After accidentally stumbling upon font design, Jen quickly realized that this was her call. So she turned a newfound hobby into a successful career, during which she has helped transform the way people perceive types.
In our conversation with Jen, she touches upon the process of creating font art, the modern use of fonts, as well as her dreams and behind the scenes secrets.
Hi Jen, it’s great to meet you! Could you tell us how you got started? How did you become a font designer?
It’s great to meet you as well! 🙂 I actually stumbled into font design. I did a lot of hand lettering work as a freelance designer, and during a painfully long dry spell with work, I started experimenting with designing type.
It was one of those weird things that kind of just immediately clicked for me! I’ve been doing it ever since!
How did you learn the skills for that?
I’m a self-taught designer, and you can kind of see that in the evolution of my fonts from three years ago to today. More recently, it’s been a lot of reading type design books (Designing Type is my favorite so far!).
I’m also applying for a type design summer program for 2020, so I guess you could say the learning process is kind of unending, which I enjoy. There’s always something new to learn in the world of type, and that keeps it really interesting.
How does the process of a new font design typically start?
The design process usually begins with a single letter, and then expands from there! Sometimes I’ll create in Illustrator or on my iPad, and other times I’ll sketch out letter concepts on a piece of scrap paper.
Type design is (in my experience) very mathematical, so having an idea for 3-5 letters is usually enough to inform the rest of the type set!
You sell your fonts on marketplaces like Creative Market and also your own website. Which font has been the most popular one so far?
If we’re accounting for the amount of time it’s been available for sale, Modena is the most popular by a long shot (however, Tokyo is actually my all-time top selling font!).
I think both of those fonts offered something really unique to the marketplace. Tokyo was a really unique font at the time I released it because no one had done an automatically offsetting typeface before (at least, not that I’d seen!).
I noticed layering solid text with an offset outline layer on top of it was gaining popularity in the design world, so I designed Tokyo to make that process really easy for novice designers.
Modena, on the other hand, provided the marketplace with something that was bold, yet feminine. So you have this really pretty, but still messy script paired with a super bold, classic, high-fashion type sans serif. The combo was just magic – I think it was something designers were looking for and didn’t even realize it.
Historically, my successful products have come from solving a problem that I myself have come upon in my design work. We’re all designers, so if I’m getting frustrated with something, the odds are that a lot of other designers are too! If I can create something that alleviates that frustration, that’s a product that will probably sell really well.
It might be a forbidden question - but which one is the favorite font of yours?
Every new release, haha. I find myself continually saying, “Okay, but THIS one is my new favorite!” with every subsequent release.
I think it’s just fun to see yourself getting better with every new product, and it makes the process of creating a lot more exciting when you know you’ll get to the end of it and (most of the time) be really excited about what you’ve made.
But if I had to pick one, I think Rylan is my current favorite.
I feel that fonts are still a very designer-ish topic. Many people don’t care about fonts but still “feel it” when fonts are chosen or combined by a professional. Do you feel that people are getting more attentive to the topic, given the visual world of social media?
I would like to think so, but I honestly don’t know! I’ve always noticed those things, even since I was a kid, so my experience is probably a little skewed.
But I think creatives in general are typically better at noticing those things, and most creative types have the basic design knowledge now to rationalize what may be “off” about something.
So I guess all of that is to say, yes! I think people are definitely getting more attentive to type design and its importance in the design world at large.
What would you dive into if you had an additional 10 hours a day for whatever project or activity you want?
Interior design, for sure. I could spend any amount of time doing that. My husband and I have this big detached garage behind our house that we’re wanting to convert into an AirBnb, and so most of our work time (and overtime!) is with the intention of raising the money to fund that project.
So in a super practical sense, I would probably spend that extra 10 hours a day creating more fonts, resources, courses, etc. so that we could reach that goal faster!
I also love making music. My husband is a professional musician and producer (his band is called Veaux!), so we love spending our “down time” creating music together.
Being a creative person, are there other areas in your life where you like to look at the design of things?
Absolutely! Architecture and interior design are big ones, but I also love old magazines and high fashion. There’s so much amazing design out there off of our screens – it can be so amazing to get your hands dirty and be inspired elsewhere!
What is up for you next at JenWagnerCo?
Lots of instruction! I have two courses coming out in October (one teaching hand lettering, and the other on graphic design for bloggers), so the next month is going to be spent getting those together. Those will be over at jenwagner.co/courses.
I am also launching a collaborative graphic design blog in September called Make Great Design. It’s basically just me and a few amazing designer friends talking about our experience as freelancers, sharing tips and techniques, how we stay motivated, etc. I think it’s going to be a ton of fun!
Do you want to share your 3-5 favorite Instagram accounts that inspire you?
➸ Getting inspired? Have a look at Jen's website on which you also find her fonts and her courses. You can also see and purchase her fonts at Creative Market.
You might also like our interview with illustrator and design student Mathilde Friis Olsen or the story of Kristy Ford, illustrator based in Australia.
Ever since she was a child, Tilde always searched for ways to express herself. This restless journey lead her to explore various art techniques and platforms, and establish herself as a bold, daring and very talented contemporary artist.
I this interview, Tilde uncovers her sources of inspiration, shares her thoughts on choosing your authentic life path and invites into her colorful world of being a fearless artist, mother and wife.
Tilde, first of all, could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your story?
I'm an autodidact artist from 1973. Born and raised in Copenhagen. My parents, a pedagogue and a carpenter, were from the hippie generation, which I think has influenced me a lot in terms of values and my view on life. I started singing and writing songs in my early teens. It was an indescribable urge and it came very natural to me. Unfortunately I suffered from stage fright, so there was a lot of resistance inspite of my love of music. So I made a choice to pursue the education in textile and embroidery art, as well as I worked with fashion, and specialized in sustainability and redesign, which has shaped my career as an artist. But I never really felt that I fitted in anywhere - until I had a child. It really changed me - I somehow became, who I was supposed to be. I think it helped me to gain the insight, courage and focus to find my way to where I am now.
You started your artistic work by writing songs and later by working in the fashion industry. How did the journey evolve to creating art with the help of pictures, paintings and wood?
Becoming a visual artist was never in the cards, it just happened. I stopped playing music, and I guess I was looking for another way to express myself. One rainy summer I started making sculptures in my dad's wood workshop, and I just never stopped. I was raised in his wood workshops. He literally had one everywhere we lived, even on the fifth floor on the attic of his apartment one time. I loved the smell of sawdust and the feeling of creating something. It felt very free and inspirational. I just never knew what to make, it was insurmountable. So discovering my own way of working in the wood workshop, making sculptures, was a wonderful turning point. I started to discover and explore female artists, and it may sound banal, but It felt like coming home. It was an amazing feeling of belonging somewhere finally.
But as I needed some education, I decided, together with my family, that I would spend two years enrolling myself in the autodidact school of exploring art, materials etc. That was six years ago and I'm still exploring. So now I combine everything in pieces of art instead of songs. The process is still there. I haven’t entirely given up on music though. I met an old friend years back, and when I told him music was over for me, he said the wise words of "never say never".
What is your recipe for finding inspiration?
Inspiration comes and goes, and it can be found anywhere. I question everything. It normally starts with WTF!? Haha. And then I work my way into the core of what I'm trying to express and how to express it in the clearest way. I have a built in opposer, that's a great inspiration too. And all the bullshit and all the hard stuff and all the beauty, life and love - it is all inspirational to me.
Last, but not least - all the amazing creators before us, who paved the way and gave us a mirror to recognize ourselves in, so that we don’t have to feel so alone. Brave women artists in history, daring to express themselves. That has been a huge inspiration to me. Not in what I create, but in how I create and why. We are not without history.
How would you describe your artistic style?
Simply put, I would describe it as playful and, perhaps, hopeful.
Having mastered various techniques and platforms for making art, how do you choose the right one for a specific artwork? What is your favorite technique that you find helps you express yourself artistically the most?
Well, I actually don’t have a favorite technique. Every idea or vision fits into a certain media that expresses it the best way. The idea and the technique occurs simultaneously, and I think the important thing for me is not to limit myself.
Everything is possible, if it fits the idea. Right now I'm working on a short artfilm with my husband and filmmaker Stopher Secher, because a film expresses this particular vision the best.
Sometimes even the best artists face moments of feeling “stuck” creatively. How do you deal with these experiences?
If I feel stuck, I have begun to think of it as a break, a time to take it easy and open my mind up to the world. The Buddhists say, "don’t fight it, don’t follow it. Just let it be". Its hard, but it is also such a relief when you succeed.
What is the best thing about what you do at this point in time?
The best thing about what I do is that it makes sense. I don’t feel like I should be doing anything else.
What do you perceive as the most challenging part about what you do and how do you tackle it?
No doubt the hardest challenge is the unsafety. As an artist, you have none of the benefits of being in a steady job. It’s unpredictable and unstable. I think most people thrive on art and get inspiration, energy and hope from it. Important things in life, you know! But there is nothing conform about it for the artist. You HAVE to have that fire within you to burn through all the hardships.
I tackle the hard times by reminding myself that I only have one life, and try to live it in the most authentic way. I have some incredibly talented friends in all sorts of fields of work, and I sometimes envy them for being good at jobs with retirement savings, benefits etc. But this is what I do, there is no way around it. For now anyway.
Do you have a favorite piece among your artwork? Is there a special story behind it?
I don’t have a particular favorite, but I would like to highlight a few. Firstly, my anatomical heart punchbag, currently exhibited in Kunsthal Brantebjerg. It expresses how we expose our hearts to beating every time we engage in life and other people. Secondly, I would like to point out the vintage girdle with embroidered “it’s very complicated/wonderful”. And latsly, my project "Private messages in public places", where I really wanted to address the loneliness and state the fact that people crucially need other people.
Which leads me back to the anatomical heart punchbag, because there is no way around vulnerability when we engage. And the circle closes with the vintage girdle, because it just is very complicated and wonderful. The whole process of living. An ongoing circle of complicated wonderfulness.
When working for yourself you need to have certain structures and routines. What is your best productivity and time management advice that helps you focus on your work and achieve your goals?
I'm not very structured. I work impulsively and intuitively and my goals are often diffuse. So I guess my son is my primary routine. I work around him and the agenda of his day. And then I just go at it, at any hour of the day or night. A lot of days I wing it and go with the flow, if I get an idea I follow up on it right away. Though sometimes I think about it for months before executing an idea. If I have a deadline, my husband, who is also self-employed, and I are really good at supporting each other, giving each other the time and peace to finish our projects. I'm just really really diligently working non stop in periods, and in other periods I kind of just want to sit and look out the window. So my advice would be to find the best way that suits you and your temper.
If you could give one advice to other women that could help them find their own creative voice, what would it be?
I think you find your creative voice by exploring, being honest, and daring to put yourself out there in the uncertainty for possible failure. You have to look at the world and think beyond yourself.
What advice would you give your younger self that you think would have helped you along your journey if you knew about it?
Instead of giving advice to a younger me, I would rather give her a hug and tell her not to worry so much, because she’s doing fine and everything will be okay.
But of course, If I had to, it would be something in the lines of: work hard, be patient, try not to take everything too seriously, and don’t worry about what other people think. And have FUN!
We are always looking out for more inspiration. Could you recommend us and our readers some Instagram accounts that you follow and we also have to?
My personal favorites among Instagram accounts I follow are the @nitch, @m_d_n_f and @mirandajuly.
Thank you very much for the interview, Tilde!
➸ Head over to Tilde Grynnerup's inspiring Instagram account for colors, modern art and positive vibes.
If you liked reading about the artist Tilde Grynnerup, you might also like our conversation with the creators of Tigron & Floyd, Hanna and Eveline, or our interview with the artist Emily Grady Dodge.
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With its simplicity, lightness and minimalistic touches, Scandinavian design has won the hearts of people all over the world. The trends of white walls, bright rooms and stylish, yet simple interior, have crossed the boarders of Scandinavian countries and moved on to other homes around the globe.
Imagine our surprise, when we discovered a Swedish brand that designs and manufactures outstanding, bold, creative and definitely colorful wallpapers to spice up traditional interior design!
Today let's meet the women behind the Tigron & Floyd brand, Eveline Johnson and Hanna Richter, who in this exclusive interview have shared their passion, behind the scenes of their brand, as well as great inspiration to upgrade your home.
Hanna and Eveline, how do you know each other, and how did you end up creating a business together?
We first laid eyes on each other while studying at Fotoskolan STHLM in 2008. In 2012 we started working together as the photographic duo VANDAL, and as such we have exhibited at Designgalleriet and Fotografiska among others.
A collaboration we did together with the designer named Elin Ivre - an installation called ‘Shrine of me’, is what first inspired us to the invention of photographic patterns on wallpaper.
You have a background in photography. What made you change business?
Actually we have not really quit photography, we have just found another way to use the craft and our creativity. The fact that we are photographers is the whole foundation of Tigron & Floyd. We see wallpapers and patterns as a new forum for photographic craftsmanship!
Does your photography background improve your work with wallpaper?
The photographic technique both works as a limitation and an asset. Since we photograph real objects for the designs we are bound by the realness of their shape and their flaws. For example the uniqueness of a single flower really comes through with the photographic technique we use.
You write about your creative process on your website, how you search for patterns, and that Swedish meatballs and brown sauce are not an easy motive. Can you tell us more about the journey from idea to finished wallpaper?
The way we create wallpapers is a multi-step arts and crafts process, from going hunting for objects, shooting and digitally enhancing every object by itself.
The process of gathering and photographing real things is really fun and this allows us to explore what a wallpaper pattern can consist of. When every object is shot, and cut out we start the process of digitally building the pattern.
Before the actual wallpaper is finished there are a lot of test rounds to our printer in Östersund to get all the details and colors right.
Do you have a favorite motive so far?
We have several favorites - the pattern "Bergman" from our first collection "Svenskt vemod" holds a special place in our hearts, because it was our first idea for a wallpaper when we started out and therefore it symbolizes the beginning of Tigron & Floyd.
We have it on the wall of our studio in Stockholm. But we also love our floral patterns – for example our pattern "Pompadour Poppy" that we created in collaboration with Poppykalas.
Which has been the hardest motive to get right for a wallpaper?
As in all creative work it is about ongoing hard work and a mix of joy and diligence. Sometimes the creative process feels like an endless path to discovering the solution for a problem.
For our pattern "Musslor" we created so many patterns and versions before we finally came up with a way to put the shells together that felt right!
Hanna has watched a lot of Youtube videos to perfect origami doves for our print "Kastanjeblad och duvor", and we have spent many hours searching flea markets for a special object that we heard about in a song.
But all of this is a part of the creative process and what makes it various and interesting!
In your opinions, what can wallpaper do for the decorating of a home?
It can be a piece of art, giving a unique and personal touch to a room. Just as art, it can really lift a room and give a personal touch to a space. Wallpaper can be a creative and playful way to express yourself!
Are your homes decorated with wallpaper all over, or how do you use it yourselves?
The kind of playful freedom we would like others to be inspired by our wallpapers is how we shape our homes ourselves.
We use our wallpapers as a kind of creative artful ingredient in our homes and combine it with woodwork and wall paint to enhance each other. For example, Eveline has "Pompadour Poppy" together with woodwork in a pale greenish blue in her apartment – it is gorgeous!
The Scandinavian style for home decorating has been known for its minimalism, white toned colors and lots of light. Do you think people are starting to change this, and becoming more bold in their choices for their homes?
It is not a choice between all or nothing, between white walls or bold patterns. You could be allowed to have both - to experiment, to be playful, and to create.
We see that Scandinavian interior is moving away from an era of only white walls. We think that people are becoming more curious of what pattern and color can do to a home.
Your wallpaper is produced with care for the environment, and the printer and colors you use are certified with Svanen and Greenguard. Why is this important to you?
Of course we find this extremely important. We try in every way, in all the steps of the process, to reduce environmental impact. As a company we believe that we have an environmental as well as a social responsibility in everything we do. Therefore we produce in Sweden, where we can be sure that our product is manufactured in a sustainable way. The fact that our wallpaper is printed on demand custom to the order keeps the waste to a minimum.
Can you reveal some of the plans you have for Tigron & Floyd in the future?
We have bold plans for the future to expand our creative fields, building stylish and fanciful patterns on fabric and other materials, being an enhancing partner in people's creative home building lives.
This fall we will be working more with businesses and brands in different fields, creating custom made imagery to their needs. We are very excited for this!
If we want to see how people can use wallpaper in their homes, can you recommend three of your favorite Instagrammers or blogs that can help us seek even more inspiration?
@degournay makes the most beautiful hand-painted wallpapers and looking at their instagram account feels like coming into a Marie Antoinette meets Narina world.
@lukeedwardhall is a must if you like colorful and creative interiors!
We also want to recommend checking out @versaillesadness_, for maximalist jaw-dropping gorgeousness.
Thank you very much for the interview, Eveline and Hanna!
➸ Head over to Tigron & Floyd's inspiring Instagram account for inspiration and great home design ideas.
If you liked reading about the founders of Tigron & Floyd, Hanna and Eveline, you might also like our conversation with the serial entrepreneur and coach Anastasia Dimitriadou, or our interview with the founder of Danish fashion brand ArtFusion Copenhagen, Louise Autrup.
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Since Simone was a little girl, she had the urge to express herself through different platforms: Ceramics, drawings, paintings - you name it. Over time the pursuit of her hobby and curiosity definitely paid off, as she is now one of the new faces on the Danish art scene that you hear about.
In our conversation with Simone, she sheds light on the contemporary selfie-culture and uncovers how a day in her atelier looks like. Get ready to dig into the colorful world of Simone Noa Hedal!
Could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself and what you do? How can we imagine your everyday?
My name is Simone, I’m 25 years old and you can find me at my Instagram account @simonenoa. I live in a lovely apartment in Vesterbro with my lovely boyfriend. Hold on to your knickers because now I’ll tell you a little bit about how my day goes. I have a very busy schedule, since I started my fulltime job within the fashion and PR industry, and during my spare time I like to paint. I try to take good care of my friendships, so I like to spend a lot of time hanging out with my friends.
Furthermore, I like to stay in shape and to keep my body healthy by attending boxing classes a few times a week. So, as you can see, I have a pretty busy schedule during the week. I’m one of those types that wishes there were more hours in a day.
What was the journey that led you to where you are today?
At a certain point in my life, I realized that I wanted to come closer to a field where I could express my creativity. I’ve always been interested in interacting with people, digging into human behavior and communicating messages to certain target groups.
This is why I chose to study a Master’s Degree in Communication. In this field I have the opportunity to communicate messages, meet a lot of different people and most importantly - unfold my creative skills. Being able to communicate my feelings through art is also what drives me to be an artist.
Since I was just a child, I’ve always had an interest in unfolding my creativity. No matter if it was drawing, painting, making ceramics or anything else that could help me express my feelings, I would do it.
I’ve also been influenced by my grandmother. She is a very creative spirit, especially when it comes to painting, sowing, crochet and knitting. She has had several exhibitions, where her paintings have been on display.
How does your education within communications intertwine with your artistic work?
When I make my art on for example mirrors, my thoughts have been to create art that makes the viewer want to study the piece of art in depth. To use mirrors and media that give a three-dimensional effect is totally different from the classic way of painting on a canvas.
I make a great deal out of inviting the viewer to interact with the art. By building a community around this type of art, you get people to interact and share, which is something I brought with me from studying communication.
What does art mean to you and how would you describe your style?
It means a lot to me to be creative. It’s my way of relaxing, communicating feelings and taking time offline. Another way of saying it would be “therapy for body and mind”.
When it comes to describing my art, I would definitely describe it as experimental, colorful and dominated by the color pink. It’s for sure not possible to be afraid of colors if you would like to have one of my paintings hanging on the wall.
Where do you seek inspiration for your work?
Everywhere! I get inspired by clothing, architecture, building materials etc. I also get inspired by a walk in the streets of Copenhagen, by colors and people in my life.
How do you think art and fashion connect?
Both art and fashion are a subjective way of seeing things. I love to be experimental in the way I dress and the way I paint. I want colors with a bang. That’s how I view the comparison of these two art forms. As much as a painting is an artwork, I believe that a bag or a jacket can be an artwork as well.
