very interested in old buildings, indoor places which have some powerful history around them.You know, the location where i work has to give some sort of feelings to make the inspiration flow on. All that applies to the subject too: most of my photos with people are prepared and my subje cts are acting according to my instructions; sometimes i like them to move and interact with the location, sometimes i just want them to stay still so i can cut them in the way i feel could be more powerful. I usually don't chose to photograph a still life, unless it has a very important reason to be in that work.
I wouldn't really know how to answer to this question. You know there's not really one favourite subject in the works I do, at least not something that can be described clearly. My photographs usually combine people and places, nature and humans trying to explaing something deeper than the photo itself.
6-and do you prefer to photograph indoor or outdoor? Moving subjects or still ones?
It really depends on the location itself: I adore nature and usually I find it more inspiring to work around trees; but i am also very interested in old buildings, indoor places which have some powerful history around them.You know, the location where i work has to give some sort of feelings to make the inspiration flow on. All that applies to the subject too: most of my photos with people are prepared and my subje cts are acting according to my instructions; sometimes i like them to move and interact with the location, sometimes i just want them to stay still so i can cut them in the way i feel could be more powerful. I usually don't chose to photograph a still life, unless it has a very important reason to be in that work.
7-Apart from photography, what is it that you're most passionate about?
I like everything that involves the making of something: collages, drawings, knitting, creating stuff of all sorts. I love writing letters and add little hand made surprises to them: I have a few nice pen friends from all over the world and we write each other quite alot! I think people should write more letters: there's nothing nicer than posting a letter in the morning and getting one in your mail box a few weeks after when you come back home at night. I travel, alot: I am really into cold places especially. I adore watching films and listening to good music - two names for all: Lars Von Trier as a director and Belle & Sebastian as a band - but I guess that's kind of common. Then I adore animals: there so much we need to learn from them. and nature is wonderfull: it inspires me so much.
I like everything that involves the making of something: collages, drawings, knitting, creating stuff of all sorts. I love writing letters and add little hand made surprises to them: I have a few nice pen friends from all over the world and we write each other quite alot! I think people should write more letters: there's nothing nicer than posting a letter in the morning and getting one in your mail box a few weeks after when you come back home at night. I travel, alot: I am really into cold places especially. I adore watching films and listening to good music - two names for all: Lars Von Trier as a director and Belle & Sebastian as a band - but I guess that's kind of common. Then I adore animals: there so much we need to learn from them. and nature is wonderfull: it inspires me so much.
8-i'm a big fan of snail mail too, i used to have lots of penpals a few years ago, now i just have 3 really good one...how did you start being into penpalling?I wrote my first letters to a friend from Rome that i met when i was 14 or so. But i started enjoying writing a few years later, when a friend of a friend, from Canada, started to contact me, first through the web, the, out of nowhere, through a letter, which made me very happy. I still write to Frances: she's an extraordinary girl and when i get her letters i am always on top of the world; I haven't met her in person yet, but when i will i am sure it's going to be awesome: I just have to find the way to go to Canada or so.
9-Do you have any blogs or website you'd like to recommend?I usually surf the web quite a lot and there's always something new i discover, especially through myspace and Flickr. Lately i've fallen in love with the work of Clara Kindle, it inspires me quite much: http://honeystomach.com
if you're interested in contacting her or even only getting a look at her amazing photos please pay a visit to her Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_for_arts_sake/
or her website: http://www.pollybalitro.com
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