Fashion designers put as much of an effort in designing a certain style as a painter does. I’m convinced that both industries find inspiration in each other’s work because they have much in common.
As much as a painting can communicate a political statement, designers can do the same as well, for example in the making of unisex clothing or by seeking inspiration from different cultures and societies.
Can you describe the process you go through when creating a piece of art? What is of importance for you during that process?
First and foremost, I work best alone, with music that makes me feel relaxed. This could be jazz or classic music. I have hard time concentrating when other people are in the same room. I need solitude in my work of creating art, I like to shut myself in my own creative bubble.
A typical day at my atelier would be to look at the empty “canvas”, choose color combinations, get started, edit, re-paint, be frustrated, take a break, go back, edit some more and paint some more.
Time flies when you do something you love, which is why I often use a whole day working on the process of creating every single piece. Some of them take a day and others take several weeks.
My work also depends on natural lightning. You get the best feeling of colors and interaction when natural light is present.
Which contemporary trends within the world of arts do you like?
I think it’s inspiring to see how the art reflects the society of today. Viewers have become more integrated in art than seen before, I would think. Just like it requires more effort to convince consumers to buy products these days, it also requires a bigger effort to make the viewer feel the art.
This form of art is not only about seeing a part of yourself through the painting, but also to see yourself literally. We live in a selfie-culture where art needs to be shareable. This is also why I think more artists are engaging with mirrors as “canvases”.
Our generation and cultures are driven by ego, that’s why I think a lot of upcoming artists try to portray these trends. This is among the trends I find inspiring.
I also have a lot of respect for artists that are able to communicate political messages through their artwork. The art becomes a strong statement which is very inspiring.
Imagine that absolutely anything is possible. What is your wildest and biggest dream regarding your creative work?
I already think that it’s overwhelming and a big dream coming true that people want to have my art in their homes. But another big dream is to show my pieces at an exhibition someday.
How do you see your artistic journey evolving in the direction of this dream in the next couple of years?
It’s a very hard question. I have a lot of dreams and goals in life that I hope to realize in the future. I’m open minded when it comes to upcoming projects and opportunities in the future, but at the moment I don’t have a time frame. I’m in no rush. I’ll just sit back and enjoy my journey into the unknown.
Regarding my art, I’m still planning to work with the same materials, but I’ll not exclude possibilities of exploring new mediums in my art work.
Are you working on any exciting projects at the moment that you can reveal to our readers?
I haven’t been that productive in making my art recently, since I’m very busy, so unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find the time right now. But I do have new art pieces in the making. You can always follow my work on Instagram if you would like to know more.
If you could give one advice to our readers on how to pursue creativity in their day to day life, what would it be?
Just do it, as Nike would say! It’s very underestimated. I would take it that even further to say that it’s equally important as meditation. Furthermore, it’s a nice way of spending your time offline.
We love your style which you show glimpses of on your Instagram account. What are your favorite Scandi brands?
Among my favourite Scandi brands are: Stine Goya, Saks Potts and Acne Studios.
We are always searching for more inspiration. Which five Instagram accounts would you recommend for us to follow?
I think that you should take a look at these accounts:
Thank you very much for the interview, Simone!
➸ Head over to Simone's Instagram account to learn more about her and her work
You might also like our story about photographer Joséphine Löchen, or meet the creative minds behind the Copenhagen-based carpet studio Röd Studio.
Did you know that you can actually get very far using only a few great beauty products? Especially when they have beautiful names (yes, of course we refer to the Mermaid body soap!) and a wonderful scent as LIMA's products do.
Being a true entrepreneur, Márta saw what product was needed and boom! - made it herself. Today, she works with experts on developing new products and is already in the process of launching new ones.
In our interview, Márta shares exclusive sneak peak into the world of natural cosmetics, great advice on what small actions to clean up your beauty shelf and which products are her own personal favorites.
First of all, can you tell us about what made you start your own business and how LIMA Cosmetics began?
Since I was a child, I was fascinated by cosmetics. This was mainly thanks to the female role models in my family: My grandmother and my mother were both eager for quality cosmetics, and I often had the chance to try out their newest creams and beauty products.
Many years passed, I pursued a university degree in marketing and tried myself in different fields of work - from event management through marketing to fashion retail.
During a creative break I spent some weeks at home in Hungary. One day, my mother came home with a handmade soap bar. It was amazing to see a soap bar that was made far away from the industry halls and chemistry laboratories, containing only natural ingredients. I remember that I started the research right away with a very clear goal in my mind: To make the best natural soap for myself and my family.
After many years of research and plenty of formula tests, my products turned out to be so good that I simply wanted to share them with others. In 2016, the LIMA Cosmetics brand was born.
What was the most difficult part about starting LIMA Cosmetics and how did you solve it?
The beginning was challenging, of course. Making cosmetics involves a lot of responsibility. From the very beginning it was clear that I wanted to offer high-quality natural products that people can trust.
The first thing I did was to set up an official manufacturing site and looked out for an independent laboratory to conduct the quality tests on each of our products. Today, I am happy to be able to work with great professionals who share my passion for high-quality natural cosmetics.
What was the most surprising and unforeseen thing that you learned when starting the business?
In the first years, I had to learn a lot about self-management: Using my time and energy effectively and keeping the focus. I am passionate about every single aspect of my work.
The ingredients that are put into each product are very clean, local, organic and plant-based. Why are these things important for you to include?
Carefully selected, pure, raw materials are the heart of each LIMA product. I believe that the customers can experience the difference when using our skincare products. Organically produced, 100% natural botanical extracts simply feel good on the skin!
Therefore, I put a big emphasis on selecting our ingredients, testing them thoroughly over months before incorporating them into a formulation. Also, I decided to source raw materials from local and European producers, directly from the region, where the plants are best grown and harvested.
As a cosmetic manufacturer I see myself in the position to create a difference in the self-care industry simply by offering the customers all-natural, consciously made skincare products that the skin will love.
Can you tell us a bit about the process of developing new products?
Many product ideas arise from the needs of our family, friends and customers. Once the main idea is there, as the product developer, I take out my notebook and start collecting the characteristics the new product should have: The main purpose, effect on the skin, desired texture and feeling on the skin, color and scent, of course. Then I take a look at how I can achieve it using only pure and plant based ingredients.
Usually, many months (sometimes even years!) of testing, re-testing and formulation work are behind every single product. Each new product is tested by family and friends, and only when it calls out that WOW-effect, we proudly introduce it to our customers.
Your brand puts a lot of emphasis on sustainability. What are your best tips on how everyone can start to live a more conscious and sustainable everyday life?
I am always terrified to see bathroom shelves fully packed with plastic bottles. I am a great fan of our natural soaps, and I experience that these soap bars are not only better for the environment, but by using them the skin looks and feels much healthier.
If you want to start somewhere, my advice is to stop using plastic bags in supermarkets, plus get rid of all those nasty plastic bottles in the bathroom and go for a beautiful and fragrant soap bar!
Which one of your products is an absolute must-have that should be present in every bathroom?
All of them. Well, I can’t imagine my daily routine without any of our facial soaps. I use them in the morning to refresh my skin and in the evening to cleanse and to remove make-up. With these round-shaped, fragrant soap bars I can replace so many other products and my skin looks so radiant.
Also, I think we all need an uplifting and pampering self-care routine once a day. For this, I can’t imagine a better way, than to use a beautiful bar of fragrant soap with a creamy lather and a delicate feel on the skin!
My goal is to offer a small range of well-thought products that are all-natural and effective.
What product from your range is your personal favorite and why?
My all-time favorites are our bestsellers: The LIMA Cosmetics facial soaps. These solid bars are simply amazing: they cleanse the face without a dry-out effect.
After the face wash, the skin is smooth and healthy. Especially on hot summer days, these soaps are everything my skin needs.
Your products are all about self-care, pampering and luxury treatments. What is your best self-care advice that women who are always on the go can easily incorporate into their everyday life?
I believe that we can take 20 minutes of time for a self-care ritual every day. Even if it is after a long day at work, make sure to treat your body. You deserve it.
Pay attention to what you need: Do some sports, read a book, light a candle or emerge in a fragrant, all-natural bathing experience in your very own bathroom. All LIMA Cosmetics products are designed to give you the ultimate sensory feeling whenever you need it.
Can you reveal a bit of the future plans for LIMA Cosmetics? Are there any new products or projects on the way?
The year of 2019 is already predicted to be a very busy year for LIMA Cosmetics. New products and family sets are coming. Nothing unnecessary, only the best-quality, all-natural products that will enrich your everyday life.
Also, pregnant ladies might be able to find an amazing new product on our website coming up in the next few months. So it is definitely worth subscribing to our newsletter to keep yourself updated and inspired.
We are always looking for sources of inspiration, especially on Instagram. Can you share your favorite accounts with us?
Sure. I enjoy very much the content and entrepreneurship of @jamie_jaymes and @peonyswimwear.
Thank you very much for the interview, Márta!
➸ Head over to LIMA Cosmetics' inspiring Instagram account for inspiration, great energy and only positive vibes.
If you liked reading about Márta, you might also like our conversation with the serial entrepreneur and coach Anastasia Dimitriadou, or our interview with the founder of Danish fashion brand ArtFusion Copenhagen, Louise Autrup.
Oh, what a style! Next to her paintings that clearly reflect a very own visual aesthetic, Emily has also expanded into interior illustrations, always pushing herself to be better.
So who is the woman and what are the stories behind these paintings? We talked with the talented Brooklyn-based artist about how she gets discovered via Pinterest, her collaboration with Anthropology, and books she recommends for creative inspiration.
Emily was interviewed by us in May 2017. This article was last updated in March 2019: At this point of time, you can buy Emily's prints at Artfully Walls or see more on her new website. There, you also find her journal with current inspirations.
Dear Emily, can you tell us about your story of becoming an artist?
Yes! I’ve always loved making art, but I’ve also gone through long periods of time where I didn’t even own a paintbrush. As a child, I was always painting and drawing, and usually there was some sort of narrative involved. I would draw people and come up with storylines for them, or I would draw rooms and imagine who lived in them. That was how I had fun!
Through the years, I took as many art classes as I could at school. Although I loved being in the art room hanging out with the art kids, I didn’t feel that I could make a living as an artist, so I didn’t pursue it in college. Instead, I studied art history, not really sure what I wanted to do when I graduated.
Actually, while I didn’t know what kind of job I wanted, I knew that I wanted to live in New York, so I moved from Florida to Manhattan after graduation.
For several years I was caught up in establishing myself in a new city and painting felt like a distant memory.
Then one day, about four years ago, I decided on whim to do sit down and paint something. I had recently purchased a watercolor palette for an interior design class I was taking, and I wanted to put it to good use, as it was quite expensive. Something clicked, and it was like being reunited with an old friend. I looked in the mirror and said, “Hello! I’m an artist!” I’ve been painting ever since, and now I can’t imagine my life without it.
You live in Brooklyn, which is known as "a place to be" for any creative. How long have you lived there?
As I mentioned above, I moved to New York after I graduated college, which was in 2009. I apartment hopped for the first few years - I would take a sublet on the Upper West Side, then one in the East Village, then one in Spanish Harlem, etc. I have so many stories, I could write a book!
But to keep things semi-short and sweet, I moved to Brooklyn in 2011 because the rent in Manhattan was getting crazy for me.
It took awhile, but I fell in love with Brooklyn one day after a particularly great walk through Prospect Park (it’s like Central Park’s little sister). I’ll never forget that moment! It was similar to my moment where everything clicked and I realized that I’m an artist.
I could have yelled from the rooftops, “I love Brooklyn!” It sort of felt like falling in love with a person, ha!
How does this environment affect your work?
I’m lucky that I live in a place where people value the arts. I work full time in sales for a company that makes custom furniture, so I have to be disciplined with my time in order to paint as often as I do. Sometimes this means saying no to social outings, so it’s great that the people in my life are so understanding.
My fiancé, family, and friends are really encouraging and supportive - they are the best cheerleaders I could ever ask for. Luckily, my situation is not unique. So many people here are writers, actors, photographers, artists, etc., all while maintaining an unrelated full time job.
I feel a silent sense of support from every stranger I see lugging home art supplies on the train at 7:00 pm. I know that feeling! I feel justified in my choice to live a creative life, which I believe results in more confident work.
Do you think it is enriching to have a big community of creative people around you, or does it also intimidate sometimes?
It’s enriching! Although honestly, Instagram has given me more of a sense of a creative community than my own local community. There are people who I’ve never met who have influenced the way I approach my work.
I think, if that person can do X, Y, and Z, then so can I! Of course, nothing happens overnight, so I can’t let myself get caught up in the comparison game. It’s an ongoing lesson, but I’m happy to go through those growing pains to learn it.
You have recently started with interior illustrations. Does that imply a special technique you had to learn?
Just practice and patience! The illustrations that Mita Corsini Bland did for the book, Sister Parish Design: On Decorating are what initially inspired me to begin painting interiors. In addition to being an interesting part of my portfolio, I think they make great gifts for interior designers - who wouldn’t want an illustration of a room they designed?
A few months ago I painted a room that was in Architectural Digest, and then the owner of that room found my painting on instagram and he contacted me to see if he could purchase it. It was such a cool feeling to ship it off to it’s rightful home!
Could you imagine expanding into interior design?
Interesting that you ask… Yes, I think so! I would need to approach it in a different way though, as I love homes that are well-collected, where you can see that there has been a natural evolution.
If I were to branch out into interiors, I would call myself a consultant rather than a designer. I could see myself suggesting paint colors, or helping people to rearrange or reupholster pieces they already own.
What is your favorite motive to paint?
I paint whether or not I have a great idea first. Sometimes inspiration does strike me, and it’s like an out of body experience. It’s amazing when that happens. But most of time, that’s not the case. In those times, I (try to) paint without putting pressure on myself to love the result.
I’m simply exploring techniques and refining my approach, so that when I do have a great composition appear in my head, I’m prepared to execute my vision the way I want to. So I guess my motive is that I always want to push myself to be better.
We love to talk about a piece of your work that you have a particular connection to. Do you have one with a special story or meaning behind it?
The painting I did on a whim a few years ago has brought me so much luck, it’s crazy! It was of a fiddle leaf fig tree, as they were becoming really popular at that time. I posted a picture of it on Pinterest, and it sold pretty quickly after I posted it on Etsy.
To this day, people often contact me after seeing it on Pinterest, and it’s led to some amazing opportunities. I wish I had a high resolution scan of it, but alas, all I have is a fuzzy iPhone photo. Maybe someday I’ll buy it back from the person I sold it to, ha!
Somehow, many people who love visual work also like to read a lot. Do you have five favorite books that have been more than “just a book” for you?
Oh yeah, I love to read! I could talk about books all day, but to name five:
1) Take the Leap: Do What You Love 15 Minutes a Day and Create the Life of Your Dreams, by Heather Mccluskey Beck: I loved this book because it asks great questions that really get you thinking in new ways. It focuses on tapping into what you loved doing as a child and how to implement those things into your adult life. It helped me in many ways!
2) The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion, by Elle Luna: Elle is such an inspiration, it blows my mind. I can honestly say this book changed my life. If you haven’t looked into her 100 day projects, you need to!
3) Bossypants by Tina Fey: I’ve read it a hundred times. Somehow, it makes me laugh harder every time. If I ever need to get out of my head, this is my go-to book!
4) The Gifts of Imperfection, Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown: When I open this book, it’s basically all highlighted! Haha! I probably went through a pack of highlighters the first time I read it. I am a very type-A person, and I’m naturally really hard on myself about almost everything. This book really helped me to loosen up and realize that vulnerability is not a bad thing.
5) A Girl and Five Brave Horses by Sonora Carver: I grew up loving the movie Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken. It’s rare that I meet someone who’s seen it, but I recommend it to everyone. I recently read the autobiography that the movie was based on, and it was really inspiring. If you’re not familiar, Sonora Carver was a circus performer in the 1920’s, and she was blinded after an accident during her act. After she lost her sight, she continued to perform for another 11 years. I think of her story often when I need a boost of courage!
Is there some creative task that you always wanted to try out?
I recently bought a camera and I’m teaching myself to use it so I can photograph my work in situ. Interior photography is so challenging, but I’m having fun with it!
What are some of your upcoming projects?
I’m finishing up my first 100 day project soon, and after that I am going to focus on developing a pattern portfolio. I’d love to expand into textile design for home accessories.
I have a crazy obsession with cool throw pillows, so I’d love to see my designs sitting pretty on sofas all over the world! I’m also about to launch my new website, so I’ve been devoting a lot of time and energy to that recently. I’m excited for it to finally be done!
Can you tell us a bit about your past collaborations? How can we image this process?
My most recent collaboration was with Anthropologie for their Artist Atelier beauty collection. In a roundabout way, they found me through that aforementioned fiddle leaf fig painting on Pinterest! I did several paintings for them, and they used those on the packaging for a collection of perfume, lipstick, makeup bags, soap, etc. (Editor's note: See image above.)
The best part was that my name was on the products! I was pinching myself throughout the whole process. I’m so grateful for that opportunity, and they were absolutely lovely to work with.
Who would you love to work with in the future?
I have a small list of local shops where I would love to have framed artwork available for sale. I’m working on a plan to make this happen! My dream store would be Consort Design. I’m putting that out there into the universe!
You have a beautiful Instagram account! Do you have others that you would recommend to follow?
Wow, thank you! I love @virginiakrafttextiles (textiles), @winkwinkstudio (art), @francesloom (vintage rugs), @lysajordan_ (art), @venamour (stationary), @and.delight.reigned (styling), @corsignaturesart (art), @ceceliaclaire (pattern design), @carveouttimeforart (artist collective), and of COURSE @timeforcreativesouls!
➸ Head over to Emily's Instagram account or have a look on her website for more about her and her work.
You might also like our story about illustrator Milou Neelen and her stationary brand Hotel Magique - or meet the creative minds behind the Copenhagen-based food agency Sweet Sneak Studio.
At Mermaid Stories we were lucky to interview the Copenhagen-based furniture designer Amanda Lilholt who in this article invites you to get a glimpse of what is happening behind the scenes of her brand and shares her best advice.
Dear Amanda, can you tell us how Studio Amanda Lilholt started?
It started while I was studying at the school of design. I quickly realized that my dream wasn't to end up in an office, drawing sketches for other designers - my dream was to establish a brand that in a long run could lead to my own designer office. Already after the first year at the school of design I could feel a rising desire to create furniture beside all the school assignments, photograph the pieces and give them their own identity. So without thinking about it too much I started building my brand step by step. I started selling my school projects to get some money to further develop my ideas and that's how it all began.
Later I also became more and more interested in the strategic aspects of building a brand, and the more furniture I made and sold, the better I became at developing visual sales strategies. Already at the early stages of the brand building process I got featured in several press releases, which kept me motivated and going on with running the brand, while still in school.
Where do you find inspiration for design of your furniture collection?
It is often a reflection of what is going on inside me and a general curiosity within me that inspires me to create my collections. To be able to combine the head and the hands in a physical object as a result brings me inspiration. Curiosity often arises in relation to a material, when testing it and trying to figure out if I could add new qualities and characteristics to it.
What motivates you to keep creating on a daily basis?
I am motivated by the fact that I can wake up every morning and do what I love the most every day - create. For me it is natural to be in a constant creative process, constant creative flow and I personally consider being able to experience this a gift. To be able to be my own boss and decide how and when my ideas should be executed is pure happiness for me. The whole process of creating something, from the initial idea to the final physical result, motivates me, and I never get tired of it.
How does a typical day look for you?
Not two days in my life are the same, so it is difficult to describe what a typical day for me looks like. Though, there's one thing that is certain: My day always starts with a big cup of coffee.
Sometimes I spend the day at home in my studio, accompanied by mails and sketching. Sometimes I spend the day at my workshop where I make the ordered furniture pieces or work on prototypes. Other days are spent behind in my car driving around to suppliers, delivering or picking up materials and finished furniture. Some days can also contain customer meetings in different cities.
What is your best time management advice?
I have been trying to figure this out for many years myself, and I am still not in the position where I feel that I have a single, good advice to give to other people. Generally, I think that there are too few hours in a day, but my best advice would be to do one thing at a time, although you have a lot on your plate at the time being. If you have an important email to write, put the phone away while you work on it, so you won't get distracted by notifications from Instagram. Whether you need to finish a sketch, make a sample, write an email or do something else - always be fully present in the moment. And if things suddenly get too much and you loose the sense of coherence and capture of them, it is important to breathe, go for a walk, put things in perspective and then just start with something.
What is your biggest professional dream?
To be the leading brand within quality design and unique creations in Denmark. To be able to make total solutions around the world, where it is my eye and my aesthetics that decide how things should look and to be able to use my furniture catalogue for that. To be able to contribute with an "Amanda Lilholt" solution (we should dream big, right?).
From all of the projects that you have worked on or been a part of, what was the most exciting one and why?
The most exciting project that I have worked on has by far been the process of development of the technique that I use to make the surfaces for the furniture with - the surface treatment technique. I started to work on the technique a year prior to my graduation from the school of design and it ended up being my whole graduation project. The technique was later on refined and tested on different objects, but not earlier than last year did everything (the technique, the production process, the products themselves) culminate and result in "The A Collection" that later was expanded with "The Earth Collection", which contains the same technique, but uses different, brown and red toned colors. The technique has even later been developed in green toned colors and at the moment I am working on an art collection with the yellow color as the center point.
The whole journey has been very exciting, nerve-wrecking and it has cost me a fortune, but it was all worth it. Today I can sell unique tables made with a technique that I have discovered myself and that I haven't seen anywhere else, neither in Denmark nor abroad.
What is the most challenging part about what you do? How do you overcome these challenges?
I think that the whole production part of what I do is challenging and, in fact, much more challenging than I expected it to be. Many of my designs are still not being made, because it is difficult for me to get the manufacturers to want to collaborate and work with me, as my designs often are a bit complicated. Manufacturers would often like to do the same as they are used to doing, and they would change the design to make the production process easier and cheeper than the original design requires. But if the design gets changed, everything gets lost and I end up with something that looks like everything else on the market. So from the very beginning I have been very strickt with this and went from one manufacturer to the other, negotiated and discussed until I finally found someone who would produce my furniture without compromising the original design.
I haven't succeeded at that with the tables yet, so I still make them myself, one by one, at my workshop in Hellerup. But I can't keep doing it forever, as it is both hard, too risky and too expensive. I think it's about thinking long term and knowing that this is just a phase, otherwise it can be difficult to overcome the situation. So I still daily contact new manufacturers that hopefully would take on some of the pieces and in the future make my job at the workshop easier.
What piece of furniture from your collections is your favorite?
My tables with the surface treatments are my favorite pieces, because it is a technique that I have discovered and developed myself, it is a material that I have transformed into something different and the steel in the pieces became a living creation with unique patterns and structures, all different from one table to another. It makes me proud thinking about the fact that I was able to incorporate a self-developed technique into a collection of different furniture types that stand out from the rest of the assortment on the market.
What piece of furniture was the most difficult to design and create?
It is definitely my collections with surface treatments. It was extremely difficult to figure out how the shiny surface should be transformed into a solid table; it took me a while and a lot of tests to figure out how the construction, material and expression of the tables should be combined the most effectively.
If you could give one advice to women who consider starting their own business, what would it be?
My best advice would be: "Just do it". When this is said, then my best advice would be to really notice your feelings and figure out if this is the life you want to lead. You need to sacrifice a lot of things in order to reach your goals: Family time, time with friends, your personal time, freedom in general. You have to bet everything, quit your regular job for instance, as I don't think that you can succeed working on your business half time. It's hard to be your own boss and have your own company - there's no one to come in and pay the bills instead of you. You should be willing to take risks and you should have good discipline. If you are not passionate enough, I don't think that you will succeed - you have to give it your all. So first of all, you should figure out what sets your soul on fire.
Thank you so much for the interview, Amanda!
➸ Head over to Amanda Lilholt's inspiring Instagram account to keep up with her amazing work.
If you liked reading about Amanda Lilholt, you might like our interview with the creators of Lawa Design, or our conversation with the graphic designer and artist Anna Härlin.
Meet Anastasia: Dreamer, creator, entrepreneur, life coach, eternal optimist and true believer in people's personal abilities to create the life of their dreams, where they can do, be or have anything they like. Anastasia doesn't only have two businesses, she also works as a life coach for women.
In our interview, she shares exclusive and actionable advice on goal achievement and time management, a sneak peak into the world of a business woman and a ton of great energy and inspiration.
Can you tell our readers a bit about your background and what journey led you to starting your own businesses?
Yes, of course. My name is Anastasia and I grew up in a small town in southern Germany. My family had several Greek restaurants and although I never wanted to take over those businesses I knew that one day I wanted to have my own company. That dream led me to study business administration in Vienna, but I quit after four years without reaching a degree. It was too frustrating studying so hard, but still failing exams, not getting into the entrepreneurship major I really wanted to get into and simply feeling lost in traditional academia.
One night I was procrastinating studying and started reading a business magazine which portrayed a “no degree, no books, no teachers but peer to peer, project based, self-development, entrepreneurship school” in Amsterdam. Reading this article gave me goosebumps all over my body and I knew right then that I had to start my own entrepreneurial journey and attend such a school. So I quit my university, my apartment, my degree and basically my whole identity to go to Amsterdam, join the school and at the same time start my first business “Bite Me”.
What was the most challenging part of that journey and how did you overcome it?
I remember the most difficult part was to follow through with my decision. Most people say decision making is hard, whereas I thought: I know I want to go do MY thing, so decision - done. But to actually act on it took guts. Saying no to the “secure path” of regular education and saying goodbye to my emotional support of friends and family who weren’t exactly happy with me leaving. I had almost no savings, 1000 Euros to be concrete. I had no idea how to make money so quickly to pay for the tuition fee as well as living expenses and didn’t even have a clue what kind of business to start.
So all in all one could say the fear of failing was the biggest challenge I had to conquer and that’s still sometimes a challenge until this day. I certainly had to extend my sense of faith, but I remember thinking: I just have to stay busy in good energy, meet and talk to likeminded people, read contemporary articles, meditate to keep my mind calm and only take one step at the time.
What is the biggest lesson you learned on your way to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Wow, there are so many lessons. Where to start? Ok, let me see. One of the big ones is to start before you are ready. Back in 2012 when I started, I thought I cannot start just yet, I need more experience, I need more knowledge, I need more money, I need to be more connected, I need someone to help me. But the only way to get going is to get started. Now. There is no better time to do it.
Another lesson that is still accompanying me to this day is to not be overwhelmed with all the unknowns. Taking on new business adventures also means taking risks and I can’t have all the answers upfront. What helps me get out of this rat race is to think of the following picture of riding on a bike and only concentrating my view on the spinning wheel in front of me, but not to look ahead on the street. All I need to do (and keep doing!) is to keep the wheel spinning and the path will unfold. This helped me a lot when I was once a fitness instructor in Greece and had to cycle up mountains and I notice it also helps me stay calm and clear in my business.
Another big lesson is to do the number one thing that will bring my business further as the first thing in the morning, instead of after answering e-mails or taking on meetings. This way I can always stay on top of my game instead of running after other people’s agendas. No matter how uncomfortable or long it might take, take the biggest mouthful first, then go to the easy breadcrumbs.
Reading through my answers here, I can see that all my lessons evolve around taking action. Haha, yeah that’s me.
One of the businesses that you co-founded, Bite Me Crew, offers a new and fun take on dining experience involving creatively and interactively presented food. What was the main inspiration and motivation behind that business idea?
I guess it all started with my curiosity for people and food (notice that it wasn’t a passion yet). As mentioned earlier I come from the restaurant world and loved working in service and hosting our guests. At the same time I was interested in cross-culture cuisine and creative artsy setups, visual concepts and interaction.
Another business you co-founded is Villa Kultur - a working place for many companies and freelancers. How did that idea come to life and what was of the most importance to you when founding Villa Kultur?
So, we started Villa Kultur in 2017. We actually never had the intention to start a business like that but sometimes life throws these opportunities at you and then you just have to grab them. So here we already had an office in this quirky Villa from the 1920’s in Østerbro which we found through a random conversation with a friend of a friend. It was run by the municipality as a culture house but was challenged for many reasons, so they wanted to close the whole building unless somebody from the community had an idea that could rescue the house.
Together with the rest of the community, we didn’t have to think for very long to do something about it and got together with another company called Forvandlende Fortællinger and founded Villa Kultur, which is a platform for crazy creatives that want to change the way culture works. By day you can find a co-working space for designers, journalists, photographers, movie makers, food enthusiasts, writers or journalists and by night it turns into a space for concerts, exhibitions, workshops, talks, dinners and sometimes parties.
What was important to us was to facilitate collaboration between the companies through curating certain profiles to sit in the house or by monthly morning meetings, workshops or Friday bars or parties. This way we have seen many offices work together and use each other’s competences. I love when that happens. It’s creating a work community that feels like a family to me, where I can be of value to others around me and am allowed to be authentic to myself. Villa Kultur is my work home so just like at home I care for having good coffee, being able to take off my shoes and feel at home, literally.
Besides running these very interesting businesses you also coach future entrepreneurs and creative souls. What motivated you to follow the coaching career?
I believe coaching is something that I have done all my life without finding a word for it. I have always been interested in uplifting others, listening to stories and finding solutions to problems. I am a great dreamer which is handy when helping other people find their own dreams. After my own path in life became about figuring out "how the fuck do I live the life I really want", I discovered coaching as a profession and went to a great coaching school in London to get educated. That was one of the best decisions in my life. I can see the results it brings with the women I coach and that simply warms my heart. When they finally reach for the stars in small and big continuous actions and I get to witness their journey I feel just a feeling of belonging and meaning which I wish for everyone to experience.
What are some of the main issues and concerns that you address in your coaching sessions?
Some people come to coaching because they find themselves stuck between too many options to navigate. They might want to quit their jobs and do something else, but don't know how to make the jump. They might want to start their own business, but don't know in what. Or they already have their own business, but they are stuck with jobs that mostly pay the bills and are lacking a sense of fulfillment. I also have clients that simply feel overwhelmed with all their roles as parents, spouses and business owners and need to find ways to get back in balance. I help many of them to find their real desires, set priorities and make an actionable plan, which I hold them accountable for. I find that most people lack the engine for starting their own endeavor because they don't know how to start and what to do and this is exactly what I can contribute with. Starting something has never been my problem.
Many dream of running their own business, but not so many actually make it to that point. What is your number one advice when it comes to starting the entrepreneurial journey and continuing pursuing own dreams?
I think what is holding back most people is that they get too short-sighted when they think about their life and are not willing to make sacrifices. Not everyone is willing to let go of comforts in their life, like financial benefits or social activities. So the first thing I do is ask people about their vision in their lives. Make a huge ass big vision for yourself and imagine what it would bring to you if you went for it. Maybe you would feel extremely creative, had staff that would support you and you could spend most of the time doing things you love. Then find out why you want it, because if your purpose is not strong enough, you might just let your dream go again when it gets tough. And lastly it is action again. Make a strategy, get a plan and go do the work. No thinking can make our dreams become reality.
What inspires and drives you personally on your entrepreneurial and coaching journey?
I love the freedom of realizing ideas that come into my mind. And I get ideas from anything around me, conversation with people, travels, reading books, watching movies, anything really, nature. So I guess in short, it is constant creation. That is the best part about being a grown-up, nobody tells me what to do anymore.
I always ask myself: What do I want? How would it make me feel? Does it fit into my big picture vision? Yes? How can I make it happen? Who can I ask for help? Who can involve? I love working on projects with people I like. So here again, I love spending time with good people and being an entrepreneur allows me to spend the time with the best people I have around me. I feel so lucky to be able to do that.
What professional and personal advice would you give your younger self that you think would have helped you along your journey if you knew about it?
So, the biggest professional one would be: Go ask for favors. Be bold and big and ask until you get it. Don’t wait for people to see you and pick you up.
And a big personal one: Be patient and enjoy the now, whatever it is, because no matter what is going on, you are on the right path.
Are you currently working on any new exciting projects that you can reveal?
Oh yes! One small thing I’m excited about in Bite Me these days is that we’ve just set the date for the next Vild Vin Festival on May 11th. It’s basically just one big tasting and celebration of great wines, good food and life in general.
At Villa Kultur we are busy working on a new cultural program focused on the cultural creator of the future filled with talks, workshops and new art experiments. We got news of funding for the project just before Christmas and it will all launch during spring.
Finally, one of my big dreams have always been to make more online content and do creative movies, courses and interviews around the topics I love. We have only just begun this development which you can see in videos and blogs on Bite Me’s website and I think 2019 for me will be crazy with online content on all platforms, so keep yourself updated out there.
We are always looking for more inspiration. Can you share your favorite Instagram profiles that we and our readers simply have to take a look at
Yes, I love looking at these ones: @simplyrealhealth, @culturetrip, @fikiadaretreats, @girlsareawesome and @ohhhmhhh
Thank you very much for the interview, Anastasia!
➸ Head over to Anastasia's inspiring Instagram account for inspiration, great energy and only positive vibes. You can also get in touch with Anastasia by email at hey@anastasiadimitriadou.com
If you liked reading about Anastasia Dimitriadou, you might like our interview with social media consultant Elina Neumann or our conversation with ArtFusion Copenhagen founder Louise Autrup.
Interview by Mermaid Stories
In between all the posters on the market, you can also find other ways to decorate your walls: How about beautiful carpets that are both artsy and express a hint of hygge? Anne Louise Rasmussen and Maja Marie Halling, the founders of Röd Studio, are creating exactly these rugs. What started as a master's degree project between two co-students has developed into a creative studio that now makes high-quality, unique and stylish carpets that add a fun touch to any interior.
In our interview with the two creative women behind Röd Studio, you get exclusive behind-the-scene insights and learn about the inspiration behind the collections, different stages of the creative process and future of the studio.
To begin with, please tell us more about how Röd Studio started and the meaning behind the name? How did you come up with the idea for it?
We met at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts where we both studied textile design. We started working together throughout the last year of our master's degree and we did our final project together. It turned out to be a pretty great match, because we contributed with different qualities and understood each other's ideas and thoughts. After finishing the design school we just continued working on the concepts we had created together. We were very curious to see where we could take it and so we decided to start our own workspace in Copenhagen, so we wouldn’t have to compromise our ideas.
The name RÖD was something we came up with quite early in the process, as we wanted something short and graphic, but also something Nordic and strong. It means the color "red" in Danish. Red has so many great connotations – even though red has feminine qualities, it symbolizes power. We know it is a difficult word to pronounce if you don’t speak Danish but there is also a bit of humor in that fact – something to talk about. Well, it’s just a name, but in some way we really identify with it now.
What was the biggest lesson you learned when founding the studio?
That there is a lot more to it than great ideas and pretty things. It’s hard work to be business ladies. All we wanted was (and still is) to create wonderful and playful products, but there’s not always that much time for that – the fun stuff. As a new brand there’s a lot to learn and two and a half years later we are still learning great lessons everyday.
What is the inspiration behind your textile art style?
We are very much inspired by foreign cultures and aesthetics. We have traveled to Morocco and Istanbul where a lot of our visual elements come from – colors, materials, shapes. It works for us taking time away from the well-known and explore new design fields. It’s not enough to look at pictures on Pinterest or Google. We want to see it, smell it and feel it to really get inspired.
Of course we also have our muses, such as Picasso, and we love the art periods and movements, such as Constructivism, Cubism, Bauhaus etc.
What motivates you to continue creating your products?
The desire to create. It’s just an indescribable satisfaction to see your own ideas taking shape.
Can you walk us through the different stages of the process of creating your products?
We usually begin the process by making a lot of sketches, color samples and collages to select the visual identity of a collection. Then we make experiments to decide which techniques to use, and then at last we will pick out which pieces to make for the collection.
How do you choose the colors and patterns that you use?
What are the challenges that you run into most frequently and how do you deal with them?
Economic challenges. It is one big illusion when you open a fancy magazine that everything looks all glamorous and posh. The truth is that there’re a lot of hard working artists behind the facade busting their asses off – pardon the language. But it is really a key issue for us. We would love to see more realness in the design industry and a little less competition on how to present yourself perfectly.
There are both pros and cons to working together with a partner and not everyone seems to like having a business partner. From your experience of working together, what would be your advice on the art of compromise and managing working with a partner?
Life is full of compromises and we are using them to sharpen our work. We think it is mostly a positive thing to have two pair of eyes instead of one. Of course it takes a bit longer sometimes when you have to discuss and defend your own ideas, if the other one doesn’t follow them, but hey, maybe your idea wasn’t that great after all. But it is also important to be open-minded and go along – that is where the magic happens, when you dare to make mistakes. We are here to challenge and complement each other, not to restrict each other.
Your textile art has been featured in quite a few magazines. What magazine is it your dream to be featured in?
We always feel very happy and proud when anyone shows interest in our work. We don’t have any specific magazines in mind – maybe magazines with more male readers, haha.
What is your professional vision for Röd Studio?
We wanna run the carpet world… kidding. We would love to see our carpets in all sorts of homes. It would also be fun to do more collaborations with others.
What are some of your upcoming projects?
We are currently working on a big project where we will be doing a collaboration with textile manufactures in Mexico. It’s a big dream coming true for both of us and we are so excited to experience the visual identity of Mexico.
Could you imagine taking other textile interior design pieces in your art collection besides carpets?
Yes, absolutely. We are brainstorming on other possibilities at the moment and we will launch new products in 2019 – the rest will be kept as a secret for now.
Which other designers’ or art companies’ work do you like?
That is a very difficult question. Who to point out? There are so many to choose from. We really like Cold Picnic’s work, who also make rugs. They have a very humorous and colorful expression even though they are quite commercial. CC Tapis is one of our favorite carpet makers. We love the way Pettersen & Hein play with the concrete in their designs. We are also girl-crushing on Klara Lilja, a young danish ceramic-artist - she has this wonderful supernatural and magical aesthetic.
Thank you so much for the interview, Anne Louise and Maja Marie!
➸ Head over to Röd Studio's inspiring Instagram account to keep up with their amazing creative work
If you liked reading about the women behind Röd Studio, you might like our interview with ArtNight co-founder Aimie-Sarah Carstensen-Henze or our conversation with ArtFusion Copenhagen founder Louise Autrup.
In this interview in our Time For Creative Souls series, the incredibly talented artist Liv Ranfelt shares the journey that led her to discover her passion for art, sources of inspiration for her work, thoughts behind her signature style and advice on how to find the creative voice that is hidden within us all.
To begin with, could you tell us about yourself and the journey that led you to discover your passion for creating art?
I was born in Århus in 1987. I was always very creative as a child, but people around me didn't believe there was money in it, so for a part of my life I nearly gave up on a creative life and shut down all those creative processes. I went to school and put my mind to building more of a standard life. Luckily I found myself in a situation completely free from all ties, and so I decided to chase my dream and move to Copenhagen to study fashion. It was tough, but I'm happy about it. During my education, I got the amazing opportunity to work as a designer in Guangzhou, China, while I traveled back and forth to Copenhagen to finish my degree in sustainable fashion.
I've always loved art and especially abstract art. I painted a lot when I was a child and actually had Water Lilies by Claude Monet as a curtain. This way, art was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes in the morning. I think that was the best thing in the world - that I could begin the day by daydreaming off into art. When I moved back to Denmark from China, I felt that I had to find a way to get my heart more involved in my work. That is why, when in January I was at the Museum and saw an exhibition with Picasso, it was like finding a lost love. I immediately fell back in love and found that part of myself that had been missing. I went home and found some old sketch books I had made a few years back. I also took out all my painting equipment. Since then I have painted almost every day.
How did you come up with your signature style?
I have always loved Picasso, Matisse, Claude Monet. I think that art and fashion are very connected. In fashion, you see things that inspire you, and when they touch something in your soul, you take it to a more modern approach and give it a contemporary expression. This way there will be parts of yourself and your inspiration in every piece of clothing, every piece of art.
I am very inspired by people and human thoughts. How do we communicate as humans? What parts do we feel we must keep to ourselves? Do we feel that we lose something by revealing our deepest thoughts and fears, or is it these thoughts that create the urge to express creatively? Do we really see each other in the modern world, or are we too busy ourselves to be present with each other?
My style has been developed through analysis and interpretation of what inspires and touches me. It is a combination of my thoughts and the message I would like to tell in my paintings.
What is the most challenging part of creating graphic abstract art and what you do in general? How do you overcome these challenges?
I think that the biggest challenge for me as an artist is to approach creativity with a child's curiosity. As we grow up, we overthink the process. The pressure to be successful can limit the process of developing as an artist and a human. I try to stay in it by following my intuition and doing things I feel are right and not overthink it too much.
And what is the most fun part about what you do?
That I wake up every morning and love what I do, while I have the opportunity to express my feelings and thoughts.
Where do you seek inspiration for your artwork? What drives and motivates you to create?
Inspiration is everywhere. It can be a structure in a door, in the sky or a conversation. My phone is full of pictures I've taken everywhere I go. My emotional life is also a driver. I simply can't stop creating. It's so deep within me, this need to create. I feel there's something missing in me when I don't express myself through art. Painting is a process for me to express my deepest feelings and questions about myself and society around me. With the line on the paper I can tell the story I can't put into words. Afterwards, I look at it and try to understand.
For instance, my picture “Times go by” is full of faces looking away from each other, I thought about how we are so busy that we do not really see each other. We all sometimes have our eyes closed towards one another and do not try to understand the people we meet on our way. The three watches symbolize time. There is a watch where the numbers are at the bottom of the watch and one where the time goes wrong. This to me symbolizes how time is abstract and how time slips through in between our fingers. The clock that works correctly symbolizes attempting to live in the moment and looking around to our fellow human beings. The arms are the attempts to reach out to each other in order to connect, but also to grab time in order to stop it.
Are there times when you feel “stuck” creatively? How do you deal with such moments?
Of course there are times when I feel stuck, but lately I'm so full of ideas that it's difficult to keep up. I actually have five notebooks full of sketches. If I feel stuck and need inspiration they're great to look through. I don't think I'll make it through all of them in my lifetime.
Can you tell us more about your process of creating art? Do you have any special rituals that help you along the way when painting?
I'm a morning person and my creativity is best in the morning. I usually get up at six to seven in the morning. I put music on like Billy, Sinatra or music in that style as it is quiet music that creates some good frames for my creativity. I think a lot before I fall asleep and the same when I get up, so at that time my thoughts and feelings are very clear which gives me a need to create. If I have a lot of things to do in the morning, it can be hard to reach back to that space where I can create.
We noticed that besides creating pictures, you also develop fashion collections. How do the two art areas of your work overlap? How does your interest fashion influence your painting work and in reverse?
There are many ways the two areas cross each other. In the process of developing art, I sometimes feel that there is something missing or wrong in the painting. Then I can go back to my design background where I look more analytically on the elements and try to figure out the problem in the expression. Conversely, in the designing, I can also use art to express myself in print detail textiles.
Could you imagine evolving your work more in the direction of fashion and start producing clothing collections?
It's actually a big dream of mine to combine the two things and creating a concept where art meets fashion.
Do you have a piece of your work that occupies a special place in your heart, the one that you have a special connection to? The one piece that has a very special story behind it?
It's a good question, I think every picture has a special place when I give them a piece of myself, but if I have to choose one, it must be "Soul". The picture captures very well what I tried to express. It was also the first bigger picture that I sold.
What are some of your professional dreams and goals and upcoming projects?
I have a lot of plans, but the most important thing for me at this point is to create more awareness of my brand and become more established in the market.
How do you manage working for yourself and staying focused and productive?
Every day I have so much I'd like to do. Therefore, I usually have a plan for the work I want to get done every day. To achieve it all, it's important that I'm focused. I remember that while I love being creative, it's a job like others and therefore there's a lot of practicalities involved in getting the work done. In the end, you have to sit down and do it.
Many fear to be more creative, as they fear being judged and misunderstood. What is your best advice for others that can help them discover their own creative voice and speak up with it?
My teacher used to say that if you looked at a final product without finding things you could do better, you would stop your own creative development.
We all have heroes of our craft. These are people we deeply admire, because their work moves us and challenges us to be better at our own. Their voice comes through loud and clear in their work. However, they weren't born with a creative voice to speak up with. It's a process of trying and failing and through it getting better and developing a creative voice. I think my best advice is to overcome fear of failing, but instead see it as a process to get better and stronger and through it find your voice.
Last but not least: We love your Instagram feed - what are your best tips on creating an outstanding account?
Thank you so much, I'm so glad you think that. My advice to others would be to have a style that makes you happy and follow your instinct and decide what you want to communicate and stick to it.
What Instagram accounts do you turn to for inspiration?
I really like the Instagram account of inthefrow. She is the ultimate girl boss and a total perfectionist. Her universe is so inspiring to me.
Martin.tardy. His lines are super inspirational to me and create the wildest oneliners.
Elenagual.art. Her interpretation of portrait is so beautiful and I can only recommend checking her Instagram account out.
Thank you so much for the interview, Liv!
➸ Head over to Liv Ranfelt's inspiring Instagram account to keep up with her beautiful work
If you liked reading about Liv Ranfelt, you might like our interview with the French, Copenhagen-based photographer Joséphine Löchen or our conversation with the Danish artist Bettina Holst.
With experience from multiple professional areas, and with a passion for beauty and colorful lifestyle, Elina founded the German blog BARE MINDS to share her advice, inspire and help women to reconnect with their inner and outer beauty and to build a great relationship with themselves. In the following interview, Elina shares her thoughts on the challenges that bloggers face, on her favorite beauty products and adventurous lifestyle.
Dear Elina, thanks a lot for taking the time! To start, we would like to know how you became a beauty blogger?
Thank you for the great opportunity. I worked in a PR agency for quite a long time when I decided to be free and independent. This was the birth if the idea creating a beauty destination. I started my blog back in 2015. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what I was doing. Originally I studied fashion design, so I already was into the beautiful things in life.
With my blog I always had an idea to inspire people and create a platform where beauty isn’t just about lipsticks. Beauty is much more, it is about self love an a healthy relationship with yourself.
Did you blog full-time from the very beginning?
No, at the beginning I was working in a PR Agency as Senior PR Consultant and team leader. After one year, I decided to work freelance. Now, two years later I'm responsible for content strategy, social media and influencer relations for different brands. I am part digital consultant, part Social Media consultant, marketing expert, part creative director, part photographer, finance manager, part expert at connecting people and part writer... Not to mention, I can make great tea and a fantastic breakfast. And of course, I am running BARE MINDS and one year ago, I started a food business with my boyfriend, named About Fuel.
We can imagine it is tough to be a blogger today since your followers expect constant updates and new pictures. How do you free yourself from the thought that everything has to be perfect?
Of course, the business isn't easy, it is tough, because there are a lot of great people and blogs. You definitely have to love your job and be creative and trust yourself and never forget to have creative breaks and collect new inspiration. I would say that this is one of the most important things - being inspired.
What is your recommendation for someone who isn’t very familiar with beauty products yet to develop a nice routine? Where should one start? It can be overwhelming with all the products there are…
That is a good question. The most important thing with beauty is that you have to be open for it. If you are not familiar with beauty products yet, but want to develop a routine, start with the most important - a cleanser and a day cream. You can also start with a serum and a beauty tool, such as a jade roller - beauty tools are more fun than you think. But always keep in mind that beauty is about spending time with yourself.
What are some new beauty brands on the markets that you really like?
Oh, that is a hard question. I'm not using 100% organic brands, but there are a few green products in my routine that I adore, because of their modern philosophy and values. Not all of them are new, but all very interesting - Skin Regimen, Josh Rosebrook, MUTI, Whamisa, Lovely Day Botanicals and OZN. The brands themselves enhance the social responsibility, sustainability, encouragement for the change, charity aspects and premium quality in the products and services range.
Last year, you released your own nail polish in collaboration with OZN. Could you tell us more about this project?
I know Nina from OZN from the beginning of blogging. I love the concept of the brand and the products. Since Nina is often in Berlin for private reasons, we have become more friends than business partners over time. At the beginning of 2017 she simply asked me if I wanted to create a varnish together with her. Since we have quite similar attitudes to the subject of beauty and I stand 100% behind the product, I of course said yes. That was one of the best decisions I made last year and I'm still glad that she asked me.
You have recently also started to include more topics, such as travel. What were your favorite destinations in the last year?
That's mean! I love to travel and discover the world. I have a real longing for adventure. Every country, every city and every continent is completely different and special in its own way. In fact, I am a big fan of Copenhagen, Cape Town and LA. But Bali was also beautiful. This year I had planned to travel more in Europe: Mallorca surprised and fascinated me with its mountains and beaches.
Traveling is probably only one of the perks of your job. What do you like the most about being a blogger?
Since I am not only a blogger, but also work as a consultant, I am not quite flexible. Nevertheless, I love the freelancer life, because it is so flexible and very exciting. You do so many different projects, you grow on them and you learn so much. As a blogger, you are of course also a lot on the road and able to discover new brands, their concepts and philosophies, but I also love the artistic. As a trained fashion designer, I love photographing and developing atmospheres, settings and moods. I would like to do this kind of work more in the future.
What is challenging these days when being a blogger?
Unfortunately, bloggers are still underestimated so much, but it's a very serious profession that you can compare to a magazine. If you do it professionally, it's editorial work. We do research, take photographs and write articles. As I said before, we don't just take pictures of ourselves - we develop concepts, photograph and advise.
You are doing a lot of interviews on your blog as well. Who would you like to interview one day?
Of course I could list one or the other celebrity, but I am also interested in the thoughts of people like you and me. I would love to talk to Madeleine Daria Alizadeh and Violette (French make-up artist, note of the editors) about beauty.
What are you doing this year? Do you have any exciting projects coming up?
This year I have done many consulting jobs, but now I want to concentrate more on my own projects and trying to work even more creatively. I don't want to talk about it much yet, I want to try to implement it first :-)
Last, but not least: could you tell us some of your favorite Instagram accounts for inspiration?
Of course:
Thank you so much for the interview, Elina!
➸ Head over to Elina's inspiring Instagram account to keep up with beauty trends and Elina's adventurous lifestyle
If you liked reading about Elina, you might like our interview with Artnight founder Aimie-Sarah Carstensen-Henze or our conversation with Zurich-based beauty influencer Victoria Steiner.
American Vouge, New York Times Magazine, Costume and other internationally known magazines are on the list of Joséphine Löchen's clients. What started as a free time passion and hobby for Joséphine turned out to be her wildly successful career. Inspired by the beauty of everyday situations, as well as art and design, she now creates stunning photographs that capture the heart of many people around the world.
As part of our series Time For Creative Souls where we talk to inspirational people with an own view, we wanted to hear more about Joséphine's background and what inspires her for her art.
Can you tell us more about your background and the journey that led you to discovering your passion for art and photography? Did you always know what you wanted to do?
I was born in Paris in 1989, and I grew up in Marseille, South of France. When I was 23 I integrated in a photographic school in Paris, Gobelins École de l’Image. I got degree and then I moved to Copenhagen because my husband is Danish and I wanted to follow him to Denmark.
Since I was a child I was obsessed with images. I used to keep a journal where I made some collages with commercials and campaigns I found in fashion and design magazines. I got my first camera for my 15th birthday and I started to shoot my daily life. It took me some time before I realized that I wanted to be a photographer. For me it was somehow part of my routine, but I never thought that I could use it as a job.
Where do you seek inspiration for your art work? What places, moments, things inspire you to create?
I seek my inspiration in a lot of different fields. For a very long time it has been Japanese photography and paintings. I am also obsessed with old covers from fashion magazines. French cinema and paintings, and all kinds of design.
Many photographers have a specific expression in their pictures that is typical for them. Which expression is typical for you?
My typical expression is intimacy. I also need to be fascinated by the model to start taking pictures.
Among the selected clients for your work, there are internationally known magazines, such as American Vogue and New York Times Magazine. What is it like to work with such widely known magazines? What do you enjoy the most about the working process?
I think the most interesting part is to share same ideas with the magazines and to get the chance to express yourself. If they get and understand what you want to say, and your message through your medium, it is a real accomplishment.
What has been the most exciting project that you have worked on so far and why?
All my projects in general. I take pictures each day. The most exciting moments are when I press the button and then when I develop my film and that I can start to work on it.
We like to ask artists about a piece of their work that has a special story behind it. Do you have such one?
Yes I have a special piece. It is a picture I had the chance to exhibit in a gallery in Paris. The picture represents flowers I found in a market in Hong-Kong a few years ago. The flowers are red gladiolus. The light, the colors and shapes make it look as if it was a painting.
What do you find the most challenging about your work and how do you overcome these challenges?
The biggest challenge for a photographer I think is to keep on being naive, to be enraptured and to see the world in a different way. It is when you are enraptured that you create beauty and messages.
Are the other projects/causes/interests besides photography and art creation that you are passionate about?
Other projects are to build a family and take care of people around me.
What are your professional dreams and goals for the future? What is your professional vision?
My professional dream is to spend my whole life taking pictures. Goals in the future would be to work more on personal projects and documentaries.
If you could give one advice to other women that could help them find their own voice, what would it be?
My advice to other women would be to listen to yourself and never let anyone telling you what you have to do. Trust what you feel in the bottom of your stomach and here you have the answer.
Thank you very much for the interview, Joséphine!
➸ Head over to Joséphine's inspiring Instagram account to keep up with her beautiful work.
If you liked reading about Joséphine, you might like our interview with the American artist Kandyce King or our conversation with the Danish travel blogger Nikoline Tengler.
Since Couturekulten was founded by Laura Tønder in 2009, it has followed her life that is greately influenced by her main passion - fashion. With education in fashion design from Margrethe Skolen, as well as experience from designer work, Laura strives not only to make an impact on the fashion world with her unique style and sense of fashion, but also help other girls find their inner voice through clothing.
Since when have you been blogging?
I started Couturekulten as a hobby back in November 2009, so almost nine years ago!
How can we imagine your everyday?
My days never look the same at the moment, but I turn to my closet every morning not knowing what to wear and sometimes I find the look picture-worthy.
How do you balance blogging with your day job?
For me I’m lucky to have two dream jobs, and I get to spent every moment of the day working somehow related to fashion, which is super exciting and rewarding.
What is the most challenging about being a design assistant in fashion?
The constant fear of not evolving. Since fashion is always moving, I’m constantly afraid of getting stuck. I change routines, try and do things differently. My boyfriend pointed this out the other day when I sat myself down at another chair than usual at the dining table. He asked why and I said I just somehow felt like changing my routine.
We hear many influencers and fashion bloggers complain about Instagram and its new algorithm. What role does the social platform play for you?
I do feel the new algorithm has changed my engagement, the loss of some posts and win on others, many followers don’t even get the content from the profiles they follow, which I think is very sad.
Slouchy boots, oversize blazers and a leather trench coat.
What are some of your favorite brands, old and newcomers? Is there a recent discovery of something new that you could share with us?
I love Prada, Nanouska, Ellery and Saloni. They are all very feminine with a strong creative concept.
What are some upcoming projects that you are excited about?
I’m excited about running my first half marathon this fall. In the past six months I’ve focused on developing a stronger mind and body, and my first big challenge is this one.
Which are your favorite Instagram accounts for Inspiration?
All amazing and strong women that inspire me with their style but also as great friends.
For our last lookbook, you have been working with Maria Jernov. Can you tell a bit more about the hashtag you use when working together, #LTMJ?
Maria and I work together on creative projects using our skills in styling and photography to deliver content for brands to use, shooting looksboks, online campaigns or editorials.
Which piece is your favorite from the Mermaid Stories jewelry collection?
Asta, I love the lightness and simplicity together with the cool raw pearl.
Thank you so much for the interview, Laura!
➸ Head over to Laura's inspiring Instagram account to keep up with what's in style
If you liked reading about Laura, you might like our interview with Cecilie Krog or our conversation with Victoria Steiner.
Next to working on inspiring women through her own blog By Krog, Cecilie also works for different companies creating social media and other content. As part of our interview series Cool Copenhageners where we take a glimpse into the universe of creative women in Mermaid Stories' home city, we have talked to Cecilie about her everyday as a blogger and content creator.
We really like the beautiful Scandi chic aesthetics of By Krog! How did you get started with your blog and Instagram account?
Thanks so much, Cecilie!
➸ Head over to Cecilie's Instagram account or her blog for more Scandi chic inspiration and beautiful minimalistic aesthetics.
If you liked reading about Cecilie, you might like our interview with Swiss fashion stylist Victoria Steiner or our conversation with blogger Caroline Plummer from Denmark.
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In our series Time For Creative Souls, we interview interesting and inspiring personalities, who all have in common that they are extremely creative and talented. They are all people with their own view on the world and together we invite you into their universe.
Aimie-Sarah had been working for some bigger companies before she got started as the co-founder of ArtNight together with David Neisinger. The idea: Creating events where artists show people how to paint, all while meeting new friends and discovering new restaurants, bars or other locations. We talked with Aimie about how the two founders got started and what are their new plans.
Dear Aimie, how did you and your co-founder come up with the idea to found ArtNight?
David went to the United States in 2016 to visit his girlfriend. He wanted to surprise her and was looking for a date idea. So he found “Paint and Sip”. This was an art event where an artist shows a group of participants how to create your own masterpiece within two hours. People there were so relaxed painting together. David was surprised about that he actually could paint and found his hidden talent. He got to know lots of new interesting people and it was just a fun evening. Back in Germany he told me about his evening and all I thought was: “Let’s do this!” We were both thinking : Europe needs this type of event too, full of fun and creativity! So we started ArtNight in Germany.
How did you get started after having the idea?
It was a really hard beginning. We started ArtNight in autumn 2016. It was just David and me at first. The biggest challenge was to convince people about an idea which was probably completely new for them. At first, we needed to find artists. Secondly, we needed to tell the world about our idea. Berlin was the first city where we get started. We printed flyers and sent them all over Berlin in order to get some word of mouth, particularly to convince some artists to join us and to tell Berlin that there is an great art event in their city. We were overwhelmed about all the positive feedback we got!
The biggest challenge was to convince people about an idea which was probably completely new for them.
What is the concept of the art nights?
You can purchase a ticket online and you can also choose online which motive you would like to paint on your ArtNight. The artist is showing step by step how to create your own artwork within two hours. The painting techniques are made so easy that even beginners can join such an art event without needing any knowledge of painting. It is more about having fun, getting to know great people from your town and have a great evening!
How do you scout the artists that host the art nights?
We’re lucky to have a certain reputation right now, so we get spontaneous candidatures via our website. Otherwise, our talented HR Director Linda is doing marvels.
How is your day divided between creative projects and more administrative tasks for the company?
I am actually doing more strategic tasks at the moment but I am going to ArtNights to have some creativity time. It is always good to spend some time off after doing all the administrative work and to get some new energy.
I just learned that founding your own business takes time and believing in yourself and in your idea is the most important thing. I mean, when you are not believing, why should others?
What did you learn in the course of founding the business that you didn’t expect before?
Of course founding your own business is always a big challenge. You never know if you succeed or just fail. We worked hard and till late at night. David and me believed in our idea and we were very convinced that ArtNight is a concept which Europe needs. But we could not be sure if people think it is an great idea or not. So this was our biggest risk. We did not expect that people are that much convinced as we are. I just learned that founding your own business takes time and believing in yourself and in your idea is the most important thing. I mean, when you are not believing, why should others?
You took part in the German version of the TV show Shark Tank. Were there any surprises or outcomes you didn’t anticipate?
David and me were very nervous on that day and especially when the door opens to see the five jurors. We did not even know that Dr. Georg Kofler replace Judith Williams because she was sick on that day. We never expected that we could convince two out of four and could not be happier. Dr. Georg Kofler suggested a deal and we just could not be believe that! He´s a great partner to work with, as well as our other investors.
What are current challenges in your company?
Currently we’re expanding to Europe, which is a big challenge as we have to deal with multiple languages and legislations. And as always, a quickly expanding team is always interesting to manage.
What are the next steps for ArtNight?
We are expanding in Europe at the moment and already expanded into Austria and Switzerland. Moreover, we are thinking about more countries to spread our idea and our concept. We've got a couple of countries planned already, and we can't wait to expand there now! Next year we'll also expand into new products. So stay tuned...
What are some of your favorite artists?
Katharina Grosse is a contemporary artist who proves the power of women and who creates awesome color-explosive art to experience! She is also a role model as a real power women within the very male-dominated art world.
Which Instagram accounts about art inspire you?
I really like the Instagram account of our ArtNight artist Zina Levina. She is a great illustrator. Her artworks are unique, full of details and so colourful. It always makes me happy to have a look on them!
I am also a big fan of Nina Thym’s Instagram account! Her artworks inspire me a lot and they are also so unique. One of my favourite ArtNight motive “Blumenmädchen” is illustrated by her.
Aura Raja is a great artist as well. She is a really fun person and a person full of happiness, so are her artworks!
I am a huge fan of handlettering that is why I like Tanja Meyer’s Instagram account so much. Apart from that she is also doing really awesome abstract illustrations like the one about Picasso.
To be honest, I just cannot decide which Instagram account of art I got inspired the most because all of our ArtNight artists have their uniqueness in their artworks!
Thank you for sharing your passion with us, Aimie!
➸ You want to get an insight about what ArtNight is about? You can find more information on their website or Instagram account. Or follow Aimie's startup life on her personal Instagram account for some great inspiration and backstage glimpses about being a company founder.
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In our series Scandi Chic, we invite you to meet some very talented and interesting people, who all share a passion for Scandinavian fashion and style. In the last years, many new brands have entered the scene, some with a very interesting approach about what concerns both the traditional Scandinavian Chic in terms and cuts and colors, but also a special eye on sustainability.
ArtFusion Copenhagen is a young brand which has already gathered interest from shops and buyers in and outside of Denmark. We are very happy to have talked to Louise Autrup Vinkel, co-founder of ArtFusion Copenhagen, about her passion for design and art - and of course the color pink.
What was the idea behind founding ArtFusion copenhagen?
ArtFusion Copenhagen is founded by me and my husband Jesper. Jesper has about twenty years experience in the textile industry and I am a painter. We wanted to combine all of our ideas, passion and experiences, the best from both our worlds, and make something spectacular together.
ArtFusion is founded upon the idea to bring art and fashion together in one brand. We want to create original collections, full of personality, poetry and playfulness. We are working with a sustainable profile and have a strong wish to create Slow Fashion. Using high quality and sustainable fabrics, our garments are meant to last for season after season.
Sustainability is also about trying to change the over-production that is dominating the fashion industry today. We need to change our traditional perspective on consuming and shopping. This is why we only run twi collections per year. A long term vision for us is to contribute to a more sustainable industry and create an alternative to fast fashion.
What is your background?
I was educated from Copenhagen School of Art in 2014. The next couple of years I worked as an independent artist. I have mostly exhibited in Denmark, but have sold my work worldwide. In 2016, me and Jesper started talking about doing something together and this was the beginning of ArtFusion Copenhagen.
What is the balance of art and clothing? How are they connected in your brand?
I am making new artworks for every collection, this includes paintings, drawing, collages and poetry. Before I begin, I have determined colors and theme for the coming collection, other than that the artworks are created on its own terms. All of our print stories are developed from my original work, I also like to include some embroidery and poetry on selected styles. Our collections have about 60 styles and 3 different print stories. When transforming the artworks to print, it is important to me, that the narrative from the original artwork, is carried on to our print stories.
A long term vision for us is to contribute to a more sustainable industry and create an alternative to fast fashion.
Is the plan to use similar colors or will they change from season to season?
Our color palette will change from season to season. However the color pink is becoming a signature color for us and will be included in some variations in all collections. I love that the pink color has such feminine power.
You have recently also opened a shop. Why did you make this decision as a very young brand?
We had the opportunity to take over this great lease in Ny Østergade in Copenhagen. We decided it was too good to turn down. So we took a leap of faith. Having our own store, gives us the chance to invite customers in and experience the universe that surrounds our brand. I like being in direct contact with our customers, I learn so much on how they see our brand and what they are interested in. It is also my intention to invite other artists to exhibit in the store.
What did you learn from your customers that you didn’t expect before?
A thing I have learned and am vey pleased with, is that our print stories and signature styles are also what our customers are drawn by and select. Another thing is the customers' interest in our fabrics, supply chain and production. I see this as a positive thing. It shows me that there is a increased interest in quality, sustainability and ethical working conditions.
Do your customers have a favorite piece of clothing already? Which is exceptionally popular?
Yes, our striped Rio program in white/dark green and light/dark pink is very popular. Also our silk shirts with print and our pink silk chiffon dress are already favorite pieces.
What did you learn in the process of founding the company?
It has been a crazy ride so far. I am so glad to have my husband as a partner, I think we make a strong team. And with the time and energy you need to invest in the business, it's nice that we can share it with each other and support each other.
Some of the most important lessens have been: Know your strengths and weaknesses, you can’t do it all by yourself. Say yes and thank you when people offer to help. Believe in yourself and your idea when people say no. Have a clear working strategy and know who is doing what. Negotiate all agreements and prizes. Have courage and believe that you will find solutions along the way. Celebrate the small successes.
Do you have some upcoming plans for the future?
We have a lot of plans, but the most important thing for us at this point is to create more awareness of our brand and become more established in the market.
Your five favorite instagram accounts for inspiration?
Thank you so much for the interview, Louise!
➸ Head over to ArtFusion's very inspiring Instagram account to keep up with what's new in store!
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In a constant flow of images, finding your own aesthetics and "visual voice" is more important than ever. As part of our interview series Time For Creative Souls where we take a glimpse into the universe of creative women, we have talked to Victoria about her everyday as a stylist and how that also gets reflected in her own home. Victoria Steiner is based in Lucerne, Switzerland and works for some of the nicest brands and magazines.
Dear Victoria, thanks so much for taking the time for the interview. First, we’d love to ask how you got to working as a stylist.
I studied fashion design, but already in the course of my education, I found out that I loved it much more to combine and style the clothes instead of designing them. After I graduated, I did a fashion internship at a Swiss fashion magazine. After that, an internship in Berlin followed. When I came back to Switzerland, I knew that I wanted to be a stylist.
How can one imagine a typical working day?
Every day is different. When I get a new job, I start with the preparations for one or several days and do all the clothing choices. Then there are some days when the photo shootings get realized and some on which I do the work that comes after taking the pictures - for example taking products back, sending packages and so on. Not to forget the home office days, because there is a lot of paper work involved.
What was one of the most elaborate styling project that have been working with?
The most complex shootings are the ones I am doing abroad. An example was this editorial for Stern magazine in Mallorca.
Are there any products that you especially like to style?
I love oversize items and wide pants.
You have a popular Instagram account with over 8000 followers. Everything looks so well together. Are you planning your content ahead or is a lot of it put together spontaneously?
No, much is spontaneous. I like to show things I like or where I am in the moment. Especially when I am on vacation I take a lot of pictures because I tend to get inspired everywhere.
You have already been featured on the popular site Into the Gloss - congratulations on that! Can you tell how that happened?
Unfortunately, there is not so much to tell about this. I was asked by them and was super happy because it is my favorite beauty blog.
It looks like you in general have a weakness for beauty. What are your favorite brands which can be bought in Europe?
Yes, beauty is my big weakness (smiles). I love Glossier, Bioderma, Embryolisse and Armani. My newest discovery is the cosmetics brand Nazan Schnapp - her masks are great!
Many of the creative mermaids we interview also tend to express their ideas in how they live. You too?
Interior is a big hobby of mine. I love the Swedish, clean style, but also some Moroccan deco elements. And flowers - I can’t live without them!
Which brand would you love to do a styling for?
Céline! But unfortunately, Phoebe ist not there any more. So I would pick Chloé.
Which blog is your favorite?
Into the Gloss! I have been a reader since the beginning and still enjoy it a lot.
What are some of your favorite Instagram accounts for inspiration?
Pernille Teisbæk for fashion, Jeanne Damas for the love to Paris - and of course Into The Gloss and Glossier for beauty.
Thanks so much, Victoria!
➸ Head over to Victoria Steiner's Instagram account or her website for more inspiration and beautiful aesthetics.
If you liked reading about Victoria, you might like our interview with the Dutch illustrator and founder of Hotel Magique, Milou Neelen, or our conversation with Samira Petersen, founder of the candy brand Drops by Samira.
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We have interviewed the very talented designer Sofie Sol who was discovered by a known Danish fashion shop and since then, her career has escalated. We have asked her about her inspirations, ideas and aims for her lovely dresses, and also about what the future holds for her brand.
In our series Time For Creative Souls, we interview interesting and inspiring personalities, who all have in common that they are extremely creative and talented. They are all people with their own view on the world and together we invite you into their universe.
Dear Sofie, your dresses are already all over Instagram. But before we dive into some more details of your story, we wanted to ask a little more about who you are. How and when did you get started with designing?
Hello, I am Sofie Sol. I am the creator of Sofie Sol studio. I am 26 years old and live in Copenhagen. Designing or creating have always been a key part of my existence, I guess. As a kid I loved every weird, creative task or opportunity that presented itself. Later in life I found a big relief in expressing myself through forms, colors and materials. Especially making clothes became my ultimate free space, where I could release and unite all my passions.
You were "discovered" on Instagram by the famous shop Nørgaard Paa Strøget in Copenhagen. How did that change your brand and its development?
Actually, I barely had a brand before that… So pretty much everything. I was just creating some dresses for myself. I felt a big interest from people around me, so I decided to make an extended Instagram profile (which today is my brand site), also so I didn’t disturb my friends with the constant flow of dresses in their feed. Shortly after I was contacted by Nørgaard Paa Strøget, and then things went fast.
I am already amazed by all amazing women who are rocking my dresses in the streets. I love the diversity and the wide range of personalities that come across.
It seems like influencers really like your dresses. What is the most popular one among them?
All of these beautiful girls have quite a different selection, which is the essence of me. I think the dress has so many different looks just because of the wearer. It seems totally different to me, and it has been such a pleasure to see the dresses come alive in a totally unique perspective only because of who's wearing it, the color and length.
Who would you love to see wear your dress?
I am already amazed by all amazing women who are rocking my dresses in the streets. I love the diversity and the wide range of personalities that come across. To me that is indeed the most important and enriching feeling.
Are you making every dress yourself or have you gotten help for production?
I "cook" every single one myself. I guess some might find it stupid, but I love to sew and to me it's a big part of the job. Being self-producing is way more rewarding to me than to let the production out in the big wide world. I see it as a luxury to know that I have a limit, and the amount of dresses is based on my work. It's cool and I really get a vibe of people respecting it, which also means a lot to me.
We like that your dresses look so fashionable - but also comfortable. Was that a feature you were planning or did that come from the design?
I'm the most comfort-a-holic ever! I hate wearing clothes that don't feel good. I made the dress as the ultimate medley of empowering and comfort for myself. It's just amazing that everybody else gets the same feeling.
I "cook" every single one myself. I guess some might find it stupid, but I love to sew and to me it's a big part of the job.
We like that your dresses look so fashionable - but also comfortable. Was that a feature you were planning or did that come from the design?
I'm the most comfort-a-holic ever! I hate wearing clothing that doesn't feel good. I made the dress as the ultimate medley of empowering and comfort for myself. It's just amazing that everybody else get the same feeling.
At Mermaid Stories, we cannot really hide that we like pink (a lot!). And we love your brand identity - it also has this very modern, millennial pink kind of shade in it. Can you tell us a bit how you developed it?
Uh, pink pink pink. I love pink too, and I've been searching for an inner reason. It seems like every time I'm going through a color palette pink needs to be a part of it. The color is soft and yet so powerful, right?
It definitely is! Talking about colors - what is your bestselling dress and why do you think that is?
It's a close run between the black and the multi colored pink (perfect contrast). I'm quite sure the black almost explains itself. To me, the black is always on point. On days where my mood is a little retracted it’s nice to wear the black. And I really think the multi colored pink dress says a lot about what an amazing time we are in. The pink multicolored is the ultimate ‘express yourself’ with a hint of fearlessness.
I'm really driven by the power of so many spectacular and edgy people on Instagram. I love to see accounts with convincing aesthetics. I'm often hooked when people dare to push the norm and boundaries a bit.
What are your plans for the future?
There is a lot of stuff cooking on my desk! I can't reveal everything yet, but a long-awaited web shop is popping up soon. It will include some good extensions and I can't wait to show you guys. I'm really trying to keep everything in my own hands and the labor is quite limited when it comes down to only my hands. Everything must be very carefully thought out.
We always love to hear about new, exciting Instagrammers - that's after all also how we discovered you. Which Instagram accounts do you find inspiring?
I'm really driven by the power of so many spectacular and edgy people on Instagram. I love to see accounts with convincing aesthetics. I'm often hooked when people dare to push the norm and boundaries a bit. If you're not already there, an account like @park_wien (an Austrian online store) is an amazing and offbeat account. Otherwise I’m keeping up with some of my favorite designers and magazines such as @simonerocha_ or @purplefashionmagazine.
Thank you for sharing your passion with us, Sofie!
➸ You want to see more of Sofie Sol's beautiful designs? Take a look at her website and her Instagram for more inspiration - but be careful, you might find yourself in the middle of a creative urge in no time.
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In our series Cool Copenhageners, we interview exciting creative people with a vision and an own view on the world. We recently had the pleasure to talk to many great entrepreneurs who have created interesting businesses and inspire others to do the same.
This time, we have talked to Tanja Gregersen and Tine Emilie Svendsen and asked them why allergy-friendly, sustainable makeup is so important for them. Their Danish makeup brand Miild is a success story and currently even sold out on their website. The two also choose to travel around, showing their products "live" to as many customers as possible to show them the difference their products make. Tanja and Tine have a clear picture of how to improve not only the lives of people with allergies, but also not the environment too much with their packaging.
Dear Tine and Tanja, thank you for giving us a little glimpse into your world of pure ingredients, hard work and of course beauty. We would like to start by asking you about the beginning. Who are you and where did you meet each other?
Tine is twenty-seven, Tanja is thirty years old. We are both makeup artists and Tine is also a cosmetician. We met each other about nine years ago at the cosmetic school where we took the basic class together. Tanja decided to drop out of the school, because she wanted to save up money to go to the makeup school instead. We have been together ever since and had the same problem with makeup – we suffer from allergies. Tanja has had allergies for as long as she can remember, where Tine has developed it because of all the makeup. We were very frustrated about the absence of certified makeup products we could use. Therefore, we started our big journey together three years ago.
At what point did you decide that you wanted to create your own makeup brand?
It started with a selfish need, but then we later figured out that a lot of other women would have the same need for a pure makeup brand, where they could understand the ingredient list. Since we could not find any makeup we actually could use on our skin. We both agreed that it was too hard to find some pure makeup where we understood the ingredient lists. Therefore we liked to create transparency in the makeup products we develop. There should be certifications on, which live up to a high standard for allergy, environmental friendliness and ecology.
We think it's important to see it in a bigger picture. It isn’t just the makeup you use, its also your skincare, beauty products etc. It’s the combination of it all together that makes the big difference.
We know everything about the hard choices you have to make when designing a product, so we are curious about your journey from the first idea to the finished product.
It's very difficult to create certified makeup because we have to only use “good” ingredients, and we wouldn’t compromise with the quality of the products like texture and durability. Everyone has been put on hard work here. We searched for three months to find a factory that could help us to develop the products. We found a factory in Italy that could help us with our needs. They are so talented and we have used such a long time to develop the best makeup collection we ever could. We have also received help with our certifications. We had an idea and we knew what we wanted, but we haven’t tried it before, so we searched for help from outside to learn about this procedure. After three years we have an organic makeup collection and we are still working on getting more products.
The two of you go to many different stores where your products are sold and show the customers how to use your products. This is something not many companies do as much as you. Why have you chosen to work this way?
Because we want to meet our costumers. We want to hear their stories. We want to get a personal relation with all of the beautiful women and men who have problems with their skin as we have. We want to make a strong connection with the people out there.
You both have allergies, and as makeup artists you have seen a lot of different products. Which product category would you consider the worst for our skin? Or, differently asked: What should we replace first if we wanted to get started with more clean beauty?
We think it's important to see it in a bigger picture. It isn’t just the makeup you use, its also your skincare, beauty products etc. It’s the combination of it all together that makes the big difference. Choose products that are certified and which are without perfume and hormone-disrupting substances. Choose products with ingredients that makes your skin super hydrated instead of dry and irritated. Try not to use products that you actually don’t need. You have to start from the beginning and look at all the products you use.
We read that as the first makeup brand in the world, you have three cosmetic certificates, which is so cool. Can you tell us about these?
Thanks for your kind words! We would like to create transparency, and the certifications are helping us to be sure that the products we developing are as pure as we say they are. The people behind the certificates are checking where all the raw materials come from and what packaging we are allowed to use. It takes a lot of time and put us on a lot of work, but when we have the finished product in our hands it is worth it. Our three certifications stand for allergy, sustainability, and ecology.
Right now you are doing a project with Global Climate Institute called “Buy One – Plant One”. What is it about?
We liked the vision behind the Global Climate Institute and decided to make a campaign with them. We try to be as transparent and sustainable as possible. So, every time you buy one product in this box, you are planting a tree in India. We have now planted 3000 trees and hope for many more.
Why is it so important for you to be a sustainable makeup brand?
There is a lot of waste in this industry and a lot of plastic. We want to stop that, therefore we use 90% reusable cardbox as packaking. Nobody can be a 100% sustainable, but in all our choices we try to think it in.
We are in love with your beautiful color palette, and that there are only few products within each category. Wasn’t it difficult to choose the few colors that should match a lot of different women?
We have both worked a lot with makeup, so it has actually been very natural to choose the different colors. It was important that the colors could fit more that one specific face tone. Therefore we have developed four colors in our blush. It's great to see makeup on so many women and to see how it works on their skin. It simply shows how good the work with all the undertones have been.
This might be a forbidden question, but can you say anything about new products?
We are working as hard as we can on new products. We are hopefully going to launch our mascara and foundation in March. We come out with lipstick with color and eyeliner in 2018. Then the next two products in our pipeline are tended lip balm and a black and a brown eyeliner. We want to keep on making more beautiful products and it is very important for us to interact with our customers, so we get feedback and ideas of, what kind of makeup products they miss in their life.
As the last question, we would like you to recommend three inspiring Instagram accounts or blogs that you think we should all go follow right away.
@Rudolphcare – Danish skincare product.
@Res___Res – Danish fashion store with focus on sustainable brands.
@miildmakeup – you already know.
Thank you so much, Tanja and Tine!
➸ You want to try out what we have talked about? Take a look at Miild's Instagram account or head over to their webshop and discover the brand's beautiful selection. Both Tine and Tanja also share a lot of beauty tips on their own Instagram pages, so you can also find lots of great advice there!
If you have liked this interview, you might also enjoy reading about gourmet candy entrepreneur Emma Bülow from Copenhagen or the popular flower artist Poppykalas on our blog. More beauty? Discover the inspiring story of Josephine Förster who is the creator of the hyped Berlin-based brand Lovely Day Botanicals.
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In our series Time For Creative Souls, we interview inspiring people from around the world who follow their hearts and creative calling.
Carolin Zisgen had dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur for a long time. Though, she worked in the marketing department of another company for some years before taking the step to found her own. Vaca Vaca was launched in 2014 after she had been traveling in South America, finding inspiration for her first collection of fine bags made of cow skin. Soon after, Carolin saw that the scarves she created were an even bigger hit, and has since expanded the brand's product range to interior textiles such as cushions as well.
We talked to Carolin about her journey so far and how she decided to start her own business. And of course we asked her about the design process and the materials she use.
Dear Carolin, you are the owner of Vaca Vaca, a brand designing shawls and scarves in fine quality. How did you come up with the name?
Vaca is Spanish for cow. In 2014, we started with an accessory line made from leather and cow skin, the name was inspired from my travels through South America, especially Chile and Argentina.
Was it difficult to find the materials that you were looking for? How is it today?
It was very difficult in the beginning due to the fact that I was totally new in the fashion business. I had to build up a stable network with reliable suppliers. It’s not only about the materials but also the logistics, customs, labels and declarations if you are producing in a foreign country. You have to visit a lot of fairs and companies and you learn from your failures every day.
Now it is quite easy in the everyday, since we are producing at small manufacturers who we know personally. Or, actually not that easy: It is challenging every day because we are working with up to 70 years old wooden looms which can cause unexpected problems.
The most fun is to work with a traditional product to translate a traditional design to modern fashion and marketing.
Can you tell us a bit about your background? Did you always know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur and do something creative?
I have studied Economics and Marketing with internships at Porsche and Cosnova (essence cosmetics). There I discovered my passion for lifestyle brands - I have always been a fashion victim myself.
Later I worked for several years as a Marketing Manager and Head of Marketing in the renewable energies industry. This experience was very useful for me to build up my own company even though the products did not really touch my heart.
Being an entrepreneur was my dream from the beginning on. Some weeks ago I met with my old friend from university (where we graduated from ten years ago, time flies!) and we discovered an old, so called "friendship book" with our dreams for future. In 2006, my dream was to have my own company one day. This has turned into reality now.
How can one imagine one of your typical days as a brand owner?
There is no typical day and that’s why I love my job! Right now I'm actually waiting for boarding my plane to Istanbul where I have a meeting with my manufacturers.
My job makes me travel very often as we attend around 20 fairs per year. There are little design fairs and the big wholesale fairs in Hamburg, Munich and Düsseldorf where I meet my retailers. Half of the year I’m abroad for fairs, meetings or visiting my retailers. A typical office day starts with a morning walk with my dog. A big part of my business is processed via email, Whatsapp or online.
I’m in charge of the product and the overall company development, marketing and social media. As an owner of a small brand you have to do a lots of things by your own. I also do the not-so-glamorous things like handling issues with the bank and accounting. Salesmen and fashion agencies are helping me with the distribution in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For web design, graphic design, shootings and so on I’m working with a talented crowd of freelancers.
My father is retired now and does the accounting and logistics and my mother does quality control. We are a real family business.
It’s definitely not a seven to five job. I’m often working seven days a week. In the office on weekdays and attending fairs in the weekends, but I’m living my dream and that’s why many parts don’t feel like working that much. My office changes every day; desk, café, car or airport – I’m working where my Mac is and where the WIFI works!
What made you eventually decide to start your own business?
I had not the best boss in my last job I had, so that made it easy to leave. And then there were so many people who supported my idea of the label from day one. Every time I met the right people at the right time. For me, this was a sign to go on and continue. For example, another former boss of mine liked the idea of VACA VACA so much that he helped me with the complete business plan. And my first contact of the German-Turkish chamber of commerce is now one of my best friends. Last but not least I had always the support of the family.
Did you have difficulties with some parts in the start? And what are the most fun aspects of having your own brand?
I would lie if I said that there are no difficulties. It’s always an adventure being an entrepreneur with new challenges each day. But that’s what I like – finding solutions. In the beginning, we started with cow skin accessories. Very quickly I discovered that it’s hard to rely only on only one very particular product. That’s why we had the idea for the scarves. We are selling them under the slogan “Let me wrap you" (in German: Lass dich von mir einwickeln) and it it’s now our bestseller. Also it needed time to adapt our order rhythm to the old looms and the manufacturer's schedule.
The most fun is to work with a traditional product and to translate a traditional design into modern fashion and marketing. My company is giving me the possibility to meet so many interesting and inspiring people: Entrepreneurs, designer, artists - and I get to visit places all over the world. Also, there are proud moments when you discover your products in fashion magazines like InStyle or MADAME or in the ProIdee Catalogue.
For Vaca Vaca, you work with many different textile looks. How do you decide on the designs and colors - is there a particular process behind it?
I love to work with moodboards filled with inspirations from my travels, fashion magazines and web finds. We are mixing traditional patterns with modern influences like Pantone colors or modern trends like Patches or velvet.
The old wooden looms are very important! Their techniques have an important influence on our patterns. And the colorful and crazy boho-spirit of Istanbul is of course also very important.
Which colors do your customers like the most?
Turquoise, the classics in black and grey - and at the moment everybody is totally into rose and pink.
The pink trend is definitely also a thing at Mermaid Stories right now! So, going a bit more forward: What plans do you have for VACA VACA in the future?
To continue this inspiring journey round the world! Our newest products are our cushion collection: Hand-woven cotton combined with velvet.
Do you have some recommendations for Instagram accounts or blogs which inspire you?
A German blog I really like is the one of Masha Sedgwick.
Thank you so much, Carolin!
➸ You want to see what we have talked about? Take a look at the Vaca Vaca website to discover a world of handcrafted textiles.
If you have liked this interview, you might also enjoy reading about the founder of Isangs Hair and Body Shop and her very interesting journey from studying law, traveling the world and ending up opening her own store in the heart of Copenhagen.
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Thilde Maria Kristensen started her flower styling studio Poppykalas because she missed being creative in her job. These days, she is able to express herself in one of the most beautiful "materials": Flowers.
With flowers being the new it-accessories for both brands and interior enthusiasts, Thilde has gathered almost ten thousand followers on Instagram who are in love with her arrangements. Her unique stylings are not only used as eye-catchers in shops of big brands, but also get booked by magazines and weddings.
We visited Thilde in her studio in Vesterbro, Copenhagen, where she has created a beautiful world of creativity and new ideas, all evolving around blossoms and blooms. She was in the middle of shooting pictures for a new interior project, her windows presenting Easter decorations with colorful eggs.
The first thing that became visible: The big fridge filled with flowers, which also served as the motive for the first Poppykalas poster by Thilde. But first things first! May we introduce: Thilde, founder of high-in-demand flower studio Poppykalas in Copenhagen.
Dear Thilde, how did you come up with the name Poppykalas?
I love the flower: Poppy. I spent a lot of time at my grandmother's farm named Krogsgaard, located in Thy. She painted huge flower bouquets with a special 3D technique where you paint layer on layer. She also always made flower decorations around the house - almost never in vases, but in big bowls made of the finest porcelain.
She painted flowers everywhere, on the walls, vases, pillows - you name it. She even transformed a wall in the kitchen into one big collage of pictures of only roses. One part of her living room was almost like a jungle to me and a part of the farm was turned into a gallery, where all the German tourists and locals bought her floral paintings.
Her favourite flower and motive was the red poppy, which the fields around her farm also were filled with. When the poppies where dancing in the wind, she called them dancing gowns. I always loved that. Over time the poppy also became one of my favorite flowers and it’s such a lively image of my grandmother, so there was no doubt that the name should include Poppy.
Kalas is one of my favorite Swedish words. It means celebration. I think it’s important to celebrate life, which you often do with flowers. When you are born into the world, when you get married and even when you die, flowers creates a pleasant atmosphere for your relatives to get through it.
Did you also have other names you were thinking about?
I knew it should be something with Poppy, I think I was considering just Poppy. But then I talked to one of my best friends and told her that I also really loved "kalas". Then she said, why not Poppykalas?
When did your passion for flowers begin, and how did you end up creating Poppykalas?
My grandmother taught me everything I know about flowers. I hold a BA in Theater and a Master in Modern Culture and Cultural Communications, and for more than 15 years I have worked with communication & public relations in performing arts, specializing in theater & contemporary dance.
Lately, I worked as an independent producer, traveling around the world to Montreal, New York, Helsinki and so on. I missed being creative in my work as a producer, so I shifted gradually to working with flowers. I had two maternity leaves where I tried out very different things. And then I luckily ended up with working with flowers.
What is the most difficult part of working with flowers?
They are a product of mother nature, so they are alive, but at some point unfortunately they die. But then again that’s also the beauty of it.
When I started out, I was so concerned about how my “flower children” were doing in the different shops where I did flower accounts, so I could drive by in the evening to see if they were holding up. But I’m over that by now, I learned to live with it - that’s how nature works.
How do you think about the difficulty to handle both the creative and the administrative part of your own company?
I’m so lucky I have an agency now: Who’s Agency which handles almost everything for me. That’s the best thing that happened to me, since I started out Poppykalas!
I think you need to try it out by yourself, but at one point you also have to let go to free time to be creative, which was the reason why I started out my company.
Where do you find inspiration for your bouquets? Do you always know how they should look, or is it more of an improvisational process?
Everywhere in the streets, or when I see a beautiful dress or a sophisticated woman. While my educational background might seem far from the floral world, I draw on my insight into modern culture and the performing arts when I am composing my floral arrangements. Also in popular culture. I’m very inspired by Japan and their way of arranging flowers with the technique called Ikebana.
When I started out, I was so concerned about how my “flower children” were doing in the different shops.
Do you have a favorite flower? Or a type of flower you prefer to work with?
I’m not a favorite kind of girl, but I do love the poppy. I love to work with the Anthurium also known as the "flamingo flower", because it looks like plastic and comes in the most stunning colors.
Also I love to work with Lathyrus, because it comes in pastel colors, smells amazing and it can save everything with its delicate texture and fluent charm.
You have recently done an exhibition called “flora in situ” with Rosalina Serup. Can you tell us about the exhibition and how it went?
It was a big and overwhelming experience for me. My first exhibition! Thank you so much for your interest. It consists of eight unique photographs of flowers and we only have three left.
Flowers are used to express feelings between sender and recipient, and can therefore be thought of as performative. Flora in situ plays with the symbolic flowers in contrasting contexts, whereby new meanings might emerge. The flowers have been staged in places such as construction sites and dumps, and arranged in combination with raw materials - plastics, presses and waste.
Flora in situ is thus an attempt to let novel meanings arise between the symbolic flowers and the viewers. Politiken published a big feature about the exhibition - at front page of Ibyen (city recommendations part of the magazine, note of the editor). It has been featured internationally, in Japan and other countries. It was very important to me to nurse this artistic dimension in Poppykalas.
You deliver flowers to a lot of different companies and stores, among them are Normann Copenhagen or Alt for Damerne. How do you approach such a project?
It depends on the client. Some are very specific and others let me decide everything. But mostly it’s a collaboration. Actually these projects help me develop a lot, because sometimes they force me to work with sorts of flowers and colors that I would never have chosen myself. I have to be creative within a determined structure and mindset.
What would be the best compliment you could get about your bouquets?
If people tell me it’s the most beautiful bouquet or decoration they have ever had or seen I get endlessly happy. In general it’s a very giving job to deliver flowers - people immediately smile when they get flowers or just see them.
I have changed my concept, so now I focus on flower styling and events. Unfortunately the web shop with flower delivery was too demanding, but then I have my fridge poster with eternal flowers which you can order in my webshop.
What projects or exhibitions etc. have you planned for the future?
Uhlala, lots of things are coming up:
From the before mentioned exhibition Flora in Situ, I got the idea for my Fridge Poster (yes it’s a poster for your fridge) which I sell in my webshop and in the shop DORA and from this I have more posters coming up and exclusive retailers.
I’m also working on a new Poppykalas Exhibition for March 2018 at Buddenbrooks Gallery and I’m collaborating with other artists, for example Chris Calmer, who is working with flowers in a very different way.
In general I’m experimenting in my Poppykalas Lab with working with flowers in different ways - dried and manipulated. From this I’m also launching a new project with Københavns Plantefarveri (@kbhplantefarveri) - they are coloring silk with my waste of flower leaves.
I’m also working on doing four Poppykalas Workshops with different themes and locations in 2018. Then I have a secret project with a Swedish interior company soon to be revealed.
Finally lots of flower stylings coming up for different brands, for example a travel with Vila to Malaga on a three day shoot in a stunning botanical garden. And then of course lots of weddings in the summer, which I am really looking forward to!
If you could choose from every store, company, museum or event that you could decorate with your flowers, which would be some of your dream places to deliver your flowers to?
There are so many! I would love to collaborate with the visual artist Pipilotti Rist, whom I wrote my thesis about at university. But off course also the singer Solange. MoMA is a beautiful museum, I would be honored to decorate it.
I did a smaller assignment for Gucci, but I would loooove to do more - I’m in love with the floral explosion. I think we have the coolest queen in the world, so of course I would love to deliver flowers for The Danish Royal Family.
We sometimes see that some of the same flowers are used everywhere for a certain period of time… Is there a flower that you’d predict to be a "trend flower" for 2018?
It changes so fast. But Paphiopedilum, often called the Venus Slipper. I used it for the first time for decoration at a press lunch for Rains at Glyptoteket during Fashion Week organized by Pernille Teisbæk and Social Zoo. It’s very exotic and it also looks a little bit like genitalials as does the anthurium, which I really think is interesting.
Can you recommend some Instagrammers that we should all follow for some more flowery inspiration?
Actually I mostly find inspiration at Instagrammers that are not florists. I looove accounts like Solange, Peter Pilotto and Rose Ekeen. Other inspiring florists would be japanese @azumamakoto, New York-based @brrch_floral and of course Berlin-based @ruby_marylennox, whom I drove all the way to Berlin for, to order one of her magical bouquets.
Thank you so much, Thilde!
➸ Do you want to know more about Poppykalas' flowery world? Take a look at her lovely Instagram or visit her website for more beautiful pictures and flowery inspirations.
You liked reading this? You can find more in our interview series Cool Copenhageners. You might for example also like our interviews with the founder of the luxury candy brand The Mallows, Emma Bülow or our interview with blogger Caroline Plummer.
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We have interviewed the very talented abstract painter Kandyce King about her passion for art and her journey that led to where she is today. A journey that has not always been easy, but with the right help and paint and brushes within reach, she has managed to grow as an artist - and continues to do so every day.
In our series Time For Creative Souls, we interview exciting, creative people from all over the world with a vision and an own view on the world that they share through their creativity.
Dear Kandyce, first of all, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you began painting?
Hmmm… Things about myself. I love music, especially spiritually charged music is a big part of my painting process. Music lyrics and songs rolling around in my head usually wake me in the morning, not the alarm. I wonder sometimes why I am not more musically inclined. I love to sing, but rarely do it in front of people. I have a husband who is wonderfully supportive of my art career and a little fur baby who is my studio mate.
I began painting when I was a young girl. When college rolled around, I announced at the dinner table that I was going to be an art major. That didn’t go over to well and I was quickly informed that it wouldn’t be an option. However, a year before graduating with an education degree, I dropped out of school due to a mental breakdown. Then, I just painted. The paintings from that period in my life became my Senior Show. I returned the following year to pursue art and graduated with a Commercial Art Degree in 2007. Being relatively newly married and trying to survive, I worked as a graphic designer for four years until I had another break in my mental health. This time a diagnosis would soon follow. Again, I found myself quitting my job and feeling as if I were a huge failure. Now, having been through therapy I understand how to process those thoughts and feelings in a more positive way. Eventually, in 2013 I started slowly painting and sharing my work on Instagram. I had a heart for abstract art and was too scared to try and create it on my own. I asked an abstract artist on Instagram if I could study her work and recreate it. She agreed and so I began with 4x4” squares and just started to learn. I got a little braver and started to venture out into the unknown.
When college rolled around, I announced at the dinner table that I was going to be an art major. That didn’t go over to well and I was quickly informed that it wouldn’t be an option.
In 2014, I started selling my own work here and there and having shows in local restaurants/coffee shops. In 2015 I participated in the 100 Day Project hosted by Elle Luna (if you’re a creative I highly recommend it). This project helped me create the habit of making every. Single. Day. Now, I feel as if something is missing if I haven’t been in the studio at least once during the day. In 2016, I had my first gallery show and from there it has just snowballed. I have recently moved to Portland, OR and I feel as if my opportunities are endless. In 2018, I look forward to working with some new retailers and having some pop up shops around the city.
You describe yourself as a mixed-media artist. Can you tell us more about that?
Yes, I love using all sorts of media to create. Whether it is ink, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, collage with paper, I’m down for it! So, when I create I create with a lot of mediums.
I usually work with my acrylic or watercolor paint first adding layers of of pastel and pencil or pen mark after. The pros of working with acrylic are that it dries quickly and you can move quite fast developing a painting. The disadvantage of working with pastel is it is messy and can transfer onto other pieces of work if you’re not super careful.
Have you always been a creative person?
I’d have to say yes, going back to talking about music… As a young girl (age four) I learned to play the violin via the Suzuki method. I remember closing my eyes as I played the songs and there was a visual story in my mind as I played. My mother recalls me swaying with my eyes closed to the music. I think I have always been creative.
Most of your paintings are abstract, but you also have some paintings of nature, flowers etc. Do you have a favorite motive?
Such a good question! I paint what excites me at any given time. I don’t put myself in a box and tell myself that I have to create one thing. If I feel like I need a little inspiration to get started I may run to my local grocery store and pick out a bouquet to draw, but honestly it’s whatever I feel called to at any given time. When the irises are in bloom, you better believe you’ll see me painting irises.
When I do find myself lost in a painting, I go back to my design background and look at the elements of design to help me figure out the problem I am encountering.
Speaking of favorites, is there one specific painting of yours that you are especially fond of?
Another great question. I am very fond of my “Words Translated” series. It was a series where I explored really hard memories from being manic and psychotic. I wrote down abstract type poetry related to memories I had and then painted a picture based off of those poems or words. This helped me process a lot of things that happened during that scary time. The images were much different than what I normally paint, but they are dear to my heart.
What is the most difficult part of painting abstractly?
Trying to explain abstract art to individuals who don’t understand or maybe don’t appreciate abstract art.
I don’t find painting abstractly difficult, it comes pretty naturally to me. I rarely get stuck. I feel as if I can recover almost any abstract piece when it isn’t exactly what I had hoped for because it is abstract. When I do find myself lost in a painting, I go back to my design background and look at the elements of design to help me figure out the problem I am encountering. IF all else fails, I cut it up and use it as part of a collage or greeting card.
Where do you seek inspiration?
I seek it from above, from within, and from outside. When I seek from above I mean to say that I am a strong believer in a higher power. When I seek from within, I am processing and expressing things from within my heart and mind. When I seek from outside, I look at nature and all things created.
I paint what excites me at any given time. I don’t put myself in a box and tell myself that I have to create one thing.
Are there any special people in your life that have helped to inspire you as an artist?
Oh, my yes! Both my grandmothers were very encouraging to me as a young girl and artist. My maternal grandmother took private art lessons with me and always had fun artsy things for us to do together. I also find that the Instagram artist community has really supported my growth as an artist.
Can you tell us about your process when painting? Some artists have rituals when painting. Do you have any?
Yes, I do. I begin with putting on my music and then just let things naturally unravel. Sometimes I stop to journal or jot a quick thought down, but mostly I let my hands move and just CREATE!
The musical style I listen to while painting is almost always spiritually charged music, usually Hillsong United or other atmospheric, spiritual groups. If you were to step into my studio, you’d find me with music full blast, moving my body, with lots of different size paint brushes within reach, and me with colorful paint nearby. My hands are messy and I enjoy getting my whole studio turned upside down.
We are always looking for more inspiration. Can you recommend three of your favorite instagrammers who will inspire us in an artistic way?
I love my sis-in-law @lindsay__king she has such a beautiful process and her words are always insightful and inspiring.
I find myself very drawn to @marissahuber her patterns, authenticity, and humor are wonderful!
My other art girlfriend from college @artstudiokm work is so rich, light, expressive… I can’t explain it! Go check her out. She isn’t posting a ton these days, but her feed is really beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your passion with us, Kandyce!
➸ You want to see more of Kandyce King's artworks and learn more about her painting style? Take a look at her website and her Instagram for more inspiration - but be careful, you might find yourself in the middle of a creative urge in no time!
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In our series Scandi Chic, we explore wonderful stories about brands and people that incorporate the concept of Scandi Chic in their work. We were happy about the opportunity to talk with the two founders of Lawa Design, Ewa Bryzek and Allen Shakir, and have asked them about their passion for design, how they started their business and what the future holds for them.
Dear Ewa and Allen, how did it all start with Lawa Design?
It all started four years years ago as a hobby project. Allen needed a lamp for his living room. He didn’t know exactly what he was looking for, but it had to be special. After countless hours of searching for the perfect lamp (with no luck) he started sketching his own ideas. It didn’t take long before Ewa was on board and we starting making 3D models and prototypes. Once we had a concept, we started refining and improving the design, until one day it finally just felt “right”. The Arc Pendant was born. At this point, it did not have a name yet, but more and more people started noticing the new lamp in Allen’s living room. And all the positive comments it was getting sparked the idea of putting our “baby” into production. It was a long but also very educational journey turning an idea from a sketch on a piece of paper into a real life product with proper certification, packaging, and so on. In November 2014 we could finally present the Arc Pendant and Delta Clock - our two first products - to the world.
All your designs have a very clear, geometric aesthetic. Did you have the product line in mind from the start?
Not really, because it all began as a hobby. We simply designed pieces that we needed in our home, and we still do. Whenever we come up with a new idea, we always ask ourselves: “Is this something we would really like to have in our own home?” If the answer is yes, the idea is approved. If it is a “maybe”, then it goes straight to the bin. There are three design principles that define all of our work. Whatever we do, it has to be: minimalistic (as simple as possible, everything in the design has to be there for a reason), practical (if its not useful, its useless), playful (we see no point in doing things that have been done before. It has to be different). We believe that the combination of those three things is what makes a design beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
Have you ever experienced difficulties with production?
Way too often! Many things can go wrong, Even the slightest mistake in production can make a product completely useless, and it usually takes a lot of testing until you get the perfect result. But its all part of the process and you learn something valuable every time something goes wrong.
You both work as architects for renowned Danish companies. Are there any parallels in your architectural work and the work for Lawa?
We think that our architectural background is visible in Lawa Design because in many ways our products are informed by the rules of architecture, even though the scale and work process is completely different. As architects we design buildings that are hundreds or thousands of times bigger than what we draw on our computer screen, and we have to wait at least a few years to see it get built. At Lawa we design things in 1:1 and we can make prototypes in a matter of hours! That can be very liberating at times.
In general, we like using traditional and timeless colors or materials, but in an unconventional way. And that seems to have a broad appeal.
The Lawa clocks and lamps come in oak, black and white. What do your customers like the most?
Luckily, everyone is different and that goes for our customers too. While the wooden products seem to be a hit in Scandinavia, Asia - for instance - seems to be a completely different story! We recently started collaborating with a design shop in South Korea, and their customers are big fans of the white Delta Clock. In general, we like using traditional and timeless colors or materials, but in an unconventional way. And that seems to have a broad appeal.
In the last year, you have added foldable object holders to your portfolio. How long did it take you to find the perfect cut?
Finding the perfect cut is one thing. Finding a supplier that can produce it with the perfect finish is another. It is almost ready for an official release though, and we are very excited about it.
What has surprised you most in driving your creative business so far?
One of the biggest surprises was that the creative part of running a creative business actually makes up a very small part of a typical workday. It is very easy to get lost in everyday practicalities like accounting, invoices, emails, budgets, marketing, etc.
Not only do you have to learn all these things from scratch, you also have to deal with them without losing focus on what really matters and the reason why you started the business in the first place - the love for design.
One of the biggest surprises was that the creative part of running a creative business actually makes up a very small part of a typical workday. It is very easy to get lost in everyday practicalities like accounting, invoices, emails, budgets, marketing.
What is your definition for Scandi Chic?
It is something very natural and minimalistic. It can be a girl with a bun and not much make-up dressed in perfectly cut clothes or a home without many decorations but with a contrast between white walls and warmth of a wooden floor.
And since we’re talking about Scandi Chic, what other brands do you admire?
We are fans of Moebe and Lemur, design ventures also established by architects. Both brands make something completely new out of usual items like a frame or a wallet. They strip the product’s form to its very essence while adding the ‘aha’ moment.
What is up next for you and Lawa?
This spring we are taking part in SaloneSatellite, a part of the Salone del Mobile during Milano Design Week for the first time and we are planning on releasing two new products. Exciting times ahead!
Thank you so much, Ewa and Allen!
➸ You want to see more from Lawa Design? Take a look at their Instagram or head over to their online shop and discover the brand's beautiful selection!
If you liked this interview, you might also like our interview with sustainable fashion designer Signe Rødbro who created the Scandinavian Chic and sustainable brand By Signe.
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For the special occasions of our lives, we want every little detail to be as perfect as possible and to reflect ourselves. With her company Studio Ja Ja which is located in Berlin, Anna Härlin has made a business out of her passion for making beautiful stationary and other creative design projects for special occasions, helping to create a perfect and personal atmosphere around weddings, baptisms, birthdays and so on. Besides doing all that Anna also works as a freelance graphic designer for various clients.
We have talked to Anna about her passion for creative and personal designs. Read about her background, her business and what her favorite projects are. She also comes with a lot of cool inspiration for other creative souls!
I like the change of working for really small clients, like wedding couples, and then creating something for a global brand the next time.
Dear Anna, did you always know that you'd do something creative for a living?
Yes, somehow I did. As a little girl, I loved to draw, paint and do creative stuff. For example, I drew tiny creatures on paper that I cut out to play with. I created entire worlds that way. I have to admit that there was also a short prima ballerina phase in my life. But I am glad I chose the other path. I truly love my work.
Can you tell us a bit about your creative career journey?
I went to fashion and graphic design school in Munich, right after high school. I was only twenty-two when I graduated. After that I did a ton of internships at various design agencies in Munich and Berlin. Then I was more than lucky to get a permanent contract as a graphic designer at Schaubühne Berlin, a well-known theatre for contemporary plays. I worked there for about three years. I was responsible for the whole graphic appearance of the theatre. After that I worked for several small design companies, before I decided to become a freelancer which I still am now.
How did you get started in terms of getting the first customers? We hear it can be difficult to build up a portfolio and get the first customers.
Actually, I keep asking myself this. I guess I was very lucky from the beginning on: Somehow clients and projects kept rolling in from the start, and it has stayed this way until now. Of course, sometimes it is a little bit too quiet and sometimes a little bit too busy - as it is the case for every freelancer. Building my own website was definitely a necessary thing to do, which I would recommend to anyone working in this field.
What I really love is to create designs for clients whose products I adore.
What is a typical workday for you? Is there even a typical workday for you?
I don’t really have a daily routine. It depends on the task I am working on, and whether I am working in-house with an agency that has booked me or at my office for my own clients. As I’m a mum of two, now the typical working days are regularly being turned upside down anyway.
What would you do if you had a few more hours per day?
I would really love to do more self-curated work. But it takes so much more to pull oneself together to do that, so I find myself creating far more for clients. I would also like to do more design templates for my Studio Ja Ja.
You have worked on many different design projects. All from designing wedding invitations to making interactive webpages... Do you have favorite tasks or clients from specific areas?
That’s true, I have done a whole variety of multidisciplinary projects that I was all really excited about. I like the change of working for really small clients, like wedding couples, and then creating something for a global brand the next time. What I really love is to create designs for clients whose products I adore.
Now you are devoting a lot of time to wedding stationary. How did that evolve?
That’s right. I have my own wedding stationary design company called Studio Ja Ja. I spent a hell of a lot of time creating my own wedding stationary and truly loved doing this. After that all of my friends and family who married asked me to design their stationary. So my wedding portfolio became big very fast, and I found a lot of joy in creating wedding designs. I like to create the right design that suits each couple and their personal wedding style. It is a very thankful and rewarding task. And I still like the idea of cerebrating a couple’s love.
I like to create the right design that suits each couple and their personal wedding style. It is a very thankful and rewarding task. And I still like the idea of cerebrating a couple’s love.
What part does social media play for your business?
I am not terribly active with posting stuff myself. I always feel a little bit guilty about that because I could do so much more with social media. I have mixed feelings about social media—it’s a huge inspiration tool, but at the same time it is such a time killer. Sometimes I think I should use more time for creating, and less for research… But then again, after I had been offline a while and recently visited Pinterest again, I was amazed how much great stuff I found! It made me want to get creative myself right away.
Is there something that you'd like to test out which you haven't tried before?
Good question. I would love to have my own office space and work together with lovely co-workers. That’s a thought that I like.
What would be your dream projects to work on in the future?
I would really love to create a corporate design for a restaurant, bar or coffee shop. Or the look of a hotel. Designing exhibitions or events is something I would love to do, too… And food packaging, more paper illustrations, more maps… Oh my, I guess I am still very passionate about my job in general and can see myself doing a lot of projects that my heart beats for!
Do you have any books or blogs on creativity that you can recommend?
I enjoy listening to Design Matters with Debbie Millman - a design podcast. I read Design Made in Germany, and like everything that Tobias van Schneider puts out there.
Which Instagrammers are on top of your inspiration list?
Thank you so much, Anna!
➸ Do you want to see more from Anna Härlin? Take a look at her portfolio website or at Studio Ja Ja to discover more of her wedding stationary and other creative projects.
Read more of our interviews in our Time For Creative Souls series! You might like our interview with illustrator Isabella Hemmersbach or artist Emily Grady Dodge.
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Stepping into Isangs Hair and Body Shop in Vesterbro, Copenhagen, is like stepping into an old-fashioned laboratory – but without chemical odors all over the place. Instead, the smell is a mix of flowers, herbs and a lot of indefinable stuff. It is a welcoming atmosphere, with the customers being able to have a look at the production right at the store. Nothing is hidden from the customers. What you see is really what you get.
Among all the ingredients and products, we had a very interesting conversation with the founder and owner, Sundra Essien, about her passion for opening her own shop and the ethical, sustainable way that she creates her beauty and body products.
Can you tell us about what made you want to start your own business?
There's something incredibly romantic about running a business. The idea that you can do something you enjoy on your own terms while making some, hopefully, tangible difference in the world around you has always been attractive to me. Plus I have a high risk-tolerance combined with a lot of passion and tenacity... I think my personality is well suited for the unpredictable marathon that is running your own business.
It’s not the first company that you have founded. Can you tell a bit about your personal background and your career to what has led you where you are today?
I use my instinct as my personal compass and I try to be open to changing direction whenever I start to feel restless. So my path to this point has been anything but a straight line. Here's the condensed version.
Isangs Hair & Body is where all my ideas, interests, and visions converge.
I studied business with a focus on social entrepreneurship for my bachelor's degree. In the final year of business school in my early twenties, I had the idea to re-invent maternity clothes and work with Nigerian tailors to create a line of wearable, sustainable, fair trade maternity clothes. Starting up this idea was a big lesson in all the things I needed to learn and all the ways I needed to grow before I was ready to start this type of cross-border production project. I don't know if I would officially call it a business, but it was a business idea that failed in the early stages. I still have an old maternity dress form mannequin that I used for the original designs. Shortly after this venture, I moved to NYC and went to law school.
As a lawyer, I started off in international mergers and acquisitions, but lasted about a year before I woke up with that “this is not the life I imagined for myself” feeling. So I quit that week, packed my things, and moved out of the country. Over the next year or so, I moved around a bit trying to get a sense of direction. I stayed in Paris and volunteered at an NGO for a few months, I went back to Nigeria to get some grounding with family. I got a room in Granada and worked on my Spanish and finally ended up working at a permaculture research farm in Belize. I was no stranger to farming as I'd worked on small farms in Costa Rica and Nigeria at other times, but permaculture and agroforestry revolutionized the way I understood sustainability models. Not just in agriculture, but how similar sustainable design ideas can have applications in almost any area.
I later moved to Copenhagen and worked in the legal department of an international NGO for a couple of years, before deciding to branch out and start Isangs. As an aside, I'd been making hair & body products for nearly ten years and have studied chemistry in formal and informal contexts.
So Isangs Hair & Body is where all my ideas, interests, and visions converge. It's a chemistry project and an experiment in sustainable business models. It's a way to practically support small farms and alternative agricultural projects. It's a collection of experiences and lessons that constantly evolves as I learn more about the world around me.
What was the most difficult part of starting off with Isangs?
It was easy to start, the difficult part was keeping the momentum and the passion going and trusting your vision during those fragile early years. My approach is to jump all in and try something and if it doesn't work, try something else. My dad, a lover of Nigerian proverbs, used to always tell me “You shouldn't check the depth of the river with both feet.” Well, that's exactly what I constantly do and luckily, I haven't drowned yet...
Have you always been interested in being an “alchemist”? We guess you must be pretty interested in chemistry to create your own cosmetics…
I like information and I'm naturally curious, so the chemistry is a big part of why hair and body care products are interesting to me. My mom taught integrated physics and chemistry and I remember getting increasingly more advanced chemistry sets as Christmas gifts when I was young. And I guess it sort of stuck. The first time I made soap was in a jungle in Central America. We leached the lye from ash, pressed the oils and after a month I had an, admittedly very crude, bar of soap. So, this just opened up a whole new world of saponification and the chemical reactions between oils and lye that exploded from there. How can you mix two things and create an entirely different third substance and not be completely curious about how that process occurred and want to investigate and experiment with that reaction? I can lose a whole night's sleep thinking about how to manipulate a reaction to achieve a specific result.
The first time I made soap was in a jungle in Central America. We leached the lye from ash, pressed the oils and after a month I had an, admittedly very crude, bar of soap.
All your products are organic, fair trade and vegan. Why is this important to you?
This goes back to building sustainable systems. For me, it's really about understanding the connections between all these areas and realizing that if you try to remove any part of the puzzle, then you compromise the entire system. You can't talk about sustainable, organic agriculture without addressing wage inequalities and the power dynamics of trade. You can't talk about animal cruelty without looking at water and soil quality and healthy eco-systems. So these are, for me, naturally interconnected ideas that are necessary to address if you want to move towards a more sustainable business model.
Talking about your products, they also come in a really beautiful packaging! Can you tell us about the process of how that was made?
I can take no credit for our packaging. All our visual design work is handled by Lasse, my life partner and business partner. We have similar design aesthetics, but I'm a fish out of water when it comes to executing anything involving graphic design. He's been with the business from the start, so he knows it as intimately as I do. We're constantly collecting inspiration and ideas and bouncing them back and forth, but he's the one who can start with a blank page and create beautiful graphic designs.
The interior of your shop is very unique. How long did it take you to decorate and develop the shop?
My “decorating process” is incredibly random. I see things I like in dumpsters or old scrap piles and I just collect them and figure out where to use them later. I had been collecting random things for months while we were looking for a space and we ended up just building furniture from whatever materials we had on hand. As an example, I built our curing racks from old slats from a mattress. Almost every piece has a little story behind it, which I think is pretty cool.
Was it difficult to find a location?
Yes. This is Copenhagen, after all! We looked for months. Initially we had no plans to open a physical shop, just a production location. I remember I was so desperate at one point, I put in an offer on a location with no windows. Zero windows. Luckily we didn't get that place. That would have been miserable. Finally we found this location and it was perfectly divided up for a shop on one side and open production on the other with large windows all around. The location has been a dairy shop, a brothel, a furniture shop, and has a lot of history before us. So we're excited to become a little part of its history.
The location has been a dairy shop, a brothel, a furniture shop, and has a lot of history before us. So we're excited to become a little part of its history.
On your website, you write that your store in Copenhagen is not like any typical hair and body product store. How do you make it more interactive and cooler than others?
I never really set out to make anything “cool”. I set out with an honest and authentic vision for an alternative hair and body care line. I think part of the reason that our shop is unique is that our inspiration is found outside the world of cosmetics.
What are the most important ingredients in your products?
All our ingredients are important. That's probably a pretty annoying answer, but I'm not saying it to avoid the question. I say that because we work with a relatively small amount of ingredients that have been specially selected and each serve a very specific purpose in our products. We try to design simply and if an ingredient is not needed, we don't work with it.
If you should choose one product yourself that you couldn’t live without, which one would that be?
I'm a bit of a self-centered product designer. I design products that I need and it's an added bonus that other people can use them as well. So, I keep a lot of our products in rotation in our house. But I'm religious about using the facial routine in the evenings. And when the dry winter weather kicks in, I keep a tin of body cream on me at all times.
Which products do your customers like and buy the most? And why do you think that is?
Well, we have a relatively small selection of products, so each of them has their fan base.
But we've been trialing a new deodorant over the past year and that's been a real standout hit. We'd officially launch it in November 2017, but word had gotten around in our family of customers and we were selling out of it even before we had officially announced that it's available. I think this product is particularly special because a lot of our customers have had trouble finding a natural deodorant that works.
What are some of the most exciting plans for Isangs that you have for the future?
We have a lot of new product launches coming up, a new website, and a million ideas I'm always trying to implement.
When you are not in your store: What are your favorite spots in Copenhagen to relax?
Relax? What's that? Just kidding. We have a two-year-old son and another one on the way, so my relaxing time these days is spent playing with this little person. I spend a lot of time in parks around Nordvest and Nørrebro. Everything is mysterious and new and exciting through the eyes of a two-year-old so I'm trying to be a little inspired by that and find a little something special about these otherwise pretty mundane spots. Other than that, I like to catch up on sleep when I can so my favorite spot to relax is my bed.
Thank you so much for letting us into your world of sustainable hair and body products, Sundra!
➸ You want to try out what we have talked about? Take a look at Isangs on Instagram or head over to the Isangs webshop and discover more about the brand's products and history.
You liked reading this? You can find more in our interview series Cool Copenhageners. You might for example also like our interviews with the founder ofThe Mallows, Emma Bülow, for whom organic and natural ingredients are also very essential, or our interview with blogger Caroline Plummer.
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In our series about Cool Copenhageners, we invite you to meet interesting people from Mermaid Stories' hometown who tell us their stories and let us take a glimpse on their work. This story is about a woman who has created a business out a life-long passion for delicious hard candy or "drops" that don't just taste good for the first few seconds, but keep the taste because of the high quality ingredients they are made of. And of course a lot of love!
We visited Samira in her office and production facility a little outside of Copenhagen for a talk about her products, her journey from full-time nurse to Drops-creator and her inspirations to do what she loves.
Where did the idea for Drops By Samira come from? Why did you want to make drops and not other types of candy?
In a way, Drops has always been a part of me. Since I was a little girl my grandmother taught me to appreciate good quality ingredients and the wonderful feeling of homemade food. No matter if it is food, cake or drops, she taught me to love and respect the ingredients.
I fell in love with drops because for me it was a space where I could be creative and experiment. And when I gave it away I always made people excited, and that meant a lot to me and actually still does.
How long did it take you to get to the final drop recipe for the first variant when you started out?
One of the easy things for me, when I started, was to create the recipe. I knew what I wanted, but the challenge was to get the ingredients. I want Drops to be dynamic and therefore I both develop my current recipes and new exciting products.
You went from being a full time nurse to becoming your own boss at Drops By Samira. It must have been a huge step! Can you tell us about the journey?
It has been crazy! I had never dreamt of my own company, my dream was just to proof that drops can be much more than sugar with a taste. So, from that to becoming my own boss, has been as scaring as challenging.
What is the best and worst part of being your own boss?
The best is the way I felt when I was young about having a space where I could be creative - which I still feel. Maybe on a bigger scene. The worst are the downs that go hand in hand with the ups. The sleepless nights and worries, but it in some way always turns around to something positive at some point.
You describe Drops as quality ingredients, dedicated craftsmanship and passionate flavor. Can you elaborate on that?
All three are keywords for me. It was not easy to get the ingredients home and I’m so proud of them. The keywords remind me of what Drops really is about and what I always will fight for.
You use fine and natural ingredients. Why is this so important for you?
It has always been. It was part of my childhood, and I feel that there are too many bad options. So, for me, when you “sin” at least it should be quality and natural.
What is the biggest compliment about Drops that you have heard?
When the first couple of high-end retailers said "yes" to selling my Drops, I started crying. It was my husband who visited them, and when he called I had the craziest feeling inside my body. I felt like an explosion of happiness. I got a lot of compliments on my visuals, but that it actually was on a scene where people were ready to buy my Drops was really the biggest compliment.
When a boy said that I made his life better it moved me a lot that I can create so strong feelings in other people.
Can you name a few things that have surprised to hear or learn from your customers?
I’m a very sensitive person and especially regarding Drops. I have two wonderful children, but in a way, I feel like my Drops are my children. I naturally respect that we are all different, but my ambition is to get everybody to understand me. Not necessarily that everybody will like them. But when a boy said I made his life better it moved me a lot, that I can create so strong feelings in other people.
Are there any new flavors on the way?
YES! I almost can't wait to show everybody what I created. It is going to be as revolutionary as Drops was when it got out. Get ready...
This might be a forbidden question, but do you have a favorite among the different Drops?
That is unfair! Each Drop has a name. That name represents a feeling I got when I created them. They all mean a lot to me and I would hate to see one of them not being there anymore.
Your visual expression is very clean, minimalistic and exclusive. How did you end up with this design for your brand?
I tried a lot of things. Each time I ended up coming back to the style you describe. It is just me. It is what I like and what I would seek in a quality product.
You are in Tivoli for their Christmas opening period (until end of December). Since you do not have a store of your own, how is it to get so close to your customers?
It means everything to me. I really look forward to getting a chance to let them know my dreams one-on-one. And to get the true opinion right there means a lot to me, and no matter which kind of critics it is, it always makes me motivated to do even better.
I love to see the surprise in people’s face, when they go from “just sugar” to understanding what I created.
We are always looking for new sources of inspiration – can you recommend three Instagram accounts that inspire you?
That was hard… I have a lot on my mind, but if I have to choose three, it must be:
Thank you so much for letting us into your delicious world, and merry Christmas, Samira!
➸ You want to try out what we have talked about? DropsBySamira has a shop in Tivoli Copenhagen this Christmas, so you can go visit them yourself! You can also see much more on Drops By Samira's Instagram page:
You enjoyed reading about Samira? Have a look at our story about Copenhagen-based food agency Sweet Sneak Studio - or meet the candy entrepreneur Emma Bülow, founder of The Mallows.
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With a big passion for photography and a love for cool, vibrant, urban areas, Nikoline Tengler began her journey of blogging in 2015. She started her first blog with her boyfriend Toke, and now she's ready to present her brand new travel blog Breakfast In Airports.
In our series about Cool Copenhageners, we invite you to meet interesting people from Mermaid Stories' hometown who tell us their stories and let us take a glimpse on their work. We have been fans of Nikoline's lovely photography style for a long time, and are very happy that she wanted to share her passion with us.
To begin, can you tell the story about your blog and how it came to life?
I have had a passion for photography as long as I can remember, and already as a teenager I carried a small digital camera around trying to capture the moments I was in. I had also been wanting to start a travel blog for a very long time, and create a space for all the images I had taken, especially from travels. I even registered several domain names, but at the same time I was pushing the project for some sort of perfect occasion. This perfect occasion came when I had two months spare time before going to Barcelona for an internship back in 2015. After a real push from my boyfriend, I spent the two months fighting Wordpress, getting to the bottom of a thousand stored pictures and structuring the material into blog categories, and then… DepartDeux was born.
First, the blog was supposed to be in English, but we ended up deciding to write in Danish. I basically grew up in Germany, so when I moved back to Denmark after 16 years in Germany, my Danish writing skills were lacking big time. The blog became a creative outlet for my photography passion, and at the same time served as my personal Danish class. This way, I was forced to practice and to think about how I wanted to tell the stories behind the pictures. Quite a challenge, but it has been worth it.
Today, DepartDeux is two and a half years old and has opened up a lot of doors.
What are your favorite things about blogging?
That is a good question. After two and a half years I am still super excited about blogging. My favorite thing is still taking the pictures, edit them, and create collages of pictures and transform them into a blog post (sometimes I can spent a whole weekend doing nothing else). I love the fact that I have a place to gather all the things that inspire me. This is why I am expanding my universe internationally and created another blog (this time in English), called Breakfast in Airports. The new travel blog is even more minimalistic and focused on the visual aspect.
But back to the question: The blog gives me the feeling of having a positive impact, especially when I can inspire others. It means a lot that you can see you that your following is growing, and people value your (travel) advice and engage in your stories, which brings me to a different aspect why blogging is great: You meet a lot of interesting people, who speak your (creative) language and see the world as you do. They do not necessarily have to be travel bloggers. I have also been approached by people reading my blog or following me on Instagram, who want to experience “my” Copenhagen or meet up for photo walk. This is one of the biggest compliments I have gotten so far and reminds me why I love to do what I am doing.
Like us, it seems that you have a weakness when it comes to Copenhagen, which is also where you currently live. Why is Copenhagen so wonderful in your eyes?
True, I have a huge crush on Copenhagen. Maybe I am biased, because I was born in Frederiksberg, but how can anyone not love Copenhagen?
Copenhagen is truly wonderful for numerous of reasons. To me, the most imminent reason is the quality of life, how we are able to use the city, being outside and moving around freely. After I lived in Shanghai, where traffic and smog would dominate your everyday life, I highly value cities where you are free to move around, and easily can get from A to B.
I simply love how green the city is, with beautiful parks, surrounded by water and with an easy access to the countryside. Nearly everybody I know enjoys outside activities, such as running, mountain biking and kayaking. Furthermore, we are able to cycle to all corners of the city within roughly 30 minutes. Sometimes, bike traffic can be as stressful as car traffic, but it is still nothing compared to Shanghainese traffic. And how wonderful is it that bikes are by far the most preferred transportation mode in Copenhagen?
The last thing I want to point out is the design aspect. It is such an integrated part of our identity in Copenhagen, and the focus on beautiful, aesthetic things are immense. The city certainly satisfies my own need for beautiful things. You find beautiful interior stores, cool design markets, grand design hotels, and neat decorated hipster cafés throughout the whole city.
Are there any specific streets or buildings in Copenhagen that are special to you in some way?
The past two years I lived in Nørrebro. Strolling through this multicultural neighborhood is one of my favorite things to do on a sunny Sunday, and most likely I will come by Elmegade, which is by far one of the most charming streets in Copenhagen, also one of the most photographed.
To those who have never visited Copenhagen, which top five places would you recommend people to go to?
My five go-to places with friends visiting me in Copenhagen are:
What is the most difficult when taking pictures in an urban area? And is there any place in particular which is hard to photograph?
What makes taking pictures in an urban area a challenge, is the constant movement of scenery. Unless you shoot a lonely building, you will always have people in your pictures. This can of course be a good thing, as it makes your picture authentic. But for instance, when traveling to new cities, there are certain things you just have to see, photograph and cross of your bucket list (even as a travel blogger, you are also just a “tourist”). But often, those exact pictures don’t turn out great. It is often super crowded, and the picture you end up with, a million others have taken the same before. So I would definitely say, it is also very hard to get good pictures of touristy places. Nyhavn is great example. I think we all tired of the same “Nyhavn” pictures floating around on Instagram.
You travel a lot, and make city guides on your blog. What city has positively surprised you the most so far?
Hong Kong is probably one the city that positively surprised me the most, and also a city I would love to return to very soon to see if I still feel the same about it. I admit that I knew very little about Hong Kong before my travel companion and I decided to visit the city during our semester abroad in Shanghai. We only knew that the weather in Hong Kong was supposed to be better than in Shanghai, so we found some cheap tickets and off we went. As opposed to Shanghai, we found ourselves in a city where people wait in line to enter the metro, no one spits on the ground and no one would take pictures of us. It was absolutely pleasant to be in Hong Kong. Even though Hong Kong can be smoggy too, all the green spaces and the beaches make up for it. But for me, Hong Kong was pure heaven due to all the rich photography opportunities. I would photograph temples, modern buildings, views, boats, funny random things, weird local markets, crowds of people, tea shops amongst other things. Now I get itchy feet all over again.
Which city is the number one on your go-to list, and why?
That is a really tough question, as I have an emotional attachment to a lot of cities. But there is one city I keep returning to: Barcelona.
I have done language courses and an internship in the catalan capital. Barcelona is a very vibrant city with a great atmosphere. In Barcelona you have perfect climate, stunning architecture, a huge creative scene, mouth watering food, excellent wines and cavas, tons of live-music places, richness of history, many beaches, warm-hearted people and many local festivals all tied together in one place. Do I need to say more?
On your blog you have a category called “Analog”. What type of camera and photography is your favorite?
Last year, for my birthday, my boyfriend Toke gave me this beautiful Nikkormat analogue camera from the 1970s. I was in love - not only of the beautiful shapes of the camera, but also of the idea behind it. We live in a world where almost every single moment is snapped with your phone, while at the same time digital photography allows you to take tons of pictures of the same thing within seconds - and we do so. Sometimes, I come home after a photowalk and look at the pictures I have taken and I have taken pictures of the same kind of objects out of various perspectives. Analogue photography makes you slow down, and think about what you actually want to photograph, and how you want to frame it. Also, it takes time to develop the picture, you cannot see it instantly and decide you need to capture more.
BUT if I should chose to live with only one camera I would still go with my Canon760D - it does make life as a travel blogger easier, and it is not as cost intense as developing films.
You do not just go to cities and urban areas, but also take pictures in the rural parts of Denmark and other countries. What is your favorite setting to do photography?
I think I prefer to shoot in urban areas, but it really depends on my surroundings, and what inspires me. By living in Copenhagen and Barcelona, I have learnt that I love to stroll around, observe the bustling of the city and try to capture those details you won’t notice when you are on the go. But sometimes, I also love to get away from the city, be close to nature and breath in some fresh air. On trips to West Jutland my analog camera has come into play. It somehow fitted the setting taking more minutes to stand with the camera and taking it slow. Also my iPhone has taken some great pictures in Jutland. Therefore, it has a lot to do with my surroundings, my mood and the story to be told through the lense.
And lastly, can you recommend three of your favorite Instagrammers that are very good at capturing Copenhagen or other cities?
@Nasualua - My “go to” for pictures from Barcelona and Lisbon. She has a clean and bright look on her Instagram feed.
@kseberlin - Simply love her feed. You will find a lot of cool Copenhagen facade shots, as well as interior stuff.
@Alonavibe - Huge girl crush. This girl has some serious talent, and I love how she captures Copenhagen in her own style. Furthermore, she takes some really interesting portraits.
Thank you so much, Nikoline!
➸ Do you want to see more from Nikoline Tengler? Take a look at her Instagram account, visit her blog DepartDeux (in Danish) or her brand new blog Breakfast In Airports (in English).
Dicsover more of our series of Cool Copenhageners! You might like our interview with cool girl Caroline Plummer, a Copenhagen-based fashion blogger, who has a very personal and inspiring style...
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In our series Time For Creative Souls, we interview exciting creative people with a vision and an own view on the world. This is what we found in Josephine Förster, the founder of the highly popular beauty brand Lovely Day.
When starting her Berlin-based company, a natural cosmetics brand, she was caught by surprise by an immense interest both from the media and her customers.
With its modern concept, the use of non-animal tested and no synthetic ingredients, Lovely Day has already gained a cult following in just a little more than one and a half years. And you know that we love fairytales at Mermaid Stories!
The fact that Lovely Day also has a Mermaid after sun spray in its portfolio made it even more obvious that we had to meet the creator behind the scenes.
We visited Josephine and her (steadily growing) team in their newly set up studio in Berlin, which they probably soon will have to move out of again due to their fast growth.
It was everything you could wish for: Wonderful dusty rose interior - with even a Scandi chic touch, we would say - and a selection of both their own and some other selected natural beauty brands.
We asked Josephine about the beginnings of her lovely story, how much the creative part really weighs when being an entrepreneur - and her biggest surprises along the way.
Can you tell a bit about the background story of Lovely Day? How did it all get started?
Well, it all started already in my childhood. I was obsessed with mixing some oils and creams and by the time I was a teenager, I created my own skin and haircare regime and mixing a shampoo or moisturizer became just as normal to me as making dinner.
However, I never really thought about making a business out of it. I studied business, more or less because I didn't know what to do with my life after school, haha.
After that, I spent some years in Australia and became totally obsessed with the whole topic of natural beauty again.
This country inspired me a lot, the smell of hot sandalwood and eucalyptus mixed with a salty ocean breeze, being barefoot all the time, spending most of the time outside - it was just such an intense, sensorial experience, you naturally want to put natural beauty products on your skin and the brands I used over there just blew my mind.
When I came back to Berlin I wanted to preserve that feeling and worked on new products - still not with the intention to sell them.
I worked in several start-ups at that time and eventually got pissed off by working 60+ hours for shitty money, so I felt like I want to start my own thing.
At this time, I was dating this guy who saw all my stuff in the bathroom and was like: Why don't you sell it? I will always remember this moment, it was like an awakening. It was like in this very moment where all of my life started to suddenly make sense and there was no question that that's exactly what I want to do.
Next day, I quit my job and got started.
How do you think is the balance between the creative part and the operational part of a business? How do you maintain a balance between these two?
What a great question. It took me about ten months to set up the business and most of this time was creative work which I absolutely loved.
Even though I studied business, I didn't really take care of the financial and operational part at that time. I was just caught in the creative flow and didn't want to bother about anything else.
By the time I went online, I had a brief idea about how I would handle operations. I didn't really expect Lovely Day to become such a success, to be honest, especially not that fast. So the first year, I was really, really struggling.
I barely had time for ANY creative work, I had to work weekends and holidays just to somehow manage everything, it was a mess. I actually ended up becoming really depressed because that's not how I imagined being a business owner to be like - I thought it was supposed to be at least a little but fun.
The game changed after I was able to hire my lovely employees, six at this time and more to come.
I also took a couple of months of a break this summer to recover from last year’s hustle and this fall I will start all fresh again, focusing much more on the creative part again.
What was the biggest surprise or something you were surprised to learn along the way?
Always trust your gut feeling. When I started, I always had this feeling about which direction and which strategy would be the best for Lovely Day. But I was also very young and didn’t really have a clue.
Along my way I met SO many people, some professionals in the beauty industry, some successful business owners. I always looked up to them thinking that they probably knew better than I do and asked for help and advice - most of them tried to talk me out of doing things the way I wanted.
Sometimes I would take their advice even though it felt wrong, and failed massively. So one important learning was to just trust in me.
I also learned to just go with the flow, trust the universe and release my need to control things.
At this point, I don’t feel like I actively manage Lovely Day. It just develops. It's like a baby and it's going its own way - I just do my best to keep it alive and watch it grow up.
I don’t have a business plan and I barely push anything - I just watch what the market demands at the moment and what customers want and react accordingly.
How can one imagine one of your typical days as a brand owner?
At the moment I am single and Lovely Day is pretty much integrated seamlessly in my everyday life. Every Sunday I prepare a plan with to do’s for the upcoming week, on Monday we have a team meeting to discuss tasks/problems/goals for the upcoming week.
I spend two to three hours a day working on those tasks and the rest of the day or week doesn’t really follow any structure. When I feel like chilling or having a bath I might do that - if I feel like working all day long until midnight I might do that as well. I spend time in the office most days but also work a lot from home, cafés or when traveling.
On weekends when I don’t spend time with friends I usually play around in the lab, test new ingredients or do other fun things.
There is no typical work day and I love it. Lovely Day is part of me and I really don't feel like I am "working" most of the time, which is so precious and I am so so grateful for being able to live this lifestyle.
What are the most fun parts about having your own business?
Connecting with so many people who share your passion for natural beauty. I made so many new friends and feel connected to every single customer who uses my products.
I feel like my life truly has a purpose and meaning.
Also, we donate a part of our revenues to animal rescue organizations and I just generally feel like our brand is changing the beauty world a tiny bit for the better. It's super fulfilling and fills my heart with joy and peace. And what’s more fun than being at peace?
Can you reveal a bit about the future of Lovely Day? Where are you heading to?
As I mentioned, I pretty much go with the flow.
At the moment we are about to open our concept store and the Lovely Day website will also turn more into a proper online shop, carrying other brands and products we really love. We will see how we go from there!
Also, we're working on a bunch of new products at the moment, next to come are body oils and new face products. So stay tuned!
Thank you so much, Josy!
➸ You want to try out what we have talked about? Take a look at Lovely Day on Instagram or head over to the Lovely Day online shop and discover the brand's beautiful selection. And yes, they also ship to Denmark (and other countries)!
If you have liked this interview, you might also enjoy reading about gourmet candy entrepreneur Emma Bülow from Copenhagen or the young stationary founder Anna Härlin from Berlin on our blog!
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In our series Time For Creative Souls, we listen to inspiring creative people that have their very own expression and a unique aesthetic point of view. We talked with Isabella about the upcoming Chart Art Fair where she works as Head of Communication, and her own freelance work as an illustrator in demand.
First of all, thanks a lot for your time, Isabella! Can you tell us a bit about your background and what has led you to focus on your art?
I studied initially both my bachelor and master in International Business and Politics. But I was always interested in art and had art as my focus on High school and since I've followed several artists over the years. Eventually I studied Illustration at Central Saint Martins.
Did you always know what you wanted to do?
No. I always knew that eventually I wanted to be my own boss, and I wanted to do something creative eventually. But I guess my parents wanted me to first study something "save", but over time I found out that I needed to follow my heart.
You do not only work with illustrations, but also do wall paintings. How is that different than painting on smaller spaces like paper or canvas?
I love a big canvases, be that a wall or literally big canvas. On the small scale you can experiment a lot, so the small illustrations are sometimes just the first step in the process. My process is almost circular, I do a lot and lot of small illustrations, then I go into Big scale, then I turn three-dimensional and eventually return to the illustrations.
Do you have a favorite genre or materials that you always get back to?
I love water colour and black pen - especially the colour neutral tint - it has the perfect quality. And also white posco-pen drawings on colourful paper. Every now and then I return to acrylic as well.
Some painters work better at night, some at day. Do you have a special rhythm for your work?
It varies a lot, but mostly I work when I have the impulse to do something - which can be quite overwhelming and then I just need to realize it. Other times I just need to adjust to the deadlines of my clients (smiles).
Where do you get inspired?
Everywhere, but especially when traveling, seeing new things... And on Instagram!
Next to your free work, you are also the Head of Communication of Chart Art Fair. Can you tell a bit about the concept behind this fair?
CHART ART FAIR is the leading Nordic contemporary art fair which takes place at the The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts' Kunsthal Charlottenborg in Copenhagen. This year it will be the fifth anniversary from and be held from September 1 - 3, 2017. Since its inception, CHART has established itself as the international platform for contemporary art in the Nordic region.
It breaks with the traditional fair format by carefully curating the galleries' artwork and presenting everything in unison as an exhibition, in the halls of Kunsthal Charlottenborg. The exhibition is curated by the five founding galleries based in Copenhagen: Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Galleri Bo Bjerggaard, V1 Gallery, Andersen's Contemporary and David Risley Gallery.
Running alongside the main fair is CHART SOCIAL, a program of cultural events exploring the crossover between art, design, architecture, music, performance, and gastronomy. CHART SOCIAL, which is free and open to the public, will take place at Kunsthal Charlottenborg and various other locations around the city leading up to and during the fair. The SOCIAL program comprises Talks programmed with ArtReview, an Architecture competition judged by Bjarke Ingels amongst others, an exhibition with emerging artists, and a whole program of music in the courtyard. Lastly, in 2016 a new section of the fair, CHART DESIGN, showcasing six of the leading galleries presenting the best of contemporary and classic Nordic design was introduced.
What are your tasks in this function? And how do you balance these two rather contrary “jobs”?
My role is Head of Communications, which entails not only communications through our own channels, but also Nordic press, and international press through Sutton, all of the marketing material, printed matter and some of the public art projects - like the Douglas Coupland project last year.
In all of the graphic work, I practice and hone my visual skills, in the other elements, I learn more about the industry to better navigate. But it is very much two different sides of the brain and I need to be very square with doing either one of the other at different times.
Since working for Chart Art Fair, do you look at your own work differently?
Yes, much more critical (laughs).
We like to ask artists about a piece of work that has a special story behind it. Do you have one?
This will be my #lefthanddrawing #rightbrainwriting - I started to be bored by my own style and the nature of fashion illustrations, at the same time I cannot help myself but work with it. So I tried to force myself to draw "ugly" by drawing only with my left hand (I'm right handed) and afterwards spontaneously write some words with it (I always have words in my mind when I draw). So I'm trying to escape the tyranny of pretty in these new works - and I start to like my work again, haha.
I also like very much my new t-shirt project - I love giving my 2D work a 3D dimension!
You have an amazing Instagram account which is very different to many others, and beautifully curated. How do you make the feed look like it is floating along over time? Do you start with something and it evolves, or is it planned in the long run?
Thank you! And yes, some things are very spontaneous, others evolve over time. I have always some works that I arrange before and leave some space for spontaneous works, pictures, words etc. so it constantly evolves over time.
What other Instagramm accounts do you recommend for creative inspiration?
Hmm, there are soo many... @alexcarl for sure, @lea.nielsen.photography and of course @chartartfair. @camillecharriere also really does a good job!
➸ Are you interested in more? Discover Isabella's newest work on her Instagram account or discover her portfolio on her website.
Discover our interview series Time For Creative Souls! You might also like our interview with illustrator Mathilde Friis Olsen or artist Emily Grady Dodge.
